Focus on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

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What is AD/ADRD?

Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) refers to the most common forms of dementia. Dementia likely affects more than 6 million people in the U.S. and more than 55 million people worldwide. Currently, there are no known treatments to prevent or stop the progression of dementia. The toll on individuals, caregivers and society is enormous and will increase as the population ages unless effective interventions are developed. NINDS collaborates with NIH’s National Institute on Aging (NIA), the lead NIH Institute for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research and for NIH's response to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, to establish research priorities and fund biomedical research to decrease the burden of dementia on individuals, families, and communities.

While AD is the most common dementia diagnosis, ADRDs share many cognitive and pathological features with and can be difficult to distinguish from AD. In fact, more often than not, patients with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease have different mixtures of brain pathologies, complicating both the diagnosis, as well as treatment. A special video testimonial to raise awareness of the disease burden on patients with AD/ADRD and their caregivers titled “Voices of AD/ADRD” was presented at the NINDS ADRD Summit 2022, and can be viewed here:

The ADRDs include:

Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD)

Lewy body dementia (LBD)

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID)

Multiple-Etiology Dementias (MED)

Going forward, NINDS and NIA will continue to partner in AD/ADRD research planning and implementation, and we urge the research community to join in our efforts to accelerate scientific progress toward reducing the enormous burden and cost of dementia.

Funding Opportunity Announcements

Currently Active Funding Opportunities

Planned Initiatives

We are excited to share with you the research concepts approved by NINDS Council. Please note that this page will be periodically updated with links when funding opportunities are published. These are also announced via our email listserv (to join the NINDS AD/ADRD listserv, please email kiara.bates@nih.gov).

Please note that an approved concept listed below does not necessarily indicate an award mechanism or funding allocation is imminent or will happen. The NOFO is only official when published in the NIH Guide.

Optimization of Genome Editing Therapeutics for ADRDs- This initiative will support early translational research focused on somatic cell genome editing for Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRDs). It is expected that these studies will address the feasibility of using genome editing for therapy development for ADRDs. Contact PO: Timothy LaVaute

Functional Target Validation for Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias- This initiative is to provide the translational scientific community with increased confidence in the efficacy and safety of novel target to trigger customized therapeutic strategies in ADRDs. Contact PO: Pascal Laeng

Interaction Between Environmental Factors and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)- This initiative is to support research that firmly establishes causal links between environmental factors and Lewy Body formation. This concept aims to reveal the mechanistic basis for how exogenous environmental factors can lead to LBD. Contac PO: David Jett

Mechanistic Investigations into ADRD associated protein structures in biological settings- This initiative is to support studies proposing to develop and/or utilize methodologies for in-cell structural biology to address questions that have previously been experimentally impossible. The applications are expected to focus on determining AD/ADRD-linked macromolecular structures in native (healthy and pathological) settings. Contact PO: George Umanah

Integrative Multiomic Profiling for Lewy Body Dementia- This initiative is designed to support research to conduct genetic and molecular characterization of LBD. This may include whole genome sequencing, longitudinal bulk-transcriptomics, longitudinal matched plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteomic analysis, and post-mortem single-cell RNA sequencing, which will be generated and paired with harmonized longitudinal clinical data. Contact PO: Christine Swanson-Fischer

ADRD Risk and Disease Following Nervous System Exposures at Biological Interfaces with the Environment- This initiative is to support research that aim to by determine how exposures at innervated human surfaces affect ADRD disease mechanisms and phenotypic outcomes. These exposures include toxins and toxic chemicals, viral and other pathogens, and other environmental exposures. Contact PO: David Jett

Including ADRD Biomarker Measures and APOE Genotype Status to ADRD Human Subjects Research Studies- This initiative is to provide funding to existing AD/ADRD cohort studies to support the inclusion/addition of ADRD fluid-based biomarker measures and APOE genotype status when they are not already utilized in the original study. Contact PO: Amber McCartney

Clinical Trial Readiness to Understand and Develop Solutions to Social, Ethical, and Behavioral Implications (SEBI) Barriers to Health Equity in ADRD- This initiative is to support research that establishes clinical trial readiness for community-driven interventions to understand and develop solutions to barriers to equity in ADRD outcomes among NIH-designated populations that experience health disparities (HDPs). Contact POs: Richard T. Benson, Rebecca Hommer and Carolina Mendoza-Puccini

Safety and Efficacy of Amyloid-Beta Directed Antibody Therapy in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia with Evidence of Both Amyloid-Beta and Lewy Body Dementias - The goal of this initiative is to encourage the development and implementation of clinical trials to determine the efficacy and safety of amyloid-beta clearing monoclonal antibody therapies in patients with evidence of both Alzheimer’s (amyloid-beta) pathology and clinical LBD, i.e. Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) and/or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Contact PO: Rebecca Hommer

IND-enabling Studies and Clinical Trials for Genome Editing Therapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias - This initiative support Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies for the preparation and submission of an IND for a genome editing therapeutics for ADRD, and optional small delayed-onset first in human Phase I clinical trial. Contact PO: Timothy LaVaute

NINDS ADRD Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award- This initiative aims to support a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions (K99) into independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty (R00) positions in AD/ADRD research areas by providing independent NIH research support during this transition to help awardees establish independent AD/ADRD research programs. Contact PO: Amber McCartney

NINDS ADRD Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity- The purpose of this initiative is to enhance workforce diversity by supporting a mentored research experience (K99) followed by independent research (R00) for postdoctoral fellows working in research areas supported by the AD/ADRD Initiative, including research on Alzheimer’s disease, mixed etiology dementias (MED), vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), Lewy body dementia (LBD), and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). The program will provide independent NIH research support during this transition to help awardees launch competitive, independent research careers. Contact PO: Amelie Gubitz and Lauren Ullrich

Recently Closed Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2024

Basic Disease Mechanisms

VCID Center Without Walls for Understanding and Leveraging Small Vessel Cerebrovascular Disease Mechanisms in ADRD (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-24-027) Contact PO: Roderick Corriveau

Blood Brain Barrier Response to Antibodies Targeting Beta-Amyloid (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-23-140) Contact PO: Roderick Corriveau

Role of Environmental Stress in the Health Inequities of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-24-024) Contact PO: David Jett and Richard T. Benson

Mechanistic Investigations into ADRD Multiple Etiology Dementias (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-23-211) Contact PO: Linda McGavern

Investigating Distinct and Overlapping Mechanisms in TDP-43 Proteinopathies, including in LATE, FTD, and other ADRDs (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-23-212) Contact PO: Linda McGavern

Neuropathological Interactions Between COVID-19 and ADRD (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-23-214) Contact PO: William P. Daley

Clinical

Using Multimodal Biomarkers to Differentially Diagnose ADRDs for Clinical Trials (U19 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-NS-24-001) Contact PO: Carol Taylor-Burds

Validating digital health technologies for monitoring biomarkers in ADRD clinical trials (R61/R33 - Clinical Trials Optional) (RFA-NS-24-026) Contact PO: Carol Taylor-Burds

Assessment of TBI-related ADRD Pathology Related to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Outcomes (U01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-24-003) Contact PO: Nsini Umoh

Training

Administrative Supplements to Promote Diversity for NINDS AD/ADRD Awardees (NOT-NS-21-047)- This initiative is to encourages eligible NINDS awardees in the AD/ADRD research community to apply for administrative supplements in response to PA-23-189, "Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research," or any reissues of this announcement through the expiration date of this Notice. Contact PO: Amber McCartney

Translational

Simultaneous and Synergistic Multi-Target Validation for Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (R61/R33 Clinical Trial not allowed) (PAR-23-195) Contact PO: Rebecca Roof

Early-Stage Therapy Development for Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-24-010) Contact PO: Rebecca Roof

Optimization of Genome Editing Therapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) (U01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-24-009) Contact PO: Timothy LaVaute

Center without Walls for PET Ligand Development for Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRDs) (U19 - Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-NS-19-014) Contact PO: Debra Babcock

Models

Development & Characterization of Experimental models of post-TBI ADRD (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-23-218) Contact PO: Hibah O. Awwad

Development and Validation of Models for ADRD (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-23-154) Contact POs: Linda McGavern and Rebecca Roof

NINDS Leads ADRD Research Priority-Setting Planning Efforts

NINDS-led ADRD summits represent a continuous decade long planning effort. ADRD summits occur every three years and respond to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease (“National Plan”) that was released in 2012 and updated annually. These Summits set national research recommendations with timelines that reflect critical scientific priorities for research on ADRD. During each ADRD Summit planning process, the established prioritized recommendations are updated, and developed further, under the leadership of the ADRD Summit Steering Committee, which includes a Working Group of the NANDS Council. The Committee solicits input from nationally and internationally recognized dementia-science experts, as well as public and private stakeholders. The resulting recommendations guide ADRD research for the next several years. Links to NANDS Council-approved ADRD Summit Reports are provided below.

Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias Summit 2022; Article on research priorities for studying post-TBI AD/ADRD, based on the ADRD Summit 2022

Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias Summit 2019

Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias Research Summit 2018

Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias Summit 2016; Proceedings article summarizing the 2016 Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias Summit

Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias Research Summit 2015

Contacts

Rod Corriveau | Program Director
roderick.corriveau@nih.gov

Sara Dodson | Senior Health Science Policy Analyst
sara.dodson@nih.gov

Amber McCartney | Scientific Project Manager
amber.mccartney@nih.gov

Arvind Shukla | Scientific Program Analyst
arvind.shukla@nih.gov

Herson Rene Astacio Cuevas | Health Program Specialist
herson.astacio@nih.gov

Kiara Bates | Program Specialist
kiara.bates@nih.gov

Related Topics

AD+ADRD Research Implementation Milestones database
The AD+ADRD Research Implementation Milestones database is a research framework detailing specific steps and success criteria towards achieving the goal of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease: to treat and prevent AD and ADRDs by 2025. This database includes research milestones and responsive activities for the NIH triennial AD, ADRD, and Dementia Care, Services and Supports research summits.

International Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Research Portfolio
IADRP reports categories of funded research supported by public and private organizations both in the US and abroad all categorized using the Common Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Research Ontology (CADRO)

Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias Summits

NINDS AD/ADRD Payline Information

NIH Estimates of Funding for Various Research, Condition, and Disease Categories

Research/Disease Areas*	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023 (Estimated)	FY 2024 (Estimated)
Alzheimer's Disease Including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)	$2,869	$3,251	$3,514	$3,749	$3,767
Alzheimer's Disease	$2,683	$3,059	$3,314	$3,502	$3,515
Frontotemporal Dementia	$166	$164	$169	$174	$177
Lewy Body Dementia	$84	$113	$118	$124	$124
Vascular Cognitive Impairment/Dementia	$362	$455	$445	$461	$464

*Dollars in millions and rounded
To learn more about NIH Investment in AD/ADRD, please visit the Categorical Spending site and enter "Alzheimer's Disease Including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias".