Technology to Detect, Monitor and Assess Daily Functions in Individuals with Cognitive Decline, Alzheimer's Disease and/or Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 18 326

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 326

The funding opportunity titled "Technology to Detect, Monitor and Assess Daily Functions in Individuals with Cognitive Decline, Alzheimer's Disease and/or Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) announcement focused on creating practical technologies that can measure day-to-day functioning in people who are at risk for, or already living with, Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. The program is built around the idea that continuous, real-world data about everyday activities can give researchers and clinicians a clearer picture of cognitive decline than occasional clinic visits or one-time assessments. In plain terms, it is looking for tools that can capture how someone is functioning in daily life, over time, with minimal burden.

The core goal is to stimulate research and development of wearable devices, mobile-based tools, and other technology platforms, including software applications, that can collect ongoing or near-continuous information related to activities of daily living. These variables could include patterns and changes in routine behaviors such as movement, sleep, location and wandering risk, medication-taking behaviors, communication and phone use, computer interaction, meal preparation habits, social engagement, and other indicators that reflect independence and functional abilities. The emphasis on continuous data suggests interest in passive or low-effort monitoring approaches that can detect subtle shifts early, track progression, and potentially support caregivers and healthcare providers with more objective, longitudinal information.

This FOA uses the STTR mechanism, meaning it is intended for small businesses that partner with a research institution, combining commercialization capacity with scientific expertise. The award mechanism specified is R41/R42, which aligns with the typical STTR phased approach: an early-stage feasibility and prototype-development phase followed by a more advanced development and validation phase. The announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which generally means applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial, such as prospectively assigning human participants to an intervention to evaluate health-related outcomes. The work can still involve human-centered design, usability testing, observational data collection, and technology validation studies, as long as the proposed activities do not cross into clinical trial territory under NIH rules.

Eligibility is limited to small businesses. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply under this announcement. However, the notice indicates that foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed in some circumstances, which typically means certain aspects of the work might be performed outside the U.S. if there is a strong justification and it meets NIH policy requirements, but the applicant organization itself must be eligible and U.S.-based.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area (CFDA 93.866) and is offered by the NIH. The funding opportunity number is PAR 18 326, and the record shows an award ceiling of $350,000. The original closing date listed is 2020-01-05, and the opportunity record was created on 2017-10-25. While the closing date suggests this particular posting may be historical, the underlying priorities it represents are consistent with broader NIH and NIA interests in digital health, passive sensing, and functional outcome measurement in dementia research.

Overall, this grant opportunity is designed for small business-led teams that want to build and mature technology capable of monitoring real-world function in cognitive decline and AD/ADRD. Competitive projects would typically focus on technical innovation, reliable and interpretable measurements, user acceptability for older adults and caregivers, data quality and security considerations, and a credible path toward translating a prototype into a deployable product that can support research, clinical monitoring, or care planning, without proposing an NIH-defined clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Technology to Detect, Monitor and Assess Daily Functions in Individuals with Cognitive Decline, Alzheimer's Disease and/or Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) (R41/R42 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 2017-10-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-05. (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: Small businesses.

Apply for PAR 18 326

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