NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Summer Research Education Program (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AG 26 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 26 011

The NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Summer Research Education Program (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity that supports the creation and delivery of intensive summer research education programs focused on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (ADRD). The main purpose is workforce development: getting people exposed to AD/ADRD research early, building research skills, and encouraging participants to continue into biomedical and behavioral research careers that strengthen the AD/ADRD pipeline over time. The program is explicitly aimed at high school students, undergraduate students, and science teachers, and it emphasizes inclusion of individuals from all backgrounds, including groups that are underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences.

Funded programs are expected to provide hands-on, immersive summer research experiences in AD/ADRD. In practice, this typically means structured research training under the guidance of experienced mentors, exposure to the scientific process, and opportunities to learn how AD/ADRD research is conducted across relevant areas such as neuroscience, aging biology, cognitive science, data science, clinical research, caregiving research, public health, and behavioral and social sciences. The central outcome the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is looking for is meaningful exposure that helps participants understand the field, build foundational skills, and leave the program more likely to pursue further coursework, degrees, research opportunities, or longer-term involvement in AD/ADRD research.

This opportunity uses the NIH R25 mechanism, which is designed for research education programs rather than for conducting standalone research projects. A key restriction is captured in the title: "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Participants supported by the program cannot lead their own independent clinical trials as the trial's responsible party. However, the NOFO does allow participants to gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as that trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. In other words, trainees can learn from and contribute to clinical trial activity (for example, through data collection, recruitment support, analyses, or protocol-related learning) under supervision, but they cannot be the individual running the trial.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in the categories specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations as allowed by NIH policy. The NOFO also highlights that faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions may be eligible. At the same time, it clearly excludes foreign involvement: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is a grant in the health category (CFDA 93.866) offered by the National Institutes of Health. The opportunity number is RFA-AG-26-011. The listed award ceiling is $200,000. The original closing date is May 26, 2027, and the opportunity was created on September 2, 2025. Overall, this NOFO is best understood as a capacity-building investment: it funds organizations to run summer programs that bring new and more diverse learners and educators into the AD/ADRD research ecosystem, strengthen mentoring and training environments, and expand the long-term talent pool working on dementia-related science and public health challenges.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Summer Research Education Program (R25 Independent 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 2025-09-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-26.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA AG 26 011

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