Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 15 002
Apply for RFA AG 15 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alzheimers Disease Research Centers (P50)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 16, 2014 and posted on Jan 16, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 14, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $24,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses County governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Special district governments Independent school districts For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession at least five Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) with any PHS agency (or comparable peer reviewed federal, state, or foundation) funded research grants related to AD, neurodegenerative diseases or aging of the nervous system and each with at least two years of support remaining at the time of application or one or more program project grants (P01s) related to AD, neurodegenerative diseases or aging of the nervous system and with at least two years of support remaining at the time of application. Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Alzheimers Disease Research Centers (P50) funding opportunity (RFA-AG-15-002) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to support a national network of specialized research centers focused on Alzheimers disease (AD) and closely related disorders. The central purpose of these Alzheimers Disease Research Centers (often referred to as ADRCs) is to strengthen and accelerate high-impact research by building shared infrastructure that individual projects and investigators can use, while also enabling coordinated, multidisciplinary studies that are difficult to carry out through single-investigator awards alone. In practical terms, these centers are meant to function as hubs that bring together clinical, translational, and (where relevant) basic science expertise to improve how the field understands AD, differentiates it from normal brain aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and turns research insights into better diagnostic, prevention, treatment, and care strategies.
A core theme of the announcement is that an ADRC is not just a collection of independent studies; it is a structured center program that provides common resources to the broader research community and creates a platform for collaboration and standardization. The FOA emphasizes several specific roles for ADRCs: supporting and conducting research on AD; serving as shared research resources to facilitate work on AD and related disorders; improving the ability to distinguish disease processes from normal aging and from MCI; providing training opportunities and a pipeline for developing new investigators; collecting biospecimens that are useful for clinical research; developing and refining novel techniques and methodologies; and translating findings into real-world improvements in clinical care and public health practice. This mix of aims signals an expectation that funded centers will combine rigorous science with strong operational capabilities, including participant recruitment and evaluation, data and biospecimen handling, and mechanisms for disseminating methods and findings.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted on January 16, 2014, with an original and final closing date of May 14, 2014, and an archive date of June 14, 2014. NIH anticipated making about 12 awards under this FOA, with an estimated total program funding level of $24,000,000. The listed award ceiling was $1,000,000 (as presented in the source data), and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The program fell under the Health funding activity category and the CFDA number 93.866 (Aging Research), reflecting that the scientific and public health mission is tied to aging, neurodegeneration, and dementia outcomes.
Eligibility was broad across U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with 501(c)(3) status), certain for-profit organizations, small businesses, and a wide range of government bodies (state, county, city/township, special districts, and independent school districts), as well as tribal governments and tribally controlled institutions. The FOA also explicitly included categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations, indicating NIH interest in diverse institutional participation and, by extension, potentially broader community engagement and recruitment reach. At the same time, the FOA restricted eligibility to U.S. entities: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible to apply, though foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) were allowed, which typically means an otherwise eligible U.S. applicant could include certain international collaborations or activities if compliant with NIH policy.
A notable and relatively high bar in this announcement is the requirement for strong existing research capacity. The eligibility information specifies that applicant institutions needed substantial, active, peer-reviewed funding in AD, neurodegenerative diseases, or aging of the nervous system. Specifically, the FOA calls for at least five Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) who each hold research grants from a Public Health Service (PHS) agency or comparable peer-reviewed federal, state, or foundation source, related to AD/neurodegeneration/aging of the nervous system, and each with at least two years of support remaining at the time of application. As an alternative qualifying pathway, an institution could have one or more relevant program project grants (P01s) with at least two years of support remaining. This requirement signals that ADRCs were intended for institutions with established, durable programs and enough funded investigators to support a true center structure, rather than start-up efforts.
In terms of what NIH was trying to achieve scientifically and operationally, the announcement highlights the need for shared resources that enable high-quality clinical research, including biospecimen collection and the development of novel research techniques and methodologies. That language aligns with the practical needs of modern AD research: standardized clinical phenotyping across the cognitive spectrum (normal aging, MCI, and dementia), access to well-characterized cohorts, and consistent collection and storage of biological samples that can be used for biomarker discovery, validation, and mechanistic studies. The FOA also explicitly frames ADRCs as translation-oriented, meaning the expectation is not only to generate publications but also to help move discoveries toward improved diagnostics and interventions, and ultimately better care strategies for patients and caregivers.
For applicants or interested parties, the announcement provided an additional information link hosted on the NIH grants site (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-15-002.html). For technical access or linking problems, the contact listed was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (P50) - RFA-AG-15-002
What is the Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (P50) opportunity (RFA-AG-15-002)?
RFA-AG-15-002 was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant funding opportunity to support a national network of specialized Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs). These centers are designed to strengthen and accelerate high-impact research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and closely related disorders by building shared infrastructure and enabling coordinated, multidisciplinary studies.
What is the central purpose of an ADRC under this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to create structured, collaborative center programs that provide shared resources and infrastructure individual investigators and projects can use. ADRCs are intended to function as hubs that bring together clinical, translational, and, where relevant, basic science expertise to improve understanding of AD, differentiate AD from normal brain aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and help translate research insights into better diagnostics, prevention, treatment, and care strategies.
Are ADRCs meant to be collections of independent projects?
No. The opportunity emphasizes that an ADRC is not simply a collection of separate, independent studies. It is a structured center program designed to provide common resources, foster collaboration, and support standardization across the field.
What kinds of activities and roles are ADRCs expected to support?
Based on the announcement, ADRCs are expected to: support and conduct research on AD and related disorders; serve as shared research resources; improve the ability to distinguish disease processes from normal aging and from MCI; provide training opportunities and help develop new investigators; collect biospecimens useful for clinical research; develop and refine novel techniques and methodologies; and translate findings into real-world improvements in clinical care and public health practice.
What does it mean that ADRCs provide "shared infrastructure"?
It means the center is expected to build and operate resources that multiple projects and investigators can use. The announcement highlights operational capabilities such as participant recruitment and evaluation, data and biospecimen handling, and mechanisms to disseminate methods and findings.
What disease areas does this opportunity focus on?
The focus is Alzheimer's disease and closely related disorders, including research that helps distinguish AD from normal brain aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The announcement also references AD, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging of the nervous system as relevant areas of research capacity for applicant institutions.
Is the program oriented toward clinical translation?
Yes. The announcement frames ADRCs as translation-oriented, with expectations that centers not only generate research findings but also help move discoveries toward improved diagnostics and interventions and better care strategies for patients and caregivers.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on January 16, 2014. The original and final closing date was May 14, 2014. The archive date was June 14, 2014.
How many awards did NIH anticipate making under this FOA?
NIH anticipated making about 12 awards under this funding opportunity.
What was the estimated total program funding level?
The estimated total program funding level was $24,000,000.
What was the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling in the source data was $1,000,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What funding activity category and CFDA number were associated with this program?
The program fell under the Health funding activity category and listed CFDA 93.866 (Aging Research).
What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility included a broad range of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, including public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) organizations); certain for-profit organizations; small businesses; and many types of government bodies (state, county, city/township, special districts, independent school districts). Tribal governments and tribally controlled institutions were also included.
Were minority-serving institutions explicitly included in the eligible applicant categories?
Yes. The announcement explicitly included categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs).
Were faith-based, community-based, or regional organizations mentioned?
Yes. The eligibility list included faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations.
Could non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply as the main applicant?
No. The announcement restricted eligibility to U.S. entities. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed in any way?
Yes. The announcement notes that foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) were allowed, which typically means an otherwise eligible U.S. applicant could include certain international collaborations or activities if compliant with NIH policy.
Did the FOA require applicants to already have strong Alzheimer's or neurodegeneration research capacity?
Yes. A notable requirement was substantial, active, peer-reviewed funding in Alzheimer's disease, neurodegenerative diseases, or aging of the nervous system. This signals the program was intended for established institutions with durable, funded research programs rather than start-up efforts.
What specific investigator-level funding requirement was described for eligibility?
The eligibility information specified that applicant institutions needed at least five Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s), each holding research grants from a Public Health Service (PHS) agency or comparable peer-reviewed federal, state, or foundation source related to AD, neurodegeneration, or aging of the nervous system, and each with at least two years of support remaining at the time of application.
Was there an alternative eligibility pathway besides having five funded PDs/PIs?
Yes. As an alternative, an institution could qualify by having one or more relevant program project grants (P01s) with at least two years of support remaining.
Why does the FOA emphasize distinguishing AD from normal aging and MCI?
The announcement highlights improving the ability to distinguish disease processes from normal aging and from MCI as a specific role for ADRCs, reflecting the need for standardized clinical phenotyping across the cognitive spectrum.
What does the FOA say about biospecimen collection?
The FOA explicitly includes collecting biospecimens that are useful for clinical research and highlights shared resources that enable high-quality clinical research, including biospecimen collection.
What does the FOA say about novel techniques and methodologies?
The announcement identifies developing and refining novel techniques and methodologies as one of the specific roles for ADRCs.
Does the announcement mention training and developing new investigators?
Yes. Providing training opportunities and creating a pipeline for developing new investigators is explicitly listed as an ADRC role.
Where could applicants find the full FOA text and official details?
The announcement provided an NIH Grants link for additional information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-15-002.html
Who was listed as a contact for technical access or linking problems?
The contact listed for technical access or linking problems was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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