Limited Competition: The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) Network (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Background
The National Institute on Aging's (NIA's) Division of Behavioral and Social Research (BSR) supports basic behavioral, social, psychological, and economic research and research training on the processes of aging at both the individual and societal level. The division encourages transdisciplinary approaches to behavioral and social research. BSR’s AD/ADRD priority areas in Cognitive and Dementia Epidemiology and Behavioral and Social Pathways to AD/ADRD motivate the goals of providing comparable estimates of AD/ADRD across countries and supporting cross-national research on AD/ADRD.

The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) seeks to measure and understand dementia risk by using a selected set of established cognitive and neuropsychological assessments, as well as informant reports, to better characterize cognitive function among older people. NIA has successfully fostered such research areas through the development of research networks, flexible programs intended to support the creation of innovative research and research resources.

Grant Details
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications to support the continuation of the HCAP Network. This network supports harmonization and collaboration across international studies conducting the HCAP, which provides new and rich data to study the prevalence, predictors, outcomes, and future trends in cognitive functioning and dementia, as well as cross-national comparisons. Network support includes all activities designed to bring together leading scientists across disciplines and institutions to develop resources for HCAP Network members.

Examples of network support activities include meetings to develop novel research areas, small-scale pilots to test or tailor measures in new populations or contexts, educational activities such as intensive summer institutes or series of workshops, development of guidance on selected topics such as biomarkers, diagnosis and classification of dementia, protocol development, fieldwork challenges, statistical harmonization, analytic methods; dissemination and outreach activities; coordination of activities with other related networks on AD/ADRD.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status or without 501(c)(3) IRS status, for-profit organizations including small businesses, local governments, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized), Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized), federal governments agencies or U.S. Territory or Possession agencies. Foreign Institutions are also eligible to apply.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is expected to start on November 1st, 2023 with an earliest start date in November 2023. The project period can be up to 5 years.

Grant Value
NIA intends to commit $600,000 in fiscal year 2024 to fund 1 award. Application budgets are limited to $385,000 in direct costs.

Place of Performance
The grant does not specify a specific geographic location for performance.