Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Basic Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Alzheimers Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AG 19 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 19 003

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offered this discretionary grant opportunity under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-19-003, titled "Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Basic Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." It uses the NIH R03 mechanism, which is designed for small, focused research projects, and it is specifically limited to non-clinical-trial applications (meaning applicants cannot propose a clinical trial under this announcement). The overall purpose is to support important and innovative basic research where additional scientific investigation is still needed to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, while also serving a workforce development goal: encouraging and helping the next generation of U.S.-based researchers build research and academic careers in neuroscience, Alzheimer's disease, and healthy brain aging.

In practical terms, this opportunity is meant to fund tightly scoped, early-stage, or pilot-type projects that can generate foundational data, test new ideas, or explore under-studied questions in basic AD/ADRD research. The emphasis on "important and innovative" suggests NIH was looking for well-justified projects that address clear gaps in knowledge and could move the field forward, even if the projects are relatively small in scale. Because it is positioned as a program for the next generation of researchers, it also implicitly supports junior investigators and those establishing independence by giving them a mechanism to compete for NIH funding, develop a publication record, and build preliminary findings that could support larger future applications.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based applicant organizations across government, academia, and the nonprofit and private sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when categorized separately); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This explicit listing signals an interest in broad participation across institution types, including organizations that may serve underrepresented communities or bring community-oriented perspectives to research.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the work under this specific opportunity needed to be entirely domestic in terms of applicant eligibility and programmatic components.

From the administrative details provided, the opportunity falls under the Health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.853 and 93.866. The award ceiling listed is $100,000, indicating the maximum funding level anticipated per award under the announcement, consistent with an R03-style small grant designed to support narrowly focused projects rather than large multi-year programs. The opportunity was created on April 25, 2018, with an original closing date of July 3, 2018, reflecting a defined submission window for applications. Overall, the program can be understood as a targeted NIH initiative to seed and accelerate basic AD/ADRD research ideas while simultaneously strengthening the pipeline of emerging investigators working on Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, and the biology of healthy brain aging, without supporting clinical trial activities under this particular funding call.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Basic Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Alzheimers Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) Research (R03 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): 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-07-03. (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 $100,000.00 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 RFA AG 19 003

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