Funding Opportunities

This funding opportunity announcement invites research on the mechanism(s) by which abnormal proteins spread throughout the nervous systems of patients with Frontotemporal Dementia and/or Lewy Body Dementia.  Applications that move beyond a focus on one mechanism of spread to consider how spreading might proceed in the context of multiple proteinopathies, multiple cell/circuit types, and multiple pathways are of particular interest.

Accumulation of abnormal proteins such as alpha-synuclein or tau in the brains of patients with dementia tends to occur in specific brain structures (cells/circuits/regions), resulting in the unique clinical presentations that are characteristic of the different types of dementia. This funding opportunity announcement invites applications that seek to identify mechanisms responsible for this selective regional vulnerability to abnormal protein deposition in the brains of patients with Lewy Body Dementia or Frontotemporal Dementia.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to serve as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Human Biospecimen and Data Repository in Neurological Disorders. This repository will maintain the current collection of biospecimens as well as support expansion of the collection in accordance with the NINDS mission. The NINDS Human Biospecimen and Data Repository will distribute biospecimens broadly to qualified academic and industry researchers to advance basic, translational and clinical research in neurological disorders.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications for the Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research program. The overarching goal of this program is to support specialized research Centers that work collaboratively as well as independently to define the causes of and discover improved treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD). A more immediate goal for each Center is to rapidly advance synergistic, interdisciplinary research programs while serving as national leaders in PD research. Applicants will identify an overall research theme that directly addresses a critical challenge in PD research. The Center theme, proposed research projects, and associated cores will inform the etiology, pathogenesis, or treatment of PD; investigations on related synucleinopathies may be included if such directly address the identified PD research challenge. Udall Centers also serve as local resources by providing research career enhancement activities for Center investigators and periodic outreach to the PD patient/advocacy community. Required components of this FOA include: an Overall section describing the Center theme, vision and organization; three or more Research Projects, plus a dedicated Udall Catalyst research project led by an early career researcher poised to become an expert in PD research; an Administrative Core; at least one integrated Research Core that is essential to and accelerates the progress of two or more Research Projects; a mission statement for career enhancement of Center investigators, and a plan for periodic outreach to the local patient/advocacy community, including specific outreach events to convey Center research advances. The NINDS Udall Centers program prioritizes innovative and integrative research with significant potential for discovery. Considerable synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that the Center structure is required for successful completion of the aims. Funding decisions will focus on those applications most likely to make significant contributions to PD research, as well as those with greatest potential to collaborate effectively across the Udall Centers program.  

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites Exploratory Grant (P20) applications for the planning and initiation of collaborative efforts to advance Parkinson's Disease (PD) research. The goal of this program is to formalize new collaborative directions and/or novel interdisciplinary teams to address critical gaps in PD research and to establish a rigorous foundation of research discovery leading directly to an NINDS Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence (P50) application. Through this mechanism, the NINDS seeks to develop synergistic, proof-of-concept research efforts around investigator-defined gaps in PD research and support collaborative teams to develop a research plan, construct an effective administrative organization, create standardized policies/procedures, and gather rigorous preliminary data in support of novel ideas to address urgent needs and emergent issues in PD research. The Exploratory Grant theme and proposed research feasibility projects will inform the etiology, pathogenesis, or treatment of PD; investigations on related synucleinopathies may be included if such directly address the identified PD research gap. Required components of this FOA include an Overall section, an Administrative Core, and three or more research feasibility projects, at least one of which must be led by an early career researcher poised to become an expert in PD research. Synergy among proposed research projects must be evident as well as required for successful completion of the overall aims. To foster the development of innovative research consortia, this solicitation will provide support to formalize new collaborative directions and/or novel interdisciplinary teams only. NINDS funding decisions will focus primarily on scientific merit, i.e., on those applications that are most likely to make innovative contributions to PD research and that demonstrate potential to submit a P50 application at the end of the Exploratory Grant project period.  

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites applications to develop a multisite, longitudinal, prospective study of idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) as a prodromal phase of α-synuclein neurodegenerative disorders. 

The purpose of the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support the use and analysis of data available through the knowledge portal for the Accelerating Medicine Partnership in Parkinson’s disease (AMP PD). This FOA invites applications that will utilize AMP PD data within the AMP PD Google cloud environment to apply computational approaches that will enable data integration and analysis across AMP PD clinical, genomic and transcriptional datasets to identify algorithms, biomarkers and biological pathways related to Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, prognosis and progression. Datasets outside of AMP PD may be brought into the AMP PD cloud environment to further the analysis and validation of discoveries originating from the use of AMP PD data. Computational approaches will be developed and managed through the application of Jupyter notebooks in the AMP PD cloud environment. Workflows and tools developed through this research will be deposited in the AMP PD methods repository for broad sharing with the research community.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites researchers to submit applications for support of clinical studies that address critical needs for clinical trial readiness in rare neurological and neuromuscular diseases. These studies should result in clinically validated biomarkers and clinical outcome assessment measures appropriate for use in upcoming clinical trials. Through the support of trial readiness studies, NINDS and NCATS expect to enhance the quality and increase the likelihood of success of clinical trials in these rare diseases.

The overarching purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to promote the discovery of strong candidate biomarkers and biomarker signatures for neurological and neuromuscular disorders/diseases that can be used as tools to facilitate the clinical development of neurotherapeutics and their use in clinical practice. Specifically, the focus of this FOA is on the identification and initial biological, analytical and clinical evaluation of biomarkers and biomarker signatures for neurological or neuromuscular disorders/diseases. Although research supported by this FOA can include animal studies, it must also include preliminary evaluation of the biomarker or biomarker signature in carefully standardized human samples or datasets. The goal of this initiative is to deliver candidate biomarkers and biomarker signatures that are ready for definitive analytical and clinical validation studies (see PAR-18-548, PAR-18-549, PAR-18-550 , PAR-19-220 and PAR-18-664).

The overarching purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fill critical scientific gaps needed to advance strong candidate biomarkers of neurological disease from discovery to clinical use. Specifically, the focus of this FOA is on the validation of analytical methods for biomarker measurements, including evaluation of the assay, its performance characteristics, and the optimal conditions that will generate reproducibility and accuracy consistent with FDA guidelines that are fit for the purpose of the assay.

The overarching purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fill critical scientific gaps needed to advance strong candidate biomarkers of neurological disease from discovery to clinical use. Specifically, the focus of this FOA is on the validation of analytical methods for biomarker measurements, including evaluation of the assay, its performance characteristics, and the optimal conditions that will generate reproducibility and accuracy consistent with FDA guidelines that are fit for the purpose of the assay.

The overarching purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fill critical scientific gaps needed to advance strong candidate biomarkers from discovery to clinical use. Specifically, the focus of this FOA is to support the clinical validation of candidate biomarkers of neurological disease using retrospective and/or prospective methods. Research supported by this FOA should demonstrate that biomarker change is reliably correlated with variables such as clinical outcome, disease progression, disease onset and severity, drug target engagement or response to a drug. In addition, biomarker response should be specific to the disease or therapeutic as demonstrated at multiple clinical sites.

The overarching purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fill critical scientific gaps needed to advance strong candidate biomarkers from discovery to clinical use. Specifically, the focus of this FOA is to support the clinical validation of candidate biomarkers of neurological disease using retrospective and/or prospective methods. Research supported by this FOA should demonstrate that biomarker change is reliably correlated with variables such as clinical outcome, disease progression, disease onset and severity, drug target engagement or response to a drug. In addition, biomarker response should be specific to the disease or therapeutic as demonstrated at multiple clinical sites.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage grant applications for investigator-initiated exploratory clinical trials to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The trials must address questions within the mission and research interests of the NINDS and may include Phase 1 and 2 studies of drugs and biologics, feasibility studies of devices, and early studies of surgical, behavioral or rehabilitation therapies.  All exploratory trials must contribute to the justification for, and provide some of the data required to inform a future trial to establish efficacy (such as a Phase 3, Phase 4 or Pivotal trial).

The purpose of this initiative is to identify potential diagnostic markers for the Lewy Body Dementias using non-blood or non-CSF peripheral specimens and tissues (e.g., skin, salivary gland, gastrointestinal tract, etc.). Blood and CSF have traditionally and extensively been examined for neurodegenerative disease biomarkers; however, research suggests that abnormal alpha-synuclein accumulation occurs in other peripheral tissues and specimens early in the disease course and may provide opportunities for early diagnosis and future treatment development.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage grant applications for investigator-initiated prospective observational comparative effectiveness research (CER) to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (note: only prospective observational studies will be considered)). The study must address questions within the mission and research interests of the NINDS and may evaluate preventive strategies, diagnostic approaches, or interventions including drugs, biologics, and devices, or surgical, behavioral, and rehabilitation therapies. NINDS is particularly interested in pragmatic study designs that utilize a cost-effective means of prospectively collecting observational data important to current clinical practice.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support hypothesis-driven research to discover human biomarkers in Parkinson’s disease and other Parkinsonian syndromes, as a component of the NINDS Parkinson’s Disease Biomarkers Program (PDBP). This FOA encourages biomarkers discovery projects in: 1) genetically causal Parkinson's disease, especially for particular sub-types of Parkinson's Disease (PD), including genetic cohorts, biologically defined cohorts of idiopathic PD, or ethnic subgroups of idiopathic PD; 2) the differentiation of synucleinopathies (such as PD and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) from tauopathies (such as  Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal degeneration); or 3) to improve diagnostic differentiation between idiopathic/subtypes of PD and these disorders, as well as from Essential tremor. To further advance research in this area, broad sharing of biospecimens and associated data is a critical feature of the PDBP generally and of this FOA specifically. A timeline including milestones, which will be used to evaluate the application not only in peer review but also in consideration of the awarded project for funding of non-competing award years, is required for all studies.

The purpose of the Lewy Body Dementia Center Without Walls (CWOW) program is ultimately to understand how toxic species of alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta produce the clinical pathology characteristic of Lewy Body Dementia.  This FOA invites applications that will systematically and comprehensively characterize alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta subspecies found in human LBD post-mortem brain tissue, identify toxic subspecies and potential mechanisms of toxicity, and characterize any interactions between the proteins that may contribute to increased toxicity and/or explain selective vulnerabilities of cells/circuits.  Given the heterogeneity of both alpha-synuclein and beta-amyloid subspecies, applicants will be expected to focus on the use of post-mortem brain tissue from subjects with LBD; human neuronal cultures/slices/organoids, and human blood/stem cells/CSF from subjects with LBD may also be used for this purpose.  It is expected that a multi-site, multidisciplinary team with expertise in 1) mapping neuronal protein structure, function, and interactions at multiple levels, and 2) elucidating neurodegenerative mechanisms that are likely to be relevant to LBD, will be necessary.  All centers will be expected to produce a publicly-available library of fully characterized alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta subspecies found in LBD.

The goal of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support collaborative translational research projects aligned with NIH efforts to enhance the translation of basic biological discoveries into clinical applications that improve health. This opportunity is specifically to promote partnerships between NIH intramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research within the labs and clinics of the NIH) and extramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research in labs and clinics outside of the NIH).  It will provide support for extramural investigators to take advantage of the unique research opportunities available at the NIH Clinical Center (http://www.cc.nih.gov/translational-research- resources/resources.html) by conducting research projects in collaboration with NIH intramural investigators.

While translating basic research into clinical practice is increasingly difficult, time consuming, and expensive, translational research is crucially important in converting basic scientific discoveries into new diagnostics and therapies for patients.  As such, this FOA intends to broaden and strengthen translational research collaborations between basic and clinical researchers both within and outside NIH to accelerate and enhance translational science. All teams must have at least one intramural and one extramural investigator.

This program will provide access for external researchers to the NIH Clinical Center and will leverage the diverse Clinical Center resources, expertise, and infrastructure available to test promising laboratory- and animal-based discoveries with potential implications for disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The NIH Clinical Center is a hospital exclusively dedicated to clinical research, thus research is the culture and research studies are routine. Its mission includes the support of clinical studies that are considered intellectually challenging and risky but with the potential of high reward with new breakthroughs in medicine. The special environment of the Clinical Center supports studies that may not be readily supported elsewhere. This may include collaborations that propose targeted increases in new patients enrolled in protocols at the Clinical Center. 

Examples of the special resources of the Clinical Center include:

• Large cohorts of patients, including studies of >500 rare diseases;
• The manufacturing and use of newly designed PET ligands for imaging studies; The availability of blood products for special research studies;
• Collaborative opportunities on clinical protocols (http://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/) on unique pharmaceutical agents and/or other modes of therapy, or extraordinarily rare diseases with investigators who are known experts;
• A robust training curriculum in clinical research;
• The ability to support long-term clinical studies at minimal cost to patients and their families.
• On-campus amenities (e.g., Family Lodge and Children's Inn to assist patients and families in supportive, home-like environments as they leave their own homes to participate in clinical research; and
• A number of other resources

For entry to the program, projects must have a collaborating Investigator in the NIH Intramural Program.  As a collaborative partner, the intramural investigator will be actively involved in the planning and execution of the research project.

Applications for this program will be submitted by the extramural institution with the participation of the intramural investigator(s) integrated into the application as described in the Collaboration Plan, and with the budget requirements for the NIH Clinical Center and intramural investigators included in the Budget form of the application.  Funded projects will include an award to the applicant organization which will exclude funds to support the participation of the Clinical Center.  Support for intramural participation will first be determined, then provided if applicable by a budget allocation within the NIH.  Annual progress reports will be prepared and submitted by the extramural institutions, with the participation and input of the intramural investigator(s) and should include the project findings, publications, impact of the project, a description of which Clinical Center unique resources were utilized and any new intramural- extramural partnerships that developed.

The purpose of the FOA is to support the identification of targets and pathways impacting the pathophysiology of ADRDs, through use of large scale robust and reproducible molecular platforms and extensively phenotyped human brain tissue, biosamples and cell resources.

The purpose of this FOA is to support the structural characterization and validation of protein species (Tau, alpha-synuclein, TDP43, progranulin/granulin, FUS, and beta-amyloid) related to ADRD pathophysiology.  Recent advances in cryo-EM and cryo-ET enable analysis of protein species present in frozen autopsy tissues and the dynamics of protein aggregation and subcellular localization in human cell sources, respectively. As these technologies continue to evolve, collaboration across laboratories will be necessary to develop robust protocols for validation of cryo-EM structures.  This FOA supports the resolution of ADRD-associated protein species, collaboration with other investigators through an ADRD proteinopathy consortium, and the validation of new structural entities through development of tools to detect the abundance and dynamics of these protein species in human tissue, appropriate animal models and in human cell-based neurological model systems.

The Lewy Body Dementias (LBD) are frequently misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed during life, and despite the development of diagnostic criteria at multiple expert consensus conferences, the gold standard for diagnosis remains post-mortem brain analysis. Improvement in diagnostic accuracy during life, and the development of good quality diagnostic biomarkers, would be greatly facilitated if comprehensive, longitudinal clinical and biological data obtained on patients during life were regularly linked with detailed post-mortem brain examination.  In response to recommendations from the Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) Summits convened by the NINDS in 2013, 2016, and 2019, longitudinal clinical data and biospecimens are being collected from patients with LBD and shared with the research community through the Parkinson’s Disease Biomarker Program (PDBP).  The PDBP is an NINDS-funded resource that collects standardized clinical data and biospecimens longitudinally on patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and PD-related disorders (including LBD) with the goal of accelerating the pace of biomarkers research. The PDBP currently has data and biospecimens on about 1900 subjects, some of whom have gone to autopsy, though relatively little post-mortem data on these subjects is available in PDBP at this time.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for an Exploratory Grant Program in Parkinson's Disease Research. This initiative will request Exploratory Grantapplications for the planning and initiation of collaborative efforts to advance Parkinson's Disease (PD) research. The goal of this program is to formalize new interdisciplinary teams to address critical gaps in PD research and establish a foundation of research discovery leading directly to an NINDS Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for PD Research (P50) application.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for the Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research program. The overarching goal of this program is to establish a network of specialized Centers that work collaboratively as well as independently to define the causes of and discover improved treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD). A more immediate goal for each Center is to rapidly advance synergistic, interdisciplinary research programs while serving as national leaders in PD research. Udall Centers also serve as local resources by providing research career enhancement activities for Center investigators and periodic outreach to the PD patient/advocacy community

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.

The purpose of this Notice is inform applicants of the new expiration date of PAR-16-112, "Biomarkers Discovery in Parkinsonism (U01)" on January 24th, 2018.  NINDS plans to reissue this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for compliance with FORMS-E.