Single Source: Post-Stroke Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID) in the United States (U19 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 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 and research institutions investigating post-stroke vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) in the United States. Eligible applicants typically include academic medical centers, research hospitals, universities, and research institutes with strong neuroscience and stroke research programs. The U19 mechanism supports collaborative group research, so multi-institutional research teams are encouraged. Applicants must have the institutional capacity, qualified personnel, and appropriate facilities to conduct rigorous clinical research. Clinical trials are not allowed under this limited competition. The program emphasizes understanding the vascular mechanisms underlying cognitive decline following stroke events.
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Key dates
- Jun 30, 2026 Applications open
- Jul 1, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 1, 2026 Project start
- Sep 28, 2026 Application deadline in 74 days
Program description
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, with the National Institute on Aging, intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research on the specific subsets of stroke events that cause cognitive impairment and dementia in post-stroke populations in the United States. With one in three people having a clinical stroke during their lifetime and dementia occurring in an estimated 30% of post-stroke patients, the public health impact of post-stroke cognitive impairment is high. Additional research to understand what clinical factors may causally synergize with stroke to result in cognitive impairment and dementia outcomes is needed.
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 will utilize the U19 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area and awards made under RFA-NS-19-012 are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO. In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise in stroke, cognitive impairment and dementia, genetics, neuroimaging and other biomarkers, biostatistics, and longitudinal observational studies will be encouraged.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIH Form SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (research strategy, aims, methods, significance)
- Budget and Budget Justification (for all participating institutions)
- Biographical Sketch (for all key personnel)
- Facilities and Administrative Resources documentation
- Letters of Institutional Commitment and Support from collaborating institutions
- IRB approval letter or documentation of IRB review plan
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Research Performance Progress Report (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Lina Garcia, MD
- 📧 lina.garcia@nih.gov
- 📞 301-496-9135
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.853 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$56,144,651
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$40,959,789
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$35,655,349
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$35,655,116
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$35,335,145
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$34,183,297
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$32,294,153
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$32,234,840
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$31,739,294
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$27,282,286
Top States by Funding
- MA 5 awards $123.9M
- OH 4 awards $112.5M
- CA 4 awards $101.3M
- FL 3 awards $100.3M
- MI 3 awards $85.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.853). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,362,835,459 | |
| 2025 | $2,345,500,401 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Research institutions (universities, medical centers, research hospitals) with established neuroscience or stroke research programs. Individual researchers must be affiliated with eligible institutions. Institutions must have institutional review board capacity and appropriate research infrastructure.
Are clinical trials allowed?
No. This is a limited competition mechanism that specifically excludes clinical trial applications. Research should focus on mechanistic investigation rather than intervention testing.
What types of activities are supported?
Research investigating post-stroke vascular mechanisms of cognitive impairment and dementia, including basic science, translational, and observational clinical studies. Multi-institutional collaborative research is encouraged under the U19 mechanism.
How competitive is this funding?
This is a limited competition with restricted eligibility, making it less competitive than open announcements. However, scientific rigor and innovative approaches remain critical for success. Track record in stroke and cognitive research strengthens applications.
What is the typical funding range?
U19 mechanisms typically provide higher funding levels than individual project grants to support multi-year, collaborative research programs. Exact amounts vary by application scope; consult the full FOA for specific guidance.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Assemble a strong multi-institutional research team with complementary expertise in stroke pathophysiology, vascular biology, cognitive assessment, and neuroimaging
- Clearly articulate the specific vascular mechanisms linking post-stroke events to cognitive decline and dementia that your research will investigate
- Emphasize institutional commitment through letters of support, demonstration of existing collaboration infrastructure, and shared research resources
- Include rigorous methodology with appropriate controls, validated cognitive and imaging endpoints, and biomarker components to strengthen the application
- Position your research within existing NIH stroke and dementia research priorities, referencing recent NIH-supported work and explaining how your investigation fills evidence gaps
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail by focusing primarily on stroke recovery outcomes rather than the specific vascular mechanisms driving post-stroke cognitive impairment. Weak or poorly defined team structures for collaborative research undermine U19 applications, as do proposals lacking clear institutional commitment and resource-sharing agreements. Additionally, applications proposing clinical interventions or trials are ineligible for this mechanism.
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