Role of Adaptive Immunity in Etiology of Alzheimers Disease and Alzheimers Disease-Related Dementias (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AG 22 017

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 22 017

The NIH funding opportunity "Role of Adaptive Immunity in Etiology of Alzheimers Disease and Alzheimers Disease-Related Dementias (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-22-017) is a discretionary grant program that uses the R01 research project grant mechanism to support studies focused on how the adaptive immune system contributes to Alzheimers disease and Alzheimers disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). The core purpose is to move beyond broad inflammation concepts and specifically clarify how adaptive immune components, such as T cells, B cells, and antigen-specific immune responses, may influence disease initiation, acceleration, or protection across the AD/ADRD spectrum. The announcement emphasizes that both basic and translational work are within scope, and that proposing a clinical trial is optional rather than required, meaning applicants can submit either non-clinical mechanistic research or human studies that include interventional designs if justified.

Scientifically, the FOA highlights three main interest areas. First is brain immune surveillance, which includes understanding how adaptive immune cells and signals interact with the central nervous system under normal conditions and how that surveillance changes with aging and neurodegeneration. Second is the generation of CNS-directed immune responses in neurodegenerative disorders, which points to questions like what antigens may be recognized, how peripheral immune activation may translate to CNS effects, and what pathways permit or restrict immune cell trafficking or antibody access to brain-relevant compartments. Third is the functional role of adaptive immunity in AD/ADRD onset and progression, meaning the program is looking for studies that can connect immune activity to meaningful disease outcomes, such as amyloid or tau pathology, neurodegeneration, synaptic dysfunction, cognition, clinical progression, or resilience. Overall, the intent is to produce clearer causal and mechanistic insight into whether adaptive immune processes drive harm, provide protection, or do both depending on timing, cell type, and disease stage.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is a grant and the activity category is health research. The program is associated with NIH CFDA numbers 93.853 and 93.866, and the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health. The opportunity was created on 2021-06-16, and the original closing date listed is 2021-10-28. An award ceiling is not specified in the provided source, and the expected number of awards is not listed, which typically means applicants should consult the full FOA for budgeting expectations, institute-specific policies, and any constraints tied to scope, duration, or total costs.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic applicants: state, county, 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 other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types and community-oriented institutions, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). In practical terms, that breadth signals an interest in attracting a wide range of expertise and research settings, including those that may facilitate diverse cohorts, unique biological resources, or specialized immunology and neuroscience capabilities.

In summary, RFA-AG-22-017 is aimed at deepening understanding of adaptive immunity as a driver, modifier, or mediator of AD/ADRD biology, with a strong emphasis on mechanisms linking immune surveillance and CNS-directed immune responses to the timing and trajectory of neurodegenerative disease. It supports R01-scale projects, allows but does not require clinical trials, and is open to an unusually wide set of applicant organizations, including domestic and foreign institutions and several categories of minority-serving and community-based organizations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Role of Adaptive Immunity in Etiology of Alzheimers Disease and Alzheimers Disease-Related Dementias (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-06-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-10-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 22 017

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