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CFDA 93.866: Aging Research

NIA's primary CFDA for research on aging, Alzheimer's disease, and Alzheimer's-related dementias (AD/ADRD). Funding has expanded substantially due to the Alzheimer's Accountability Act bypass-budget process.

Typical award
R01: $250K-$500K direct/year for 4-5 years. R21: up to $275K total over 2 years. P30 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs): $3M-$5M/year.
Eligible applicants
  • Research universities and IHEs
  • Academic medical centers
  • 501(c)(3) research institutes
  • Small businesses (SBIR/STTR for therapeutic + tech development)

What this CFDA funds

Basic biology of aging research, Alzheimer's disease and AD/ADRD studies, geriatrics and clinical care research, behavioral and social research on aging, training programs (T32, F-series, K-series), and Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs). Recent priorities: precision medicine for AD, dementia disparities, caregiver research, and aging biomarkers.

What winning applicants look like

AAU research universities, NIA-designated ADRC institutions, and academic medical centers with strong geriatrics + neurology departments. The bypass-budget for Alzheimer's research means NIA success rates have been higher than NIH average — particularly for AD/ADRD-focused proposals.

Common pitfalls + things to know

Distinguish between aging-as-context (an R01 about hypertension in older adults) and aging-as-mechanism (an R01 about cellular senescence). NIA prioritizes the latter for basic biology mechanisms. AD/ADRD-tagged proposals route to AD-specific review panels with separate paylines.

Open NOFOs under CFDA 93.866 6 active

Currently posted NOFOs and assistance listings tagged with CFDA 93.866, soonest deadline first. Refreshed Jun 14, 2026.

Related CFDAs to also explore

Reference guides

Evergreen explainers for nonprofit grant offices and federal grant seekers.

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Always verify in the official source. CFDA program details, eligibility, and award ranges change with each annual NOFO cycle. Confirm at sam.gov/content/assistance-listings or the agency's program office before you build an application strategy. This page is editorial reference, not an official agency notice.