The overall goal of this FOA is to support the development of a collaborative research and resource network to synergize the expertise, skills, and resources of investigators within the geriatric emergency medicine and Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) research communities to identify and address research gaps towards optimizing recognition and emergency care of older adults with AD/ADRD. Support is provided for up to 2 years of planning/development (R61 phase) of a milestone-driven infrastructure including the initial identification of top-priority research gaps and the establishment of strategies to address them. Areas identified as needing additional evidence-based research include, but are not limited to, pre-emergency department (ED) strategies to avoid non-emergency ED visits, recognition of early cognitive impairment in the ED, strategies to optimize the ED environment and providers for patients with AD/ADRD, development of safe disposition criteria, and methods to minimize system fragmentation within and across health and social services. Contingent on the achievement of pre-established milestones as assessed by internal NIA administrative review, support may be provided for up to 3 additional years (R33 phase) for the establishment and testing of the strategies developed in the R61 phase. It is anticipated that, if successful, this funding will support the planning, establishment, initial operations of a network over the 5-year grant period, including development of collaborations, resources, research infrastructure, and a plan to attract and foster early career investigators in the emergency care of older adults with AD/ADRD.
Deadlines:
RFA-AG-20-026 Expiration Date February 04, 2020
Investigators should have sufficient expertise, commitment of effort, organizational structure, and operational effectiveness to successfully implement a plan for this undertaking. Reflecting the multidisciplinary and multi-level providers who deliver emergency care, it is expected that investigators from a variety of professional backgrounds and research expertise across multiple institutions will form an interdisciplinary consortium, including those with specific research and clinical expertise in geriatric EM and AD/ADRD research. Examples of the kinds of investigators who could be included in this network include, but are not limited to, emergency medicine (and geriatric EM) specialists, geriatricians, neurologists, first responders, neuroradiologists, geriatric psychiatrists, social workers, geriatric nurses, geriatric trauma specialists, pharmacists, primary care providers, palliative care providers, behavioral scientists, behavioral and social researchers, biostatisticians, informaticians, ethicists, and clinical trialists. Where appropriate, researchers associated with a geriatric ED and/or an ADRC are encouraged. A multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator model of leadership is encouraged for this type of research/resource building project.
For the R61 planning phase, the combined budget for direct costs may not exceed $1,000,000 a year.
For the R33 phase, the combined budget for direct costs may not exceed $1,000,000 a year.
