Functional Target Validation for Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias
Forecasted Federal grant Posted
- Opportunity number
- RFA-NS-26-034
- Agency
-
National Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications expected due
- Award size
- Not on record
Opportunity facts
- Expected posting
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Health
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- State Governments
- Independent School Districts
- City/Township Governments
- Other
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Small Businesses
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- County Governments
- Special District Governments
- For Profit Organizations
- Points of contact
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is forecasting support for comprehensive functional validation of therapeutic target candidates for Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias, with applications not currently being solicited but notice provided to allow development time for responsive projects. This opportunity explicitly targets de-risking translational research through phased awards (for example, R61/R33) that validate newly identified targets linked to disease mechanisms.
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (public and private), 501(c)(3) nonprofits, small businesses, state and local governments, tribal governments (federally and non-federally recognized), public or Indian housing authorities, special district governments, for-profit organizations, and faith-based or community-based organizations. Non-domestic entities are not eligible.
The initiative structure separates feasibility and proof-of-concept work in the initial phase—developing customized technologies, models, and protocols to modulate target expression or activity and assess physiological consequences in relevant disease models—from the second phase, which measures and cross-validates modulation effects across multiple experimental modalities and collaborating laboratories in accordance with NIH rigor and reproducibility guidelines. Projects transition upon successful achievement of predefined, milestone-based criteria.
Evaluation emphasizes scientific merit and significance, technical adequacy of experimental design, investigator competency, facility adequacy, budget necessity, and relevance to program objectives. Research applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs annually require prior NINDS agreement to accept submission.
This opportunity falls under CFDA 93.853 (Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders), which has obligated $44.21 billion across 43,429 awards as of late 2026, with NINDS representing approximately 68 percent of program funding.
Forecast synopsis
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is interested in supporting ambitious research projects that propose comprehensive functional validation of newly identified therapeutic target candidates for Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD). A major barrier to the development of effective treatments for ADRD, as well as other complex central nervous system disorders, is the lack of well-validated targets that are clearly linked to disease mechanisms. Successful translation of basic discoveries into the clinic depends on the rigor of target validation and confidence in a causal relationship between modulation of a target and its functional physiological consequences relevant to treating or preventing disease. This initiative aims to de-risk subsequent translational research and accelerate the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
NINDS believes that this initiative would be most appropriately supported by a phased award mechanism (for example, R61/R33). In the initial phase, support would be provided for the development of customized technologies, models, and protocols to modulate the expression or activity of candidate targets and to assess their physiological consequences in relevant in vitro and in vivo disease models. Upon successful achievement of predefined, milestone-based technical feasibility and proof-of-concept criteria, projects would transition to the second phase focused on measuring and cross-validating the effects of target modulation across multiple experimental modalities and collaborating laboratories, in accordance with NIH rigor and reproducibility guidelines.
Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop responsive projects and establish appropriate cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Eligibility
Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not allowed
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