Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 269

The grant opportunity titled "Cognitive Systems Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease Genetic and Phenotypic Data (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-19-269) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement program aimed at pushing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (ADRD) research forward using modern artificial intelligence methods. The central idea is to support teams that can build and apply AI, machine learning, and deep learning approaches (grouped under the term "cognitive systems") to analyze existing, community-accessible datasets and, through that analysis, identify gene mutations or genetic variants that either increase risk for AD/ADRD, contribute to disease mechanisms, or potentially protect against developing these conditions. In practical terms, the FOA is looking for computational approaches that can extract meaningful signals from complex, high-dimensional biological data and connect those signals to disease risk, resilience, and underlying biology.

A key emphasis in the announcement is the use of multiple data types that are already available to the broader research community. That includes genetic and genomic data (such as variant data and other genome-scale measurements) as well as biomarker and phenotypic information, which could span molecular biomarkers, clinical traits, and other measurable characteristics tied to AD/ADRD. The expectation is that applicants will not simply apply generic models, but will propose thoughtful analytic strategies capable of handling the scale and complexity of these datasets, finding patterns that traditional analysis might miss, and producing results that are biologically interpretable and useful for the field. The ultimate deliverable implied by the FOA is stronger evidence about which specific variants matter for disease risk or protection and how those variants may relate to measurable biological or clinical features.

The funding mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial scientific involvement or coordination with NIH staff compared with a standard investigator-initiated grant. While the exact award ceiling and number of expected awards are not listed in the provided text, the cooperative agreement format generally signals that NIH anticipates active collaboration, shared milestones, and a structured approach to project management. The activity category is Health, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 93.866. The FOA is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the supported work should focus on computational and analytic research rather than prospective interventional studies that meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility signals an intent to attract multidisciplinary teams with strengths in AI/ML, genomics, and neurodegenerative disease research, including groups that may bring unique populations, computational infrastructure, or methodological expertise.

From a timeline standpoint, the FOA was created on 2019-05-06, and the original closing date listed is 2022-09-07. Even though that specific date may reflect an earlier submission cycle, the description captures the program's core goals: leveraging AI-driven "cognitive systems" to discover and prioritize AD/ADRD-related genetic variants by integrating and analyzing existing genetic, genomic, biomarker, and phenotypic datasets.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cognitive Systems Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease Genetic and Phenotypic Data (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2019-05-06.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-07. (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.
Apply for PAR 19 269

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the official title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Cognitive Systems Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease Genetic and Phenotypic Data (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)".

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-19-269.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity.

What type of funding mechanism is used?

The mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, which generally indicates NIH expects substantial scientific involvement or coordination with NIH staff compared with a typical investigator-initiated grant.

What does a "cooperative agreement" imply for how the project will run?

Based on the description provided, the U01 format typically signals active collaboration with NIH, along with shared milestones and a more structured approach to project management than standard grants.

What is the main purpose of this FOA?

The FOA aims to push Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (ADRD) research forward by supporting teams that build and apply modern artificial intelligence (AI) methods (including machine learning and deep learning, collectively referred to here as "cognitive systems") to analyze existing datasets and identify genetic factors linked to AD/ADRD.

What kinds of discoveries is NIH looking for through this program?

The goal is to identify gene mutations or genetic variants that may:

  • Increase risk for AD/ADRD
  • Contribute to disease mechanisms
  • Potentially protect against developing AD/ADRD (resilience/protection)

What does "cognitive systems" mean in this funding opportunity?

In this FOA, "cognitive systems" refers to computational approaches using AI, machine learning, and deep learning to extract meaningful patterns from complex, high-dimensional biological and clinical data.

What kinds of data are expected to be analyzed?

The FOA emphasizes use of multiple data types that are already community-accessible, including:

  • Genetic and genomic data (for example, variant data and other genome-scale measurements)
  • Biomarker data (molecular biomarkers and related measures)
  • Phenotypic information (clinical traits and other measurable characteristics tied to AD/ADRD)

Does the FOA expect applicants to create new datasets?

The description emphasizes analyzing existing, community-accessible datasets. The focus is on computational and analytic work that leverages data already available to the broader research community.

Is data integration across multiple data types encouraged?

Yes. A key emphasis is using multiple data types (genetic/genomic plus biomarker and phenotypic information) and developing analytic strategies capable of handling scale and complexity, including high-dimensional datasets.

Are generic machine learning models sufficient for this program?

The FOA indicates applicants are expected to propose thoughtful analytic strategies rather than simply applying generic models, with an emphasis on approaches that can handle complex data and produce results that are biologically interpretable and useful to the field.

What kind of output or deliverable is implied by the FOA?

The implied deliverable is stronger evidence identifying which variants matter for AD/ADRD risk or protection and how those variants relate to measurable biological or clinical features.

Is this opportunity focused on wet-lab experiments or computational analysis?

Based on the information provided, the FOA is focused on computational and analytic research, specifically AI-driven analysis of existing genetic, genomic, biomarker, and phenotypic datasets.

Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

No. The FOA is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed", meaning the supported work should not include prospective interventional studies that meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.

What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?

The activity category is Health.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number listed is 93.866.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. 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
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations
  • Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under those categories)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under those categories)
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Small businesses
  • Other entities

Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicants including:

  • Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
  • Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
  • Hispanic-serving Institutions
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  • Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

Are faith-based or community-based organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. The FOA explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicants.

Can federal agencies apply?

Yes. The FOA notes that eligible federal agencies may apply.

Are U.S. territories eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.

Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).

What kinds of teams does this FOA seem designed to attract?

The broad eligibility suggests NIH wants multidisciplinary teams with strengths in areas such as AI/ML, genomics, and neurodegenerative disease research, including groups that may contribute unique populations, computational infrastructure, or methodological expertise.

When was this FOA created?

The FOA was created on 2019-05-06.

What is the closing date listed in the provided information?

The original closing date listed is 2022-09-07.

Does the listed closing date mean the opportunity is currently open?

The provided text notes that the date may reflect an earlier submission cycle. Based on the information provided alone, it indicates an original closing date but does not confirm current open/closed status.

Is the award ceiling or expected number of awards provided?

No. The provided information states that the exact award ceiling and number of expected awards are not listed in the text provided.

What research area does this FOA focus on?

The FOA focuses on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (ADRD), specifically using AI-driven analysis to connect genetic variation to disease risk, protection, mechanisms, and measurable phenotypes/biomarkers.

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