Basic and Translational Research on Decision Making in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 544

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 544

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR 18 544, titled "Basic and Translational Research on Decision Making in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)," supports R01 grant applications aimed at understanding how decision making changes with normal aging and with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The core focus is basic research that can more precisely describe the emotional (affective), cognitive, social, and motivational factors that shape decision quality in later life, including when decision making is relatively intact and when it becomes impaired. A key theme is separating what is typical in healthy aging from what is more specifically linked to AD, so the field can better identify mechanisms, risks, and potential leverage points for support.

The FOA encourages projects that examine the behavioral and neural processes that underlie decision making and determine how those processes are differently affected by normal aging versus Alzheimer's disease. This can include work that links measurable behavior to brain systems involved in valuation, learning from feedback, risk and uncertainty processing, impulsivity or delay discounting, emotion regulation, and other core components of choice. The opportunity also explicitly calls for research on social influences, recognizing that real-world decisions in older adulthood often happen in social contexts where trust, persuasion, family dynamics, caregiving relationships, and social pressure can strongly shape outcomes. In that same practical vein, the announcement highlights vulnerability factors that may place older adults, with or without cognitive impairment, at greater risk for financial exploitation, scams, coercion, and other forms of mistreatment, abuse, or undue influence.

In addition to basic mechanistic work, the FOA welcomes translational efforts that use what is learned about decision processes to design and test decision-supportive approaches for midlife and older adults, including individuals with AD. These interventions are meant to be grounded in decision science and aging research rather than generic education alone. Examples of the kinds of translational directions the FOA emphasizes include building supports that leverage remaining cognitive, emotional, and motivational strengths; developing tools or methods to assess decisional capacity in a way that is more sensitive to real-world decision demands; creating strategies that simplify choices to reduce cognitive load; improving the way options are presented (including better defaults) so that people are less likely to make harmful errors; and promoting earlier and more effective use of delegation and planning practices such as powers of attorney and advance planning documents (the FOA mentions examples like power of attorney and living wills). The overall goal is not only to understand why decision problems happen in aging and AD, but also to translate that understanding into practical supports that reduce harm and improve autonomy.

Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity in the health category, with CFDA number 93.866. It uses the R01 funding mechanism and notes that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial elements when appropriate, but it is not required for every project. The original opportunity posting date in the provided record is December 21, 2017, and the listed original closing date is July 8, 2020 (applicants would still need to verify the current status or any reissued version of the FOA through NIH).

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations: state, county, and local 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; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities. Overall, NIH is signaling an interest in a wide range of applicants and settings, which fits the real-world nature of decision making, exploitation risk, and intervention implementation across diverse communities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Basic and Translational Research on Decision Making in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (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): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-08. (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.

Apply for PAR 18 544

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