Harmonization of Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Genetic, Epidemiologic, and Clinical Data to Enhance Therapeutic Target Discovery (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 20 099

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 099

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking applications for a single cooperative agreement (U24) to build and run infrastructure focused on harmonizing phenotypic (clinical and related) data for participants who already have genetic and genomic data generated through the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP). The core purpose is to bring together, standardize, and continually curate epidemiologic and clinical information so it can be reliably linked with ADSP genetic/genomic data across many cohorts. By making the resulting resource consistent and analytically usable at scale, the program is designed to strengthen the field's ability to identify and prioritize well-targeted therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). Clinical trials are not allowed under this opportunity, which signals that the work is intended to be data infrastructure and harmonization rather than interventional testing.

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning NIH/NIA will have substantial scientific and/or programmatic involvement beyond what is typical for a standard research grant. Rather than funding multiple separate projects, this FOA intends to support one "vanguard" network: a coordinated team with combined expertise in genetics, epidemiology, and relevant clinical specialties. This network is expected to work closely with the ADSP and with cohort study leaders to carry out harmonization activities. In practical terms, that usually means aligning variable definitions, resolving differences in measurement approaches across studies, mapping data to common standards, documenting provenance and transformations, and implementing processes that allow the harmonized dataset to be updated and improved over time as new data arrive or as methods evolve.

A defining feature of the program is the creation of a long-lived "legacy" dataset that will be perpetually curated. That emphasis on durability and ongoing stewardship distinguishes it from one-time data cleaning efforts. The intent is to produce a resource that remains useful for the community over the long term, supporting repeated analyses and new discovery as genetics, analytic methods, and therapeutic hypotheses advance. The overall scientific payoff NIA is targeting is improved therapeutic target discovery: when clinical phenotypes and exposure histories are harmonized across cohorts, researchers can more confidently associate genetic variation with disease subtypes, progression patterns, comorbidities, and other clinically meaningful features, which in turn can sharpen drug target selection and prioritization.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it states that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which generally means certain collaborations or elements conducted outside the U.S. may be permissible if they meet NIH definitions and policy requirements, even though the applicant organization itself must be eligible and not foreign.

The opportunity is identified as PAR 20-099, categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity, using the cooperative agreement funding instrument, and falling under the health activity category with CFDA number 93.866. The agency is NIH/NIA. The original closing date is listed as 2023-01-25. The listed award ceiling is $2,771,000. The posting indicates an expected single award, consistent with the "single vanguard network" model described in the program narrative. Overall, the grant is aimed at building a central, actively maintained harmonization framework that connects ADSP genetics with standardized clinical and epidemiologic data, making it easier for the research community to extract actionable biological and clinical insights that can guide dementia therapy development.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Harmonization of Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Genetic, Epidemiologic, and Clinical Data to Enhance Therapeutic Target Discovery (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-01-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,771,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 20 099

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