Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 121

Institutional Training Programs to Advance Translational Research on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-24-121; CFDA 93.866) designed to strengthen the pipeline of researchers who can move discoveries along the full translational spectrum for AD and ADRD. The central aim is workforce development: building a diverse, interdisciplinary community of scientists and clinician-scientists prepared to tackle Alzheimer's and related dementias from early-stage target discovery through steps that support clinical development, while staying within a training framework that does not allow clinical trials as part of the program.

The award mechanism is a T32 institutional training grant, meaning the application is submitted by an eligible institution rather than by an individual trainee. Successful programs are expected to create a structured training environment for both predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers, deliberately recruiting trainees from varied educational and disciplinary backgrounds. The emphasis is on integrating fields that are often siloed, such as basic biology and disease mechanisms, translational and clinical research perspectives, behavioral research, and modern data science approaches. In practice, NIH is looking for training programs that do more than offer standard coursework or laboratory rotations; the intent is to develop a coherent, interdisciplinary training experience that equips participants with the conceptual and practical skills needed for rigorous, cutting-edge AD/ADRD research.

A key feature of this opportunity is its focus on translational readiness. Programs should prepare trainees to understand and contribute to the steps that connect mechanistic insights to therapeutic strategies, including traditional and emerging drug discovery disciplines. That can include exposure to the types of competencies researchers need to evaluate targets, interpret human-relevant datasets, develop or apply biomarkers and outcome measures (as part of research training, not as clinical trial execution), and navigate challenges that are common in neurodegenerative disease translation, such as heterogeneity in disease presentation and progression. Data science is explicitly named as a core competency area, signaling NIH's expectation that trainees will be prepared to work with complex datasets and contemporary analytical methods that increasingly shape Alzheimer's research.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations, reflecting the training and workforce mission. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses, as well as other categories NIH may consider. The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant types that NIH encourages, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), 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, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, non-domestic entities are not eligible: foreign organizations cannot apply, foreign components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and non-U.S. institutional applicants are explicitly excluded.

Operationally, the opportunity is open with an original closing date of 2026-09-25, and it is categorized as a grant within the health funding activity area. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided source text, so applicants typically need to consult the full NOFO for budget structure, allowable trainee costs, and programmatic expectations that are standard to T32 mechanisms (for example, trainee support categories, training-related expenses, and required training components). Overall, the program is aimed at helping institutions build robust training ecosystems that produce investigators ready to contribute meaningfully to AD/ADRD translational research, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinarity, methodological rigor, and diversification of the research workforce.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Institutional Training Programs to Advance Translational Research on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) (T32 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 2024-03-13.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-25. (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 24 121

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled Institutional Training Programs to Advance Translational Research on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).

Which agency is offering this grant?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-24-121.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The listing provides CFDA 93.866.

What is the main goal of this program?

The central aim is workforce development: strengthening the pipeline of researchers who can move discoveries across the full translational spectrum for AD and ADRD, from early target discovery through steps that support clinical development, within an institutional training framework.

What kind of grant mechanism is this?

This is a T32 institutional training grant. That means the application is submitted by an eligible institution, not by an individual trainee.

Who is the intended applicant: individuals or institutions?

Institutions apply. The program is designed to support the creation and operation of an institutional training environment that then appoints eligible trainees.

Who is the training program intended to support?

The program is expected to create a structured training environment for both predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers.

What research areas does this opportunity focus on?

The focus is on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), with an emphasis on training that spans the translational continuum from mechanistic discovery to research activities that support clinical development.

What does "translational spectrum" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, it refers to preparing researchers who can connect early-stage biological and mechanistic insights to therapeutic strategies and other steps that support clinical development, while remaining within a training program that does not include clinical trials.

Are clinical trials allowed under this T32 program?

No. The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed", indicating that clinical trials are not permitted as part of this training grant program.

Does the program allow training related to biomarkers or outcome measures?

Yes, the description notes that trainees can gain exposure to developing or applying biomarkers and outcome measures as part of research training, but not as clinical trial execution.

What types of trainee backgrounds does NIH want programs to recruit?

Programs are expected to recruit trainees from varied educational and disciplinary backgrounds, and to build a diverse, interdisciplinary trainee community.

What disciplines are emphasized for integration?

The opportunity highlights integrating areas that are often siloed, including basic biology and disease mechanisms, translational and clinical research perspectives, behavioral research, and modern data science approaches.

Is data science part of the expected training?

Yes. Data science is explicitly named as a core competency area, and NIH signals an expectation that trainees will be prepared to work with complex datasets and contemporary analytical methods relevant to Alzheimer's research.

What does NIH mean by "translational readiness" in this training context?

It refers to preparing trainees to understand and contribute to the steps that connect mechanistic findings to therapeutic strategies, including exposure to traditional and emerging drug discovery disciplines and competencies such as evaluating targets and interpreting human-relevant datasets.

What kinds of challenges in neurodegenerative disease translation are trainees expected to be prepared for?

The description calls out challenges such as heterogeneity in disease presentation and progression, which can complicate translation from discovery to clinical development.

What types of U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes (as listed): state, county, city or 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses, plus other categories NIH may consider.

Are minority-serving and community-based institutions specifically encouraged?

Yes. The notice highlights additional eligible applicant types NIH encourages, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The listing mentions eligible federal agencies among the additional applicant types highlighted.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?

Yes. The notice includes U.S. territories or possessions among the highlighted eligible applicant types.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

No. Non-domestic entities are not eligible. The description states that foreign organizations cannot apply, foreign components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and non-U.S. institutional applicants are excluded.

Is a foreign component of a U.S. organization allowed?

No. The information provided explicitly states that foreign components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The opportunity is open with an original closing date of 2026-09-25.

What funding activity area is this opportunity associated with?

It is categorized as a grant within the health funding activity area.

Does the provided listing include the award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The provided source text states that the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

Where should applicants look for budget structure and allowable costs?

The description indicates applicants typically need to consult the full NOFO for details on budget structure, allowable trainee costs, and programmatic expectations that are standard to T32 mechanisms (such as trainee support categories and training-related expenses).

What is NIH looking for beyond standard coursework or lab rotations?

NIH is looking for programs that provide a coherent, interdisciplinary training experience with conceptual and practical skills for rigorous, cutting-edge AD/ADRD research, rather than a collection of disconnected activities.

What is the overarching expected outcome of funded programs?

The program aims to help institutions build robust training ecosystems that produce investigators prepared to contribute meaningfully to AD/ADRD translational research, emphasizing interdisciplinarity, methodological rigor, and diversification of the research workforce.

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