From Association to Function in the Alzheimers Disease Post-Genomics Era (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AG 18 026

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 18 026

This grant opportunity, titled "From Association to Function in the Alzheimers Disease Post-Genomics Era (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (RFA-AG-18-026), is a National Institutes of Health funding announcement from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). It supports research that moves beyond genetic association signals and into the practical biology of Alzheimers disease, with a clear emphasis on sporadic and late-onset AD. The central goal is to turn findings from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and related human genetics into functional understanding by focusing on how AD-linked genetic variants influence proteins, protein interactions, and multi-protein complexes. The FOA is positioned for teams that can connect genetics to protein-level consequences in a way that helps clarify disease mechanisms and, over time, opens up more realistic paths to therapeutic development.

A defining feature of the program is its focus on platform and pipeline development rather than jumping immediately into deep, single-gene mechanistic studies. NIA is specifically interested in more effective and integrated approaches to screening and characterizing protein function, protein-protein interactions, and protein complex behavior, and in determining how these are regulated or altered by different AD genetic variants. In other words, the FOA is aiming to fund work that can systematically evaluate what risk-associated variants are doing at the molecular and cellular level, especially in ways that are scalable, comparable across targets, and suitable for prioritizing which genes, proteins, pathways, or complexes deserve more intensive follow-up. The expectation is that improved functional screening strategies will make it easier to translate genetic discoveries into phenotypic insights, ultimately helping the field make sense of the complex and multi-factorial biology underlying AD.

The award mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and it is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications must not propose clinical trials as defined by NIH. The activity category is Health (CFDA 93.866), and the funding instrument is a discretionary grant. The listed award ceiling is $350,000 (as provided in the source data). The original closing date for this specific announcement was 2018-03-28, and the posting record shows a creation date of 2017-12-14, which helps situate it historically as a time when the AD genetics literature was rapidly expanding and there was a recognized bottleneck in functional interpretation.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organizational types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), 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. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects an intent to encourage collaboration across different sectors and institution types, including groups that may bring specialized capabilities in proteomics, structural biology, computational biology, variant engineering, or high-throughput functional screening.

Overall, the opportunity is geared toward collaborative, innovative research that can bridge a key gap in Alzheimers research: turning statistically associated genetic variants into concrete functional knowledge about proteins and protein networks. By prioritizing integrated screening platforms and systematic characterization of protein function and interactions influenced by AD variants, the FOA aims to help the field prioritize targets and build a more unified understanding of late-onset AD biology before committing to narrow, labor-intensive mechanistic studies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "From Association to Function in the Alzheimers Disease Post-Genomics Era (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2017-12-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-03-28. (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 $350,000.00 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 18 026

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