Multimorbidity in Alzheimers Disease Impacts Choice of Ancillary Treatments (R21/R33) | RFA AG 17 059

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 17 059

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Multimorbidity in Alzheimers Disease Impacts Choice of Ancillary Treatments (R21/R33)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-17-059; CFDA 93.866) supports research focused on a practical problem in dementia care: many people with Alzheimers disease and related dementias (ADRD) also live with multiple other chronic conditions, and those comorbidities can strongly influence which additional (ancillary) treatments clinicians choose and how well those treatments work. The goal of this announcement is to generate evidence that improves the effectiveness of treatment strategies for those commonly co-occurring conditions in the context of ADRD, where usual care pathways often become complicated by cognitive impairment, caregiver burden, medication interactions, and differences in how patients can adhere to or benefit from standard interventions.

The FOA encourages projects that examine or test approaches to managing comorbid conditions alongside ADRD, with an emphasis on real-world clinical decision-making rather than highly controlled, artificial research settings. Applicants may propose observational treatment studies (for example, studies that compare outcomes under different commonly used treatment strategies as they are delivered in typical care) or pragmatic clinical trials designed to work within everyday healthcare systems. In other words, the intent is not just to learn whether an intervention can work under ideal circumstances, but whether it is feasible, acceptable, and effective when implemented in the clinical environments where older adults with dementia actually receive care.

A key feature of this opportunity is its phased R21/R33 structure. The R21 phase is meant to fund pilot work that demonstrates feasibility, refines intervention or trial procedures, and meets clearly defined milestones. If those R21 milestones and transition criteria are met, the project can move into the R33 phase, which supports broader implementation of a pragmatic trial. The transition is not automatic; it is determined through an administrative review based on successful completion of the criteria established during the R21 period. This design is meant to reduce risk by ensuring that larger, more resource-intensive pragmatic trials are launched only when the preliminary work shows the approach is workable and ready to scale.

From an applicant and organizational eligibility standpoint, this is a broad, inclusive NIH grant opportunity. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Academic eligibility covers public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. The FOA also allows applications from federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations, along with nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. In addition, the announcement explicitly notes eligibility for a range of institutions and organizations often emphasized in federal outreach and capacity-building, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth reflects an interest in encouraging diverse research settings and populations, which can be especially important in ADRD where care access and comorbidity patterns vary substantially across communities.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant funding instrument. It is listed under the health activity category, was created on 2016-10-27, and had an original closing date of 2017-01-12. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, signaling that the initial supported work is intended to be a bounded pilot effort consistent with the R21 phase purpose, with the possibility of expansion into the R33 phase if milestones are achieved. Overall, this FOA is designed for teams interested in improving real-world treatment strategies for the multiple chronic conditions that commonly accompany ADRD, using a stepwise approach that starts with feasibility and transitions to pragmatic testing once readiness has been demonstrated.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Multimorbidity in Alzheimers Disease Impacts Choice of Ancillary Treatments (R21/R33)" 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 2016-10-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-01-12. (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 $200,000.00 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 17 059

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