Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline and Dementias of Aging in Individuals within the Autism Spectrum
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers investigating cognitive decline and dementias in autistic adults. Eligible applicants include universities, medical schools, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations with research capacity. Individual researchers and graduate students may apply as Principal Investigators if properly affiliated. The grant supports biomarker research, clinical studies, and longitudinal investigations focused on aging in the autism spectrum population.
Domestic and foreign institutions may apply, though NIH prioritizes U.S.-based research. Applicants must demonstrate research infrastructure and access to participant populations. This is a basic research and translational science grant with no geographic restrictions.
Federal agencies and state/local governments may partner with primary applicants. Prior NIH funding is not required but competitive applications typically show preliminary data.
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Key dates
- Jun 27, 2025 Applications open
- Feb 5, 2026 Application deadline
- Dec 1, 2026 Award announced
- Dec 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite applications to conduct observational studies in individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) along the lifespan. The overarching goal is to determine the occurrence of age-related neurodegeneration across the heterogeneities of the ASD spectrum, characterize the physiopathology and manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) in ASD, and, ultimately, develop precision-medicine strategies tailored to this understudied population. It is expected that proposed studies pursue deep phenotyping of aging individuals across the ASD spectrum, along with the characterization/validation of existing biomarkers of age-related cognitive decline and/or dementia in this population, and/or the discovery of novel ones. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO intends to utilize the U01 activity code. This NOFO encourages collaborations between investigators with expertise in autism and those with expertise in aging and dementia, fostering interactions between established centers for neurodevelopmental research and centers studying age-related cognitive decline.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Graduate Student
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Researcher (independent)
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative (research plan)
- Budget narrative and detailed budget
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Letters of institutional support
- Preliminary data and pilot study results
- Detailed timeline and milestones
- Statistical analysis plan
- Participant recruitment and retention strategy
- IRB approval or exemption documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Alessandra Rovescalli, Ph.D. National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- 📧 rovescaa@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 301-215-0335
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.866 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$463,372,200
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$172,327,224
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$115,145,694
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$99,649,073
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$93,275,174
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$82,572,681
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$81,344,612
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$78,657,309
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$75,825,492
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$75,398,895
Top States by Funding
- CA 10 awards $633.7M
- MI 2 awards $511.9M
- MO 8 awards $453.5M
- IN 4 awards $303.9M
- PA 6 awards $298.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.866). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $3,746,886,731 | |
| 2025 | $3,777,464,644 | |
| 2026 est. | $261,814,471 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Universities, medical centers, nonprofits, and research institutions can apply. Individuals must be affiliated with eligible institutions. Postdoctoral researchers and graduate students may lead projects under supervisor sponsorship.
What research activities are supported?
Biomarker discovery, clinical assessments, longitudinal cohort studies, and translational research on cognitive aging in autistic populations. Lab-based and clinical research both qualify.
What are typical funding amounts?
NIH R01 grants typically range $250K-$500K annually. Actual amounts depend on project scope and review panel assessment.
How competitive is this grant?
NIH grants are highly competitive, with typical success rates of 15-25%. Strong preliminary data and experienced research teams significantly improve chances.
When are applications due?
Check NIH grants.gov for specific deadline dates. Standard NIH review cycles occur multiple times yearly.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish clear research significance: explain why cognitive aging in autism populations matters and what gaps exist in current knowledge.
- Demonstrate research capacity: include preliminary data, pilot studies, and evidence of team expertise in geriatrics or autism research.
- Specify biomarker relevance: clearly define which biomarkers you'll study and why they're meaningful for this population.
- Build strong collaborations: include gerontologists, neuropsychologists, and autism specialists on your research team.
- Address recruitment and retention: explain how you'll identify and maintain longitudinal relationships with autistic adults aging into later life.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Lack of preliminary data or pilot study results suggesting feasibility. Vague biomarker selection without clear rationale for autism population. Insufficient team expertise in both geriatric research and autism spectrum conditions.
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