Grant Award Summary

Northwestern University's Sponsored Research Division received a $773,538 Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866), effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. This award funds the NICE Trial (Nicotinamide Riboside to Improve Functioning in PAD), a Phase III multi-centered, double-blinded randomized clinical trial investigating the therapeutic efficacy of nicotinamide riboside (NR), a B3 vitamin precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), in improving functional outcomes for older adults with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD).

The research addresses a significant clinical gap in PAD treatment by testing whether NR supplementation can improve skeletal muscle mitochondrial activity, reduce oxidative stress, and increase nitric oxide bioavailability to enhance lower extremity perfusion and walking capacity. Building on pilot trial data demonstrating improved six-minute walk distances and treadmill walking times in PAD patients receiving NR compared to placebo, the NICE Trial will generate clinical evidence to determine whether this intervention can prevent functional decline and mobility loss in this patient population. The research is being conducted at Northwestern University's Evanston, Illinois facility as part of the National Institute on Aging's mission to support biomedical and behavioral research addressing age-related diseases and functional impairment.