Grants / Department of Health and Human Services / National Institutes of Health

Centers without Walls for mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD)

Forecast Expected deadline October 1, 2026 Opportunity RFA-NS-26-032

• Award ceilingnot stated
• Award floornot stated
• Expected awards5
• Total funding$10.0 million
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Add the deadline to your calendar

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.

• 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 (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses.

Is this a realistic fit?

• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is interested in supporting ambitious research projects to elucidate mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD) organized as a “Center without Walls” consortium. NINDS Centers without Walls are collaborative research networks that bring together diverse expertise from different institutions to tackle complex neurological problems that are not tractable by individual research projects. This program is considering using an activity code, such as the RM1, that enables interdisciplinary research consortia capable of identifying and characterizing novel ADRD mechanisms. Teams may include cross-disciplinary and cross-specialty expertise to address the complex co-pathologies, mixed etiologies, and disease heterogeneity in ADRD. This program is anticipated to support teams that can combine multiple approaches, such as state-of-the-art technologies, disease-relevant models, clinical science, and human specimens, to investigate unique disease mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets, biomarkers, and other factors influencing ADRD susceptibility, resilience, and pathology. One awardee team would serve as a coordinating center for all awardees to facilitate recurring meetings, data harmonization and sharing, cross-site communication, and support the implementation of inter-laboratory rigor and reproducibility plans. This program is informed by key priorities from the ADRD Summit 2025, including embracing ADRD complexity and breaking down topic- and disease-based silos, and is intended to provide a mechanistic foundation for future translational and clinical ADRD research. 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. Investigators with complementary expertise in ADRD mechanisms, clinical phenotypes, and advanced technologies are encouraged to contact agency staff listed below for additional information.

Category: Health.

How to apply

1. Read the full notice and attachments on Grants.gov. The notice is the official source for deadlines and requirements.
2. Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; registration can take several weeks.
3. Register on Grants.gov and submit through Workspace before the deadline and time given in the notice. Our application guide walks through each step.

Questions go to NINDS ADRD Administration and Program Staff, NINDSDONADRD@mail.nih.gov, Please contact via e-mail.

Open the official notice