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.Apply for PAR 23 207
- 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.
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FAQs: NIH R01 (PAR-23-207) - Novel Mechanism Research on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer's Dementia
1) What is the name and number of this grant opportunity?
This funding opportunity is from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is titled "Novel Mechanism Research on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer's Dementia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)." The FOA number is PAR-23-207.
2) What is the main purpose of PAR-23-207?
The purpose is to support research that explains why neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) emerge and persist in people living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). NIH is emphasizing mechanistic studies that move beyond describing symptoms to identifying the underlying biobehavioral and neurobiological pathways driving those symptoms, with the longer-term expectation that this insight can inform targeted treatments or prevention strategies.
3) What types of symptoms are considered neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in dementia?
The FOA highlights that NPS in dementia can include agitation, depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability, sleep disruption, hallucinations, and other behavioral or emotional changes. These symptoms can be as disabling as cognitive decline and often have major impacts on quality of life for both patients and caregivers.
4) What makes this FOA different from research that only measures or tracks symptoms?
This announcement prioritizes studies that explain the "how" and "why" behind NPS by identifying measurable mechanisms. NIH is looking for rigorous connections between observed clinical symptoms and underlying pathways rather than projects that only document symptom frequency, severity, or progression.
5) What is meant by "Novel Mechanism Research" in this context?
In this context, "novel mechanism research" refers to studies designed to clarify the biological and behavioral processes that lead to NPS in AD/ADRD. The emphasis is on uncovering the pathways that drive symptom emergence and persistence, with a clear mechanistic rationale that could point toward new therapeutic targets.
6) What kinds of mechanisms or pathways does NIH want applicants to investigate?
The FOA signals interest in both biobehavioral and neurobiological pathways, including work that can connect symptoms to biomarkers, brain network alterations, physiological stress systems, inflammation, neurochemistry, genetics, immune responses, circuit-level dysfunction, and carefully characterized behavioral mechanisms.
7) Does NIH view NPS as only a reaction to memory loss or the caregiving environment?
No. A core theme of the FOA is that NPS may not be merely secondary reactions to cognitive decline or environmental circumstances. Instead, NIH is emphasizing the possibility that NPS reflect specific brain and body changes and other measurable biological and behavioral processes that can be studied mechanistically.
8) What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for applicants?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component, but a clinical trial is not required. The FOA allows for projects that are not clinical trials as well as projects that include clinical trial elements, as long as the central focus remains mechanistic understanding.
9) If an applicant proposes an intervention study, what does NIH expect?
Even if an intervention is included, NIH emphasizes that the primary goal should be mechanistic insight (for example, testing a mechanistic hypothesis in people), not simply showing that an intervention works. The intervention component should support the mechanistic aims.
10) What kinds of study approaches fit this FOA?
Based on the description provided, suitable approaches can include basic-mechanistic studies in humans, translational studies that bridge human and model-system insights, and clinical research that tests mechanistic hypotheses in real-world patient populations. Across these approaches, the key expectation is a rigorous link between NPS and underlying mechanisms.
11) What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The mechanism is an NIH R01, which generally supports substantial, multi-year research projects with clearly defined aims, a strong rationale, and a well-justified approach and budget aligned with the project scope.
12) Is this considered a discretionary grant and what funding area is it in?
Yes. The listing describes it as a discretionary grant under the NIH umbrella and categorizes it in the health funding activity area.
13) What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.866.
14) Is there an award ceiling or a stated number of expected awards?
The excerpt provided does not list an award ceiling or the number of expected awards. It notes that the R01 structure generally implies competitive, investigator-initiated research with budgets and project periods justified by the proposed scope.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. domestic organizations, including:
- 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 with or 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
- Small businesses
16) Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes eligibility for 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), and faith-based or community-based organizations.
17) Can non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
18) Are U.S. territories and regional organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA notes eligibility for U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations.
19) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes eligible federal agencies among the list of eligible applicants.
20) When was this opportunity created and what is the listed closing date?
The listing shows the opportunity was created on 2023-06-14, and it shows an original closing date of 2026-09-07.
21) Should applicants rely only on the listed closing date?
No. The description advises treating the posted closing date as a 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 be issued through notices.
22) What outcomes does NIH ultimately hope this research will enable?
NIH indicates that stronger mechanistic insight may reveal novel therapeutic targets. These targets could later be developed into interventions to treat NPS or prevent NPS from developing in AD/ADRD, potentially improving outcomes for patients and caregivers.
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