Applicant Resources for RFA-AG-24-033: State Dementia Care Research Center (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funding Opportunity RFA-AG-24-033

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated November 3, 2023

Q: Do I need to budget for the facilitation of data linkages?

A: Participation in the NIA Data LINKAGE Program will be free of charge to the awardee. The awardee can use this program to link their study data with CMS data. Applicants are encouraged to contact the LINKAGE Program ( linkage@acumenllc.com ) for further information. Visit here to learn more about eligibility criteria: https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dbsr/access-or-share-linkage-data

Q: Where can I find more information about the NIA Data LINKAGE Program?

A: Applicants can find general information about the NIA Data LINKAGE Program here: https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dbsr/nia-data-linkage-program-linkage
Additionally, information about available data through the LINKAGE Program can be found here: https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dbsr/available-data

Q: What is the overall goal of this Request for Applications (RFA)?

A: This initiative aims to ultimately improve care for persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers/care partners by building a research evidence base that can be used to improve dementia care coordination, integration, and care transitions in community settings, as well as inform policymaking. With recognition of the differences in provision, coverage, and access to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD) care across the nation, this infrastructure resource will support research on social services and health systems within states. Specifically, the new resource will:

  • Invite research on AD/ADRD care coordination, integration, and transitions within states.
  • Foster the creation and integration of data on home and community-based services and health care data within states.
  • Support the dissemination of findings to stakeholders, the public, and policymakers.

Q: How many state partnerships should be proposed in an application?

A: Applicants should propose activities with a minimum of two states for inclusion in the Center. For each state, partners that represent the heterogeneity found in states should be included. Applicants should be intentional in the coverage of proposed states in terms of not only regional diversity, but also in other areas where disparities exist, such as race/ethnicity, income, rurality, and other characteristics, as described in the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework . It is not expected that the Center will involve all 50+ states and territories; applicants should propose a process to identify and establish partnerships for research and data access/sharing and build on successes to encourage other state entities to follow suit and become part of the Center. Over time, the Partnership & Engagement Core should aim to support five to seven state/sub-state partnerships over the proposed grant period.

Q: What are the core components of the Center?

A: The Center will be comprised of four core components: (A) Administrative and Dissemination Core; (B) Partnership and Engagement Core; (C) Data Core; (D) Research/Pilot Core.

An Administrative & Dissemination Core will oversee the operations of the Center and work to disseminate research findings to a wide range of stakeholders and promote use of Center-developed tools and infrastructure by the broader research and stakeholder communities.

The Partnership & Engagement Core has two goals: 1) establish state-based partnerships, and 2) encourage stakeholder engagement through a PLWD and care partner engagement panel. Partnerships: The Core will build partnerships with institutions/programs (e.g., home health agencies, public health programs, ALFs, state-level data providers, social services providers, Area Agencies on Aging) within states to obtain access to program and other relevant data and expertise to facilitate research, aiming to support five to seven such state/sub-state partnerships over the proposed grant period. Engagement: The Core will stand up a PLWD and care partner engagement panel. Applicants may propose that other individuals or organizations should be part of the panel (e.g., paid caregivers, payers, social service and health care providers).

The Data Core will coordinate knowledge about data used by individual projects and may act as a data and/or code repository where applicable. Based on provider data access and integration rules, the Center will either serve as a direct hub for data sharing or as a source of discovery/guidance for use of data from providers. In any case, the Data Core will facilitate research access and enhance usability/replicability via support tools for researchers (e.g., development of user-friendly files or supplemental documentation). The Data Core includes data representing the context of care and resources within a state (e.g. health care systems interactions, social service data, and data on services paid for by Medicaid captured in state to county-based systems).

The Research/Pilot Core will stimulate rigorous, reproducible research on topics that deepen our understanding of what works in terms of dementia care coordination, integration, and transitions. Research/pilot projects must use data and/or resources associated with the Center, and research topics must focus on policy or contextual factors that influence successful or unsuccessful dementia care and caregiving coordination, transitions, and/or integration. Study design, data sharing, and research topic should be considered in the research/pilot application and review process.

Q: Should the proposed activities of any one core include resources/support for all state partnership activities?

A: Yes. Cores are intended to be shared resources across the proposed Center. For example, the data core should propose activities relevant to any proposed state research and data activities.

Q: What is the role of the External Advisory Panel?

A: The External Advisory Panel is separate from the Cores and will be comprised of independent scientific experts in areas appropriate to the multidisciplinary content areas of the Center. Experts, including, but not limited to, the Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators, NIA staff, and invited independent experts, will make presentations to the EAP on scientific and administrative issues regarding the development and implementation of Center aims. The EAP will do the following:

  • Report to NIA and will communicate specific recommendations to NIA regarding priorities via executive sessions of EAP meetings.
  • Review and comment on the conduct of the Center aims and discuss progress in meeting the innovation and dissemination goals of the initiative.
  • Where appropriate, provide recommendations to the Principal Investigator on procedures and policies necessary to successfully accomplish the initiative; this is not binding on the Principal Investigator who retains primary responsibility for scientific direction and implementation.
  • Recommend activities to improve coordination approaches to achieve the Center's goals, and advance relevant scientific approaches to exposome research.
  • Make recommendations for redirecting the Center’s focus to accommodate new scientific opportunities and directions within the scope of the award.
  • Other guidelines for the Center, such as a quorum and frequency and type of meetings (in-person, remote), will be determined at its initial meeting. It is anticipated that the EAP will meet at least annually, with intermittent conference calls as needed.
  • The EAP may establish subcommittees as needed to advance the Center’s goals.

Applicants should NOT name proposed members of the EAP in their application; rather a description of required expertise should be provided and proposed members should not be contacted prior to peer review.

Q: What are the Non-Responsiveness Criteria for RFA-AG-24-033?

A: The following types of applications will be considered non-responsive, and will be withdrawn prior to review:

  • Applications that do not propose all required Cores: Administration and Dissemination, Partnership and Engagement, Data, and Research/Pilot Cores.
  • Applications that do not focus on AD/ADRD care populations, data, and research.
  • Applications that do not address forming research partnerships within institutions and across organizations at the state or sub-state level, including at least two initial partnerships with entities from two different states.
  • Applications that do not include populations that experience AD/ADRD care disparities and inequities, as described in the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework .

Q: When are applications due?

A: There is a single receipt date: November 14, 2023.

Q: How many projects will be funded?

A: NIA intends to commit $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 to fund 1 award. Application budgets are limited to $2,500,000 in direct costs per year and need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years.

Q: How many years will pilot/research projects be funded for?

A: Each application must include a pilot/research core. Applicants can propose pilot/research projects up to $800,000 total costs toward supporting pilot/research projects each year. Each pilot can be no more than 12 months in duration and report no more than $100,000 in direct costs. Based on your proposal you can request up to five years of pilot/research support.

Q: Why is NIA supporting this effort using a Cooperative Agreement?

A: A cooperative agreement is a support mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after the award, NIH scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities.

Q: When is the earliest start date?

A: The earliest grant start date is July 2024.

Q: Who should I contact if I have further questions?

A: Investigators are highly encouraged to contact Dr. Fazio during the planning stages of an application.

Elena Fazio, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-496-3136
Email: elena.fazio@nih.gov

Q: Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?

A: Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) and non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement , are not allowed.

Q: Can my organization submit more than one application?

A: Yes. Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time, per 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application . This means that the NIH will not accept:

  • A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.
  • A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.
  • An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see 2.3.9.4 Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications ).

Q: Should applicants submit a letter of intent?

A: Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.


Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information by October 14, 2023:

  • Descriptive title of proposed activity
  • Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PD(s)/PI(s)
  • Names of other key personnel
  • Participating institution(s)
  • Number and title of this funding opportunity

The letter of intent should be sent to Elena Fazio, Ph.D.

Elena Fazio, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-496-3136
Email: elena.fazio@nih.gov

Q: Are there any additional resources that applicants can look at?

A: Yes. Applicants are encouraged to reference the following resources:

Q: Many states vary in terms of data sharing policies. Will this initiative address the challenges and questions associated with different data sharing policies?

A: A key aim of this initiative is to examine state variation in policies and payment that support care coordination and integration. Given national variation in payment and services, incentivizing research at the state level to enable research on AD/ADRD care holds promise for providing a national evidence base about the most effective practices to key stakeholders who can improve care for PLWD States will have different policies regarding what they can share for researchers to work with. Regardless of these policies, we want there to be a pathway for use and replication, even if it is limited to guidance on how to apply to the state for data access, who to obtain the data used by the project to conduct any research and information about the data and how it was constructed to ease use. Everyone must share - the question is how in light of different policies. There is always a way to share something.

Q: Is the processing of soliciting, reviewing and accepting pilot/research studies up to the discretion of applicants?

A: Please see RFA section titled PHS 398 Research Plan (Research/Pilot Core). Applicants should propose what they believe is the most effective process to solicit, review, and select pilot or research projects. Because this is a cooperative agreement, it is expected that awardees will work with NIA staff to finalize that process.

Q: Will it be allowable to establish subcontracts to states or individual state entities to encourage the linking and sharing of key data to the State Dementia Care Research Center?

A: Yes, funds may be used to support the linking and sharing of key data from states and sub-state entities by use of subcontracts with the Dementia Care Research Center. Subawards to states to fulfill the activities of the RFA is allowable. For example, providing funding for pilots to establish shared data resources with state partners is an allowable request.

Q: Are pilot awards only allowed to use state data provided by the Data Core (i.e., from a minimum of two specific states in Year 1), or can pilot applicants propose to use data from a state not included in the 2+ states that have partnered with the Center?

A: A primary goal of this infrastructure RFA is to support partnerships that will facilitate the sharing of state and sub-state level data on dementia care. Ideally pilot/research projects will utilize this often difficult to access data through the Center and its partners. If pilot proposals do not utilize these state partnerships and Center data, their proposed pilot/research projects should be well justified and explain how the proposed pilot/research goals are in alignment with the Center aims. We encourage applications that propose pilot/research project review processes that account for the above considerations (i.e., use of Center partnerships and data, or, justification of proposed pilot/research projects as they relate to proposed Center aims).

Q: Must pilot grants be solicited, awarded, and started in Year 1 or just solicited and then awarded and started in Year 2?

A: Applicants should propose what they think will work best. Actual pilots can start in year 2 or year 1 of the award, but the pilot solicitation process should start in year 1.

Q: Is it expected to have a competitive process in place for state partnerships?

A: No. The Center should recruit states/sub-state entities, but it does not have to be through a competitive process. It could be a competitive process if applicants think that makes the greatest sense.

Q: Are the page limits inclusive of the Specific Aims, or are the Specific Aims considered a separate page?

A: One additional page for specific aims for each component is allowed. For example, the overall component has a 12 page limit. This would mean 13 pages total - one page for specific aims plus 12 pages for the overall description. Regarding the other cores (Administrative and Dissemination Core, Partnership and Engagement Core, Data Core, and Research Pilot Core), there is a 6 page limit for each core. This would mean one page for specific aims plus 6 pages for each core description.

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