Primary Care-Based Screening and Intervention Development for Prevention of Abuse in Older and Vulnerable Adults in the Context of Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required) | RFA AG 22 024

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this NIH grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Primary Care-Based Screening and Intervention Development for Prevention of Abuse in Older and Vulnerable Adults in the Context of Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AG-22-024.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

This NIH research grant supports projects that develop practical, evidence-based tools and approaches to help protect older and vulnerable adults who face heightened risk of abuse in the context of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimers disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). The focus is on solutions that can be used in primary care settings.

Why does the FOA emphasize primary care settings?

The FOA prioritizes primary care because it is a place where many older adults and families regularly interact with the health system, and where early warning signs of mistreatment may be detected. The intent is to support tools and interventions that fit real-world clinical workflows and can be implemented where routine care occurs.

Who is the target population for the screening tools and interventions?

The target population includes older and vulnerable adults who have MCI or AD/ADRD and are at elevated risk of abuse, along with their families and caregivers in situations where prevention and harm reduction may be needed.

What types of projects does this FOA support?

The FOA supports two connected development goals: (1) creating and refining primary care-based screening tools to identify abuse risk or ongoing abuse among patients with MCI or AD/ADRD, and (2) developing behavioral interventions designed to prevent abuse and reduce harm for at-risk adults and their families.

Does this FOA fund screening tool development only, or interventions as well?

It supports both. The FOA is centered on developing/refining screening tools and developing behavioral interventions, with the overall goal of producing actionable, evidence-based products for primary care use.

What does "screening" mean in the context of this FOA?

Within this FOA, screening refers to primary care-based tools designed to identify abuse risk or indications of ongoing abuse among patients with MCI or AD/ADRD.

What does "intervention" mean in the context of this FOA?

In this FOA, interventions are behavioral strategies intended to prevent abuse and reduce harm for cognitively vulnerable older adults and their families, designed for use in or connection with primary care.

Is a clinical trial required?

Yes. The FOA specifies "Clinical Trial Required," and applicants are expected to evaluate their screening and/or intervention components using clinical trial methods.

What is the funding mechanism used for this opportunity?

The FOA uses the R61/R33 phased innovation structure.

How does the R61/R33 phased innovation structure work (in general terms)?

This phased structure is intended to move projects from early-stage development and testing (R61) to a later stage that expands and confirms the approach (R33). Clear milestones are expected between phases to support progression from R61 to R33.

What kinds of outcomes does NIH appear to want from funded projects?

Based on the FOA description, NIH is seeking practical, deployable, evidence-based screening and prevention strategies that can be integrated into everyday primary care. The expectation is that funded work will produce more than conceptual ideas by generating evidence through clinical trial evaluation.

What NIH activity category is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under the health research activity category.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 93.866.

When was the opportunity created (posting creation date)?

The posting creation date listed is 2021-07-15.

What is the original closing date listed for this FOA?

The original closing date listed is 2021-10-20.

Is the award ceiling (maximum award amount) provided in the source information?

No. The provided source data does not specify an explicit award ceiling.

Is the expected number of awards provided?

No. The provided source data does not specify the expected number of awards.

If award amounts and number of awards are not listed here, where would applicants typically look?

The information provided indicates that prospective applicants would typically need to consult the full announcement or related NIH documentation for budget and award expectations.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types: state, county, and 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 (including those other than federally recognized governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically listed as eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicants.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign organizations are eligible.

Are federal government agencies eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes eligible federal government agencies.

Why might this FOA include such a wide range of eligible organizations?

The provided description suggests the wide eligibility reflects that preventing abuse in dementia contexts often requires collaboration across clinical providers, researchers, social services, and community partners, and may benefit from culturally grounded approaches.

What problem area is this FOA trying to address?

This FOA targets the prevention and detection of abuse among older and vulnerable adults who are at heightened risk due to cognitive impairment, including MCI and AD/ADRD, with a focus on creating and testing tools usable in primary care.

What is meant by "actionable" tools in this FOA?

Based on the description, "actionable" implies screening tools and interventions that are feasible in real primary care workflows and can be implemented in day-to-day healthcare settings rather than remaining purely conceptual.

What does the FOA suggest about implementation considerations?

The FOA emphasizes solutions that are feasible in real-world clinical workflows, sensitive to the complexities of cognitive impairment, and capable of being implemented at the point where patients and caregivers seek routine medical guidance.