Addressing Unmet Needs in Persons with Dementia to Decrease Behavioral Symptoms and Improve Quality of Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 147

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 147

The grant opportunity titled "Addressing Unmet Needs in Persons with Dementia to Decrease Behavioral Symptoms and Improve Quality of Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 18-147) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant that supports clinical research focused on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (often shortened to BPSD). The central idea behind the announcement is that many distressing behaviors and psychological symptoms in dementia are not just random or inevitable, but may be triggered or worsened by unmet needs. These needs can be physical (such as pain, sleep problems, hunger, medication side effects, sensory impairment), social (such as isolation, lack of meaningful interaction, communication barriers, caregiver relationship strain), or environmental (such as overstimulation, confusing layouts, poor lighting, noise, unsafe or restrictive settings). The FOA is designed to stimulate studies that identify, measure, and address those unmet needs in ways that reduce BPSD and improve day-to-day quality of life for people living with dementia.

The research emphasis is clinical and intervention-oriented: applicants are expected to propose work that connects BPSD to specific unmet needs and tests practical approaches to reduce symptoms by meeting those needs more effectively. Because the mechanism is an R01, the scope is meant for substantial, hypothesis-driven projects rather than small pilot efforts. The label "Clinical Trial Optional" means the FOA allows, but does not require, a clinical trial; applicants can propose either a clinical trial (for example, testing a nonpharmacologic intervention in a real-world care setting) or other types of clinical research that still directly address the FOA goals. In general terms, strong applications under this theme would be expected to demonstrate a clear conceptual pathway from unmet needs to behavioral symptoms, include rigorous measurement of both needs and outcomes, and prioritize endpoints that matter to patients and caregivers, such as reduced agitation, anxiety, aggression, wandering, apathy, or sleep disruption, alongside improved comfort, function, engagement, and overall quality of life.

The opportunity sits within the NIH health and education funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 93.361. It was created on November 7, 2017, and the original closing date listed is January 7, 2020. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided source data, which typically means those specifics may vary by year, institute, or available appropriations and are often clarified in related NIH budget guidance or the full FOA text.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, reflecting NIH's goal of supporting dementia research across many types of institutions and communities. Eligible applicants 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 that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories, including 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 government agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Practically, this wide eligibility is important because dementia care happens in many settings beyond academic medical centers, including community organizations, long-term care facilities, public housing contexts, tribal health programs, and resource-limited environments where unmet needs may be especially pronounced.

In plain terms, this FOA is looking for research that moves beyond describing BPSD and instead tests workable, evidence-based strategies that reduce challenging symptoms by improving the fit between the person with dementia and their care environment. The strongest match is research that treats behavior as meaningful communication of discomfort or mismatch, then demonstrates that systematically identifying and addressing underlying unmet needs can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for both people with dementia and the individuals and systems that support their care.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Addressing Unmet Needs in Persons with Dementia to Decrease Behavioral Symptoms and Improve Quality of Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.361.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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.

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