Building Neuroscience Research Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) in Africa (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AG 24 027

FAQs: NIH NIA RFA-AG-24-027 (UG3/UH3) - Building Neuroscience Research Infrastructure for AD/ADRD in Africa

1) What is the main goal of RFA-AG-24-027?

The opportunity is designed to strengthen the foundational neuroscience research capacity needed to study Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa. The focus is on building or improving research infrastructure that enables high-quality, sustainable AD/ADRD neuroscience research over the long term.

2) Is this funding intended to support large clinical trials?

No. The notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." The emphasis is on enabling resources, capacity building, and pilot or exploratory work that prepares the ground for future research, rather than conducting clinical trials.

3) What kinds of projects does this program prioritize?

The program prioritizes projects that create or enhance practical infrastructure and shared resources that make neuroscience research on dementia feasible and rigorous in African settings. It also emphasizes durable collaboration structures between U.S. and Africa-based partners and encourages pilot/exploratory studies that validate feasibility and generate preliminary data.

4) What types of research infrastructure can be supported?

Examples described in the summary include culturally appropriate research instruments and surveys, biospecimen collection and storage capabilities, data systems and datasets, and other enabling platforms that can support future neuroscience studies on AD/ADRD in Africa.

5) What does "culturally appropriate" mean in the context of this opportunity?

It refers to tools and approaches that reflect real-world African populations and settings, rather than importing instruments that may not translate well across languages, cultures, or clinical contexts. This includes cognitive testing and survey tools that account for local language, cultural norms, literacy, and related factors affecting measurement quality.

6) Are collaborative partnerships required?

The NOFO places strong emphasis on collaborative, durable partnerships between U.S. investigators or institutions and LMIC-based institutions or scientists in Africa. The intent is to build working research networks that can jointly design studies, generate and manage high-quality data and specimens, and sustain research programs beyond the award period.

7) What does the NOFO mean by "transformative" collaborations?

It signals a preference for partnerships that go beyond short-term training or simple data exchange. The collaborations are expected to strengthen local capacity, increase shared leadership, and help create sustainable research ecosystems for AD/ADRD neuroscience in African settings.

8) What is the UG3/UH3 mechanism and how does it work here?

This opportunity uses a UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement structure (a staged "Phase Innovation Award" approach). The UG3 phase supports planning, development, and early implementation of infrastructure. The UH3 phase supports expansion or execution once milestones are met.

9) What does it mean that this is a "cooperative agreement"?

A cooperative agreement indicates substantial involvement by NIH staff as partners in stewardship of the project. Based on the summary, this typically includes milestone-driven oversight, coordination expectations, and active programmatic engagement from NIH during the project.

10) What are "milestones" in the context of UG3/UH3?

Milestones are defined targets and progress indicators used to determine whether a project can transition from the UG3 planning/development stage to the UH3 expansion/execution stage. The summary indicates that progression is milestone-driven, with NIH involvement in oversight.

11) If clinical trials are not allowed, are pilot studies allowed?

Yes. The NOFO expects initiation of pilot or exploratory studies to prove feasibility, refine methods, and generate preliminary data for future larger programs. These pilots are intended as testbeds for recruitment, workflows, biospecimen pipelines, neurocognitive assessment strategies, and analytic methods.

12) Are pilot studies considered the final deliverable of the award?

No. The summary describes pilots as not being endpoints. They are meant to validate approaches and generate early evidence that makes subsequent AD/ADRD neuroscience research more competitive and scientifically grounded.

13) What scientific topics are encouraged to be addressed in Africa-relevant ways?

The NOFO encourages projects incorporating Africa-relevant scientific questions in AD/ADRD neuroscience, including how social and behavioral factors influence dementia risk, progression, detection, or outcomes in African contexts.

14) What kinds of social, behavioral, and contextual factors are mentioned?

The summary lists examples such as environmental exposures, education and literacy effects, cardiovascular and metabolic risk patterns, health care access, stigma, caregiving structures, and language and cultural factors affecting cognitive testing.

15) What geographic focus is required?

The program is specifically focused on LMICs in Africa, using World Bank income classifications to define eligible country categories.

16) Who can apply as the applicant organization?

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types, including (as examples listed) state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), independent school districts, and public housing authorities.

17) Are there specific U.S. institution categories that are explicitly highlighted as eligible?

Yes. The NOFO explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, tribal colleges and universities, faith-based and community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

18) Can a non-U.S. (foreign) institution apply as the main applicant?

No. The summary states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.

19) Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?

No. The summary states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

20) Are foreign components allowed at all?

Yes. The summary states that "foreign components" (as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. In practical terms, this means a U.S. applicant organization can include substantive project elements carried out with foreign sites, personnel, or institutions when justified and appropriately structured.

21) What does success look like for projects funded under this opportunity?

Based on the summary, success is tied to building durable infrastructure and partnerships that enable ongoing, high-quality AD/ADRD neuroscience research in Africa, including the ability to generate and manage strong data and biospecimens and to maintain research programs after the grant ends.

22) How does this program connect to prevention and mitigation of AD/ADRD in Africa?

The summary indicates that, over time, the infrastructure and early findings are expected to support prevention and mitigation strategies by enabling stronger epidemiology, neuroscience discovery, and translational research relevant to local African needs.

23) What is the funding opportunity number and title?

The opportunity is RFA-AG-24-027, titled "Building Neuroscience Research Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) in Africa (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."

24) Which NIH institute is associated with this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA).

25) What is the program classification or assistance listing mentioned?

The summary categorizes the funding under health and lists CFDA 93.866.

26) What is the listed application closing date?

The original application closing date listed in the summary is February 14, 2024.

27) Does the summary provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards?

No. The provided summary does not include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

28) What distinguishes this opportunity from a typical research project grant?

Based on the summary, it is infrastructure-forward and partnership-forward rather than centered on a single standalone research study. It uses a staged UG3/UH3 structure with milestone-driven progression and is a cooperative agreement with substantial NIH involvement.

29) What kinds of shared resources are envisioned as lasting outputs?

Examples in the summary include research instruments and surveys adapted for African contexts, data systems and datasets, biospecimen collection and storage capabilities, and other enabling platforms meant to support future AD/ADRD neuroscience studies.

30) Why does the NOFO emphasize sustainability beyond the grant?

The summary frames the intent as building research ecosystems that continue after the grant ends, including durable networks, shared leadership, and infrastructure that can support ongoing and future dementia neuroscience research programs in Africa.