Nursing Home EXplanatory Clinical Trials Network (NEXT) (U24 Clinical Trial Required)

Background
The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), is inviting U24 cooperative agreement applications to establish a network of transdisciplinary aging researchers. The aim is to develop the infrastructure to conduct explanatory randomized clinical trials (RCTs) related to the prevention and treatment of selected diseases of aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD) within nursing homes. The network will work with the Long-Term Care Data Cooperative and support research and pilot studies to provide a means to jumpstart new areas in preventive and therapeutic research in this setting.

Grant Details
The network will address challenges for conducting clinical research and RCTs in nursing homes, including an under-resourced and unstable nursing home industry, complex federal and state regulations relating to oversight of nursing homes, the need for special protections of the vulnerable nursing home population when conducting research, and the absence of clinical research experience and infrastructure in long-term care settings. The network will develop diverse stakeholder engagement, including underrepresented communities, to engage priorities of nursing home residents, care partners, and providers. It will also focus on key priorities for prevention and treatment in the nursing home, with attention to emerging priorities. The network will hold periodic competitions for research projects and/or pilot studies that might evaluate feasibility for a larger explanatory RCT. It aims to foster the development of the next generation of nursing-home researchers who can conduct explanatory randomized clinical trials.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, 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), U.S. Territory or Possession, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations. Foreign Institutions are not eligible to apply.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is 5 years starting from September 26, 2023.

Grant Value
NIA intends to commit $3,000,000 in FY 2024 to fund 1 award. Application budgets are limited to $2,300,000 in annual direct costs.