Interpersonal Processes in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Clinical Interactions and Care Partnerships (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AG 20 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 20 006

The Interpersonal Processes in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Clinical Interactions and Care Partnerships (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-AG-20-006) is a National Institutes of Health research grant designed to push forward what is known about communication and relationship dynamics in the context of Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). The central idea is that day-to-day interactions among people living with dementia, their family or other caregivers, and health care practitioners strongly shape care quality, treatment adherence, stress levels, safety, and overall well-being. This initiative supports research intended to generate practical, evidence-based strategies and interventions that improve communication and help sustain supportive caregiving relationships as the disease progresses across settings and stages of care.

A major emphasis of the announcement is intervention-relevant science, meaning the research should be positioned to inform or directly build approaches that can be used in real clinical and caregiving environments. The opportunity invites both basic research (to better understand mechanisms and interpersonal processes) and translational research (to convert those insights into tools, programs, or practices). While clinical trials are optional under this R01, applicants can propose studies that range from foundational observational or mechanistic work to pilot testing, refinement, and evaluation of intervention components, depending on what best fits the project aims and readiness of the science.

The solicitation highlights two high-priority research areas. The first is effective communication and relationship functioning among patients, health care practitioners, and caregivers. Projects in this area could focus on how communication can be improved during clinical encounters, care planning conversations, delivery of diagnoses and prognoses, medication management discussions, behavioral symptom management, transitions between care settings, and shared decision-making as cognitive abilities change. The underlying goal is to reduce misunderstandings, improve alignment on care goals, and support dignity and person-centered care, while also ensuring caregivers are effectively integrated into clinical processes when appropriate.

The second priority area is the link between close relationship processes and health outcomes within caregiving relationships. This includes studying how relationship qualities and interpersonal dynamics such as support, conflict, empathy, reciprocity, emotional contagion, burden sharing, trust, and coping patterns relate to mental and physical health for both the person with dementia and the caregiver. It also points toward identifying protective factors that help sustain caregiver resilience and patient well-being, as well as risk factors that can lead to caregiver burnout, depression, poor health behaviors, or breakdowns in care. Research responsive to this area typically aims to clarify what relationship mechanisms matter most and how they might be strengthened through targeted supports.

In practical terms, this R01 is aimed at improving the human side of dementia care: how people talk to each other, how they coordinate care, and how they maintain workable, supportive partnerships under high stress and changing abilities. The expectation is that funded work will advance knowledge that can be translated into better training for clinicians, better support structures for caregivers, improved communication tools or protocols, and interventions that preserve relationship quality and functioning across the dementia care continuum.

Eligibility for the opportunity is broad, spanning many types of applicants. Eligible entities include state, county, 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 other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly notes additional eligible applicants such as 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), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility is consistent with an emphasis on diverse research settings, community engagement, and culturally informed approaches to caregiving and clinical communication.

Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH grant in the health area (CFDA 93.866). The original closing date listed is 2019-10-23, and an award ceiling of $500,000 is noted in the source information. Overall, the opportunity is targeted at strengthening the evidence base for how interpersonal and relational factors can be leveraged to improve outcomes in AD/ADRD, with a clear focus on producing knowledge that can realistically be turned into interventions and better care practices.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Interpersonal Processes in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Clinical Interactions and Care Partnerships (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-06-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-10-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: 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.

Apply for RFA AG 20 006

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