Embrace the energy of a new year of aging research

Happy New Year 2025! NIA is eager and energized to proceed with work to meet our mission. We hope you will engage with us throughout the coming year as we continue to collaborate to advance science that will benefit all older adults.

Setting our Strategic Directions, 2026-2030

You still have time to help shape the future of aging research by providing input on NIA’s Strategic Directions for Research, 2026-2030. Updated every five years, NIA’s Strategic Directions provide a point of reference for setting priorities, analyzing the institute’s scientific portfolio, and assessing progress. We encourage researchers, health care professionals, representatives and members of scientific/professional organizations, and the public to consider participating in one of two upcoming listening sessions, planned for Jan. 30 and Feb. 4, or to review the draft document and share their comments or anonymous feedback by Feb. 4.

Innovation in Alzheimer’s and related dementias science

Register now for the Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias Summit coming up March 25-26. Hosted by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in collaboration with NIA, this event will help shape future scientific priorities in dementia research, including frontotemporal degeneration, Lewy body dementia, multiple etiology dementias, and vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. Significant opportunities will be provided for public comment, and the summit outcomes will also help inform updates to the NIH Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research Implementation Milestones .

NIA continues to pursue new ideas and technologies for earlier prediction of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, and we are excited that the prize winners for the Pioneering Research for Early Prediction of Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias EUREKA (PREPARE) Challenge will be announced later this year.

Opportunities in entrepreneurship and training

We continue to strive to be a national leader in aging research training and career development for institutions and individuals across all career stages. Check out our

to see the full range of available programs and funding. We encourage early-career and emerging scientists to explore the 2025 Butler-Willams Scholars program , and potential trainees ranging from high school students to postdoctoral fellows should consider training offered by NIA’s Intramural Research Program (IRP) . The NIH Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (CARD) , led by both NIA and NINDS, provides additional training and research resources, having recently celebrated the first graduating class of its Master of Professional Studies in Data Science Fellowship program . This spring, look for the unveiling of finalists for our third NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator , which helps innovators overcome barriers to life science entrepreneurship through cash prizes, coaching, and mentorship.

Continued commitment to study inclusion

NIA continues to enhance and strengthen our commitment to increasing inclusion in clinical trials and the scientific workforce . As part of our efforts, we continue to leverage and enhance tools, including the Clinical Research Operations and Management System (CROMS) , OutreachPro , and the Corrective Action Plan system, to help a broad spectrum of research teams meet their goals.

In parallel with this work, we recognize the importance of research to reduce age-related health disparities for underrepresented populations. Please consider commenting on our new Request for Information seeking public input on additions and improvements to the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework by Jan. 17.

Research areas with growth potential

Women comprise more than 50% of the U.S. population, yet more funding and visibility are needed to help close gaps in our knowledge of women’s health , including sex and gender differences in aging outcomes, particularly with respect to menopause and reproductive aging. To this end, NIA is proud to be part of an NIH-wide effort to invest $200 million for new, interdisciplinary women’s health research. Check out our related workshop, Aging Mechanisms Impacting Women’s Health , March 20-21, and keep an eye out for an NIH Pathways to Prevention workshop on management of menopausal symptoms coming up later this year.

We will continue to be interested in new and emerging technologies such as data science, artificial intelligence, the exposome, and precision medicine in 2025. All complement core NIA research investments in aging biology, neuroscience, clinical gerontology, and the science of behavior change.

Additionally, health disparities and related scientific workforce training gaps are especially urgent matters in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as the percentage of older adults increases in these nations. Read our recent blog on global aging research to learn more about NIA efforts internationally.

Stay connected as we explore together

Stay connected with NIA throughout this year and beyond, and best wishes for your own aging research! If you have suggestions or questions about the future of aging research, please leave a comment below.

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