Dementia Care and Caregiver Support Intervention Research – Stage I Only
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and universities developing behavioral interventions for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Applicants must be capable of conducting NIH-funded research and have relevant expertise in dementia care or caregiver support. The grant supports Stage I development research only, not later-stage clinical trials. Eligible activities include intervention design, feasibility testing, and fidelity procedures for behavioral interventions targeting people with AD/ADRD and their caregivers.
Applications must align with the NIH Stage Model for behavioral intervention development. This is a competitive federal grant requiring strong scientific merit and institutional research capacity. Budget amounts are determined through standard NIH processes based on project scope.
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Key dates
- Jun 27, 2025 Applications open
- Feb 16, 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 NIH Stage Model Stage I research applications focused on the development of behavioral interventions for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) and/or their care partners or caregivers. Awards made through this NOFO will support mechanism-focused Stage I research to develop or to modify, adapt, or refine a principle-based behavioral intervention, establish acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, and develop intervention fidelity procedures in preparation for subsequent later-stage clinical trials. 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 R34 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of aging research are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- 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) Application Form
- Project Narrative/Research Plan
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches
- References (cited literature)
- Institutional Support Letter
- Human Subjects Protection Plan (if applicable)
- Data Management Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Melissa Riddle, Ph.D. National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- 📧 melissa-riddle@nih.gov
- 📞 301-480-6761
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
-
$99,649,073
-
$93,275,174
-
$82,572,681
-
$81,344,612
-
$78,657,309
-
$75,825,492
-
$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 is eligible to apply for this grant?
Research institutions, universities, and organizations capable of conducting NIH-funded research can apply. You must have relevant expertise in dementia research or caregiver interventions.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is February 16, 2026. Applications are not being solicited currently; this notice provides advance notice for planning purposes.
What type of research does this grant support?
Stage I development research only. This includes designing interventions, testing acceptability and feasibility, and developing fidelity procedures—not full clinical trials.
How competitive is this grant?
This is a highly competitive federal NIH grant. Strong preliminary data, clear innovation, and demonstrated research capacity are essential for success.
What is the typical award amount?
Award amounts vary based on project scope and are determined through standard NIH peer review processes. Consult your NIH program officer for budget guidance.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start building collaborations now. This grant requires interdisciplinary teams with dementia expertise and caregiver research experience.
- Review the NIH Stage Model framework carefully. Ensure your intervention development aligns with Stage I expectations and milestones.
- Emphasize feasibility over efficacy. Stage I focuses on acceptability, preliminary feasibility, and fidelity—not proving the intervention works.
- Prepare strong preliminary data early. Show pilot evidence that your approach is promising and ready for Stage I development.
- Engage your NIH program officer before writing. Early contact clarifies expectations and strengthens alignment with funder priorities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing full-scale clinical trials instead of Stage I intervention development work. Weak or missing collaborations with dementia researchers and caregiver communities. Insufficient preliminary data demonstrating intervention feasibility or acceptability.
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