Novel Mechanism Research on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer's Dementia (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Research funding available for studying mechanisms of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease to discover new therapeutic targets for treatment.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 16, 2025 (New) | July 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | October 16, 2025 (New) | November 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | February 16, 2026 (New) | March 16, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | June 16, 2026 (New) | July 16, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision)
Funding Amounts: Up to $275,000 direct costs over 2 years; no more than $200,000 in any single year; maximum project period is 2 years.
Summary: Supports exploratory research to elucidate mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets.
Key Information: R21 mechanism; clinical trial optional; updated March 31, 2025—review full FOA for recent changes.
Description
This NIH funding opportunity supports exploratory and developmental research (R21 mechanism) focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). The goal is to advance knowledge of biobehavioral and neurobiological pathways leading to NPS, with the expectation that findings will inform the development of novel therapeutic targets and interventions to treat or prevent NPS in AD/ADRD.
NPS, also known as Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), include aggression, psychosis, anxiety, apathy, depression, agitation, sleep disturbances, and wandering. These symptoms significantly impact patient care, accelerate functional decline, and often lead to earlier institutionalization. There is a critical need for mechanistic research to identify modifiable targets for intervention, as current pharmacological and behavioral treatments are limited.
The R21 mechanism is intended for high-risk/high-reward projects that may lack preliminary data. Both basic and translational research are encouraged, including studies using neuroimaging, neurophysiology, gene expression, epigenetics, and behavioral interventions. Mechanistic clinical trials are allowed, but studies focused solely on safety, efficacy, or implementation of interventions are not supported under this announcement.
