Group items tagged

In May of 2013 the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), with input from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), held an Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias Conference in response to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. The Conference brought together national and international experts and members of the public to develop research priorities for accelerating the development of therapies for the Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRDs). The ADRD 2013 research recommendations that resulted are part of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. This FOA addresses the National Plan's highest priority for human-based research on vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID): to develop noninvasive markers of key vascular processes related to VCID in Alzheimer's and related dementias. The research program initiated here underscores the need to facilitate the development of biomarkers to improve the efficiency and outcome of Phase II and III clinical trials and advance therapeutic development. These companion FOAs (RFA-NS-16-019, i.e. this FOA; and RFA-NS-16-020 for the Biomarkers Development Projects) establish the Small Vessel VCID Biomarkers Consortium, and are focused on small vessel (i.e. arterioles, capillaries, and venules) VCID in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), vascular dementia, and all mixed and pure cognitive impairment and dementias with contributing small vessel vascular disease, including such as commonly occurs in sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Awards funded under these two FOAs create a consortium and infrastructure to complete development projects as well as planning that will enable follow-up activities (to be carried out under future separate funding; for example large scale multi-site validation studies and other activities, for future FDA qualification of small vessel VCID biomarkers and use in clinical trials).

The purpose of the FOA is to support the structural characterization of protein species associated with Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRDs) through the utilization of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) of proteins expressed in human tissue and cell sources. Studies in response to this RFA should also include the development of research tools and resources to further characterize/validate the protein species. This FOA is in response to the Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) challenges outlined in the 2016 update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the development of PET radioligands that identify proteinopathies or pathological processes associated with the human biology of Alzheimer's disease related dementias (ADRDs). Activities supported under this FOA include, but are not limited to the in vitro screening of existing ligands against human ADRD brain tissue, medicinal chemistry support for development of new compounds and improvement of existing ligand specificity and selectivity, initial screening of ligands in appropriate animal models, and radioligand formulation and first-in-human testing. The Center without Walls should encompass research that will move promising ligands through in vitro and in vivo optimization to first-in-human studies. Applications must include an administrative core, a medicinal chemistry core, a clinical core, a scientific governance structure, and a minimum of two research projects with milestone plans that address workflows for screening of existing and newly derived ligands against human ADRD tissue and appropriate animal models. Synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that successful completion of the aims could not be accomplished without the Center structure. This FOA is in response to the Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) challenges outlined in the 2016 update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

The National Institute on Aging invites revision applications to ongoing NIA-supported Cooperative Agreements in the area of the genetics of Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications specific to sample acquisition, genome wide association studies, whole genome sequencing, quality control checking, variant calling, and data calling that will support the generation of data for the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project Follow-Up Study.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to continue the operations of the NIA Genome Center for Alzheimer's Disease (GCAD) to facilitate and support the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP) activities. GCAD will serve as the focal point for all phases of ADSP quality control checking, data harmonization, and meta-analysis. The FOA is intended to support a major component of the full range of analysis for the ADSP. The spectrum of the Center's activities comprises a multidisciplinary attack on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD Related Dementias (ADRD) in keeping with NIA's programmatic needs. The Center will serve as a national resource for the specific purpose of identifying potential avenues for therapeutic approaches and prevention of the disease.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to continue the operations of the NIA Genome Center for Alzheimer's Disease (GCAD) to facilitate and support the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP) activities. GCAD will serve as the focal point for all phases of ADSP quality control checking, data harmonization, and meta-analysis. The FOA is intended to support a major component of the full range of analysis for the ADSP. The spectrum of the Center's activities comprises a multidisciplinary attack on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), in keeping with NIA's programmatic needs. The Center will serve as a national resource for the specific purpose of identifying potential avenues for therapeutic approaches and prevention of the disease.

The purpose of this FOA is to support innovative interdisciplinary, multi-institute research that will lead to the identification and validation of molecular mechanisms relevant to human biology that contribute to tau toxicity associated with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD). It is anticipated that this research will also contribute to tool development that can be applied to target validation in FTD clinical trials.Applications must include an administrative core, a scientific governance structure, a minimum of three research projects with milestone plans, resource core(s) that support the basic research efforts of at least two proposed research projects, a data coordination core that will facilitate the distribution of data generated through the Center without Walls with the broad research community and a human biology validation core that will support the validation of mechanisms identified and resources developed under this FOA. Synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that successful completion of the aims could not be accomplished without the Center structure. This FOA is in response to the Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) challenges outlined in the 2015 update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

The purpose of this FOA is to support innovative interdisciplinary, multi-institute research that will lead to the identification and validation of molecular mechanisms relevant to human biology that contribute to tau toxicity associated with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD). It is anticipated that this research will also contribute to tool development that can be applied to target validation in FTD clinical trials.Applications must include an administrative core, a scientific governance structure, a minimum of three research projects with milestone plans, resource core(s) that support the basic research efforts of at least two proposed research projects, a data coordination core that will facilitate the distribution of data generated through the Center without Walls with the broad research community and a human biology validation core that will support the validation of mechanisms identified and resources developed under this FOA. Synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that successful completion of the aims could not be accomplished without the Center structure. This FOA is in response to the Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) challenges outlined in the 2015 update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

The BrightFocus Foundation provides research funds for U.S. and international researchers pursuing high-risk studies that illuminate areas for which there currently is little understanding, helping to bring to light crucial knowledge about Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. The organization's mission is to save mind and sight by funding innovative research worldwide and by promoting better health through education. To that end, the foundation is accepting applications for its Alzheimer's Disease Research and National Glaucoma Research programs. 1) Alzheimer's Disease Research: Grants of up to $300,000 over three years will be awarded to researchers for innovative investigator-initiated research projects. The program is designed to give scientists the opportunity to develop the preliminary data necessary to be considered competitive for larger government or corporate types of sponsorship. Applications must be received no later than October 18, 2017. 2) National Glaucoma Program: Grants of up to $150,000 over two years will be awarded to researchers for innovative investigator-initiated glaucoma-related research projects. The program is designed to give scientists the opportunity to develop the preliminary data necessary to be considered competitive for larger government or corporate types of sponsorship. Typically these awards are made to junior investigators, or to more established investigators who are proposing particularly innovative research.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications for P30 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) serve as major sources of discovery into the nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias and into the development of more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, care, and therapy. They contribute significantly to the development of shared resources that support dementia-relevant research, and they collaborate and coordinate their research efforts with other NIH-funded programs and investigators.

he goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage applications for studies that will enhance knowledge of mechanisms associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). The findings from such research are expected to advance mechanistic understanding of both biobehavioral and neurobiological pathways leading to NPS, and may provide insights into novel targets for interventions that might alleviate some burden associated with these symptoms, or suggest strategies for preventing the development of NPS as related to AD or ADRD 

The goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage biomedical, behavioral and social sciences research that will enhance knowledge of mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD) so as to enable novel treatment development. NPS, or Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), include aggression, psychosis, anxiety, apathy, depression, agitation, sleep disturbances and wandering, and can be significant challenges to the care and treatment of people with dementia. These symptoms lead to accelerated declines in both functional abilities and may lead to earlier nursing home placement. Currently, few pharmacological treatments are available. In addition, there is a need to understand behavioral and environmental targets to further refine and develop promising behavioral treatments for these disorders.  

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) requests submission of applications for the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Late Onset of Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD) Family Based Study (FBS). Analysis of families that are multiply affected with Alzheimer's disease (AD) provides distinct advantages for characterizing the impact of genetic variants on disease risk. First, multiplex families are likely to be enriched for genetic variants associated with increased risk, providing increased statistical power to estimate the effects. Second, analysis of multiply affected families provides insight into the remaining unknown genetic influences (i.e., the "residual heritability") as well as antecedent modifying factors that interact with identified genetic variants to influence disease risk. Third, family members at risk are followed at regular intervals, facilitating prospective investigation of the effects of the genetic variants on age-at-onset as well as the modifying effects of antecedent risk and protective factors. Finally, family data can provide information regarding the influence of known variants on the rate of disease progression and the residual heritability of disease progression.

Since 1998, ADDF has provided more than $29 million in funding for early stage clinical drug trials for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. To help propel novel drugs into the clinic, ADDF also has provided over $6.5 million in support of final preclinical studies required by regulatory agencies for the initiation of clinical research studies. The goal of the foundation's PACT program is to increase the number of innovative treatments tested in humans for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. To that end, the program will fund clinical trials through Phase 2a of novel drug candidates, including small molecules and biologics (antibodies, oligonucleotides, peptides, gene therapies, cell therapies); proof-of-concept biomarker-based trials in patients for repurposed/repositioned drugs; and regulatory studies for investigational new drug (IND)/clinical trial application preclinical packages that are required before testing novel drugs in human subjects. Proposed molecular targets will be evaluated based on the strength of available evidence linking the target to the disease and demonstrating that modulating its biological activity will improve symptoms or modify disease progression. Current target areas of interest include but are not limited to neuroprotection, inflammation, vascular function, mitochondria and metabolic function, proteostasis, ApoE, epigenetics, and synaptic activity and neurotransmitters.

Applications will be accepted from academic investigators and small companies with lead candidate therapeutic agents that require early stage testing prior to Proof of Concept (POC) Phase 2 or 3 efficacy studies, or with lead therapeutic agents that have already established human safety data and require a small-scale pilot Proof of Mechanism (POM) study in humans to begin proving the scientific concept in humans. This award will support Phase 1 studies or pilot small- scale Phase 2a studies for repurposed drugs in normal individuals or individuals with preclinical or symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (i.e. early human studies to set the stage for efficacy studies), including single and multiple dose studies to establish safety, brain penetration and/or target engagement and POM in preparation for larger proof of concept trials. In addition, proposals may be considered that are POC to validate biological marker(s) of disease progression in a clinical trial environment. Any proposal must have a clear focus on Alzheimer's disease and related disorder and be translational in nature. All proposals should clearly and explicitly outline the measure to be investigated, the methods for study, and outcomes. Researchers from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications specific to infrastructure that will support the storage, analysis, and sharing of primary and secondary data for the genetics and genomics of Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD).

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites applications for basic research to better characterize the affective, cognitive, social, and motivational parameters of impaired and intact decision making in both normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Research is sought that will characterize the extent to which basic behavioral and neural processes involved in decision-making are differentially impacted in normal aging and AD, investigate the influence of social factors on decision-making, and investigate the decision-making factors that render older adults (with or without cognitive impairment) vulnerable to financial exploitation and other forms of mistreatment and abuse. The FOA also invites applications to apply basic research on the processes involved in decision-making to the design of decision-supportive interventions for midlife and older adults with and without AD. Specific opportunities include the development of decision-supportive interventions to leverage cognitive, emotional and motivational strengths of these populations; tools to assess decisional capacity; strategies for simplifying choices and offering better defaults; and the promotion of timely adoption of optimal delegation practices (e.g., power of attorney, living wells, etc.).

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites applications for basic research to better characterize the affective, cognitive, social, and motivational parameters of impaired and intact decision making in both normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Research is sought that will characterize the extent to which basic behavioral and neural processes involved in decision-making are differentially impacted in normal aging and AD, investigate the influence of social factors on decision-making, and investigate the decision-making factors that render older adults (with or without cognitive impairment) vulnerable to financial exploitation and other forms of mistreatment and abuse. The FOA also invites applications to apply basic research on the processes involved in decision-making to the design of decision-supportive interventions for midlife and older adults with and without AD. Specific opportunities include the development of decision-supportive interventions to leverage cognitive, emotional and motivational strengths of these populations; tools to assess decisional capacity; strategies for simplifying choices and offering better defaults; and the promotion of timely adoption of optimal delegation practices (e.g., power of attorney, living wells, etc.).

The Zenith Fellows award was initiated in 1991 to provide a vehicle for research support for donors with a substantial personal commitment to the advancement of Alzheimer's disease research. The awards are made possible by the generosity of a group of individuals and organizations (Zenith Society) that have each committed $1 million to the Alzheimer's Association for support of the program.

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is accepting Letters of Intent for its ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program, which seeks to accelerate innovative research with the potential to prevent, treat, or cure Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. The award will provide recipients with both research funding and committed project support by a team of pharmaceutical industry experts. The program aims to support hit-to-lead optimization through investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies. Award amounts will average $600,000 over two years. In 2019, drug targets related to proteostatis are of high priority, including but not limited to autophagy, lysosomal biogenesis, proteasomal degradation, post-translational modifications associated with proteostasis, protein folding/misfolding, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and extracellular clearance. Other novel targets are encouraged, including but not limited to neuroprotection, inflammation, vascular function, mitochondria and metabolic function, APOE, and epigenetics.

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks to stimulate research on and development of (R&D) wearable, mobile-based, or other technology (software applications, etc.) to collect continuous data on variables assessing functions of daily activities in individuals at risk for or with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or AD-related dementias (ADRD).

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications proposing research on the specific role of aging biology in the development, etiology and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Aging is by far the main risk factor for most chronic diseases, a fact recognized by the field of geroscience. Recent advances in the fields of basic aging biology and geroscience now allow researchers to address mechanistically the role of aging in Alzheimer's disease. Applications that make use of geroscience principles and test the role of different hallmarks of aging biology are specifically appropriate, while those focused solely on aging biology, or solely on Alzheimer's disease will be deemed nonresponsive to the FOA.