Novel Mechanism Research on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer's Dementia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 207

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 207

The National Institutes of Health is offering an R01 grant opportunity (PAR-23-207) titled "Novel Mechanism Research on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer's Dementia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)." This announcement is aimed at supporting research that digs into why neuropsychiatric symptoms emerge and persist in people living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). In practical terms, the NIH is looking for studies that can move beyond describing symptoms and instead explain the underlying mechanisms that drive them, with the expectation that stronger mechanistic insight will point toward new, more targeted ways to treat or even prevent these symptoms.

The scientific emphasis is on clarifying both biobehavioral and neurobiological pathways that lead to NPS. Neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia often include issues like agitation, depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability, sleep disruption, hallucinations, and other behavioral or emotional changes that can be just as disabling as memory decline. This FOA is structured around the idea that these symptoms are not merely secondary reactions to cognitive loss or caregiving environments, but may reflect specific brain and body changes, circuit-level dysfunction, dysregulated stress and immune responses, or other measurable biological and behavioral processes. The NIH is signaling interest in work that can connect observable symptoms to underlying pathways in a rigorous way, such as linking clinical presentations to biomarkers, brain network alterations, physiological stress systems, inflammation, neurochemistry, genetics, or carefully characterized behavioral mechanisms.

A key point is that the opportunity is "Clinical Trial Optional." That means applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component, but they are not required to. Projects could be basic-mechanistic studies in humans, translational studies that bridge human and model-system insights, or clinical research that tests mechanistic hypotheses in real-world patient populations. Importantly, even if an intervention is involved, the central goal should still be mechanistic understanding, not simply demonstrating that something works. The NIH also highlights that the findings from these mechanistic studies may reveal novel therapeutic targets, which could later be developed into interventions to treat NPS or prevent NPS from developing in AD/ADRD.

This is a discretionary grant under the NIH umbrella, categorized in the health funding activity area, and tied to CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.866. The funding mechanism is the R01, which typically supports substantial, multi-year research projects with clearly defined aims, strong preliminary rationale, and a well-justified approach. While the excerpt does not list an award ceiling or the number of expected awards, the R01 structure generally implies competitive, investigator-initiated research with budgets and project periods justified by the proposed scope.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of domestic U.S. organizations: state, county, city, township, and 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In addition, the FOA explicitly notes other eligible applicants 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), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility is consistent with the NIH's interest in diverse institutional participation and research settings, including community-based contexts and organizations that serve populations often underrepresented in research.

From a timing standpoint, the listing shows an original closing date of 2026-09-07, with the opportunity created on 2023-06-14. Applicants interested in submitting should treat the posted closing date as a key planning anchor, while also checking NIH and Grants.gov postings for the most current submission cycles, due dates, and any updates or clarifications that may come out through notices. Overall, this FOA is essentially a call for strong, hypothesis-driven research that explains the "how" and "why" behind neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's and related dementias, with a clear line of sight toward actionable biological or behavioral targets that could ultimately improve patient and caregiver outcomes.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Novel Mechanism Research on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer's Dementia (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): 93.242, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-07. (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 23 207

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