Improving Quality of Care and Quality of Life for Persons with Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias at the End of Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAS 18 030

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS 18 030

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement PAS 18 030, titled "Improving Quality of Care and Quality of Life for Persons with Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias at the End of Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)," supports research aimed at closing important clinical and translational knowledge gaps in end-of-life care for people living with Alzheimers disease and related dementias (ADRD). The overall goal is practical and patient- and family-centered: generate evidence that can improve quality of life near the end of life for individuals with ADRD, while also addressing the needs and outcomes of families and caregivers who are often deeply affected by care decisions, symptom burden, and the emotional and logistical challenges of dementia at the terminal stage.

This announcement emphasizes studies focused specifically on end-of-life care needs in ADRD, which commonly differ from end-of-life care in other serious illnesses because dementia progresses over a long period, decision-making capacity is often impaired, and care is frequently delivered across settings (home, nursing homes, hospitals, hospice). Projects are expected to target real-world problems that shape quality of care and quality of life at the end of life, such as how symptoms are identified and managed, how goals-of-care discussions and surrogate decision-making are handled, how transitions across care settings affect outcomes, and how health systems, clinicians, and families coordinate care when patients can no longer communicate their preferences. The FOA is positioned to support research that can translate into better care practices, better clinical guidance, and more person-centered care delivery models for individuals with ADRD approaching the end of life.

NIH particularly encourages two broad research approaches. First, applicants are encouraged to conduct secondary analyses using existing data sources, especially large longitudinal cohort studies or administrative datasets (for example, claims, electronic health records, or other population-level records). This pathway is well-suited to identifying patterns in end-of-life service use, disparities in access to hospice or palliative care, predictors of burdensome transitions and hospitalizations, and associations between care approaches and outcomes for patients and families. Second, the FOA encourages primary data collection specifically geared toward Stage I behavioral intervention development, meaning early-phase work to design, refine, and test the feasibility or acceptability of behavioral interventions before moving into larger efficacy trials. This could include developing interventions to support caregivers, improve communication and advance care planning, reduce avoidable suffering, or enhance decision support for surrogates and clinicians in dementia end-of-life contexts. Because the mechanism is R01 and "Clinical Trial Optional," applicants may propose studies with or without a clinical trial component, depending on the scientific question and design.

The funding mechanism is an NIH R01 research project grant, categorized as discretionary funding and aligned with education and health-related federal assistance listings (CFDA 93.361 and 93.866). While the source summary does not list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the R01 mechanism generally supports substantial multi-year research projects with clearly articulated aims, rigorous methods, and strong justification for significance and innovation in the ADRD end-of-life space. The opportunity was created on 2017-11-01, with an original closing date of 2020-01-07, indicating it was posted as a time-bounded FOA; applicants typically need to confirm whether the announcement remains active, has been reissued, or has successor notices before preparing a submission.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, spanning many types of institutions and organizations that could contribute to dementia end-of-life research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses; and other unspecified eligible entities. In addition, the FOA explicitly highlights other eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), tribal governments that are not federally recognized, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities. This breadth signals NIH interest in expanding the research base across diverse communities, care settings, and health systems, and it aligns with the reality that dementia end-of-life experiences and access to high-quality care can vary substantially across geography, race and ethnicity, culture, and resource availability.

In practical terms, this FOA is geared toward research that can improve end-of-life experiences for people with ADRD and their families by producing actionable knowledge: identifying what care approaches work, for whom, and under what circumstances; clarifying how to reduce suffering and burdensome care; and building or refining interventions that can be implemented in clinical or community settings. Strong applications would be expected to clearly connect the research aims to measurable improvements in quality of care and quality of life, demonstrate a deep understanding of dementia trajectories and end-of-life challenges, and use methods that are appropriate to vulnerable populations and complex care environments.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving Quality of Care and Quality of Life for Persons with Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias at the End of Life (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): 93.361, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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.

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