Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 20 022
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Aging, Driving and Early Detection of Dementia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-20-022) supports new research focused on how automobile-based technologies might help signal early cognitive impairment in older drivers. The core idea is to use the driving environment and modern vehicle systems as a practical, real-world setting for detecting subtle changes in cognition that could be consistent with early dementia or related impairment. Rather than treating driving only as a safety issue, the opportunity frames driving behavior and in-vehicle data as a potential window into early neurologic and cognitive changes, with the aim of identifying warning signs sooner and potentially enabling earlier clinical evaluation or intervention.
This is a discretionary NIH grant mechanism using the R01 activity code, which typically supports substantial, investigator-initiated research projects. The FOA indicates that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that do or do not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, depending on the research design. The funding activity category is health, and it is associated with CFDA number 93.866. The announcement was created on June 11, 2019, with an original closing date of October 22, 2019, and it lists an award ceiling of $500,000. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data.
The scientific focus is specifically on "automobile technology" as a tool for detecting or signaling early signs of cognitive impairment in older adults. That can reasonably include research on in-vehicle sensors, driver-assistance systems, telematics, human-machine interfaces, or other technologies that capture driving performance, attention, reaction patterns, navigation behavior, or operational decisions. The intended outcome is not just measuring driving ability, but developing or validating technology-enabled indicators that could flag concerning cognitive changes early enough to matter clinically. In practice, projects under this umbrella might examine which driving-derived measures correlate with early cognitive decline, how reliably those measures can be captured in everyday driving versus simulations, and how to distinguish cognitive impairment signals from normal aging, temporary stressors, medication effects, or other confounds. It also naturally raises questions about feasibility, accuracy, bias, usability for older adults, and how such signals could be communicated responsibly to drivers, families, clinicians, or licensing authorities without causing unnecessary harm.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types: state, county, city/township, 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and 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 agencies of the federal government; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth suggests the program is open to interdisciplinary teams that may span aging research, neurology, engineering, transportation safety, data science, and community-based research, including organizations well positioned to recruit diverse older driver populations.
Overall, this FOA is aimed at advancing early detection approaches for dementia-related cognitive impairment by leveraging the technologies already present in modern vehicles or by developing new automotive sensing and analytic methods. The public health motivation is clear: older adults often continue driving well into later life, driving is tightly linked to independence and quality of life, and subtle cognitive changes can show up in complex real-world tasks like driving before they are obvious in a clinic visit. By supporting research at the intersection of aging, driving behavior, and vehicle technology, the program encourages work that could improve early identification while also informing safer mobility strategies for older adults.Apply for RFA AG 20 022
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Aging, Driving and Early Detection of Dementia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2019-06-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-10-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Aging, Driving and Early Detection of Dementia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AG-20-022.
What is the overall purpose of this grant opportunity?
This opportunity supports new research on how automobile-based technologies and the driving environment could help signal early cognitive impairment in older drivers. The goal is to use driving behavior and in-vehicle data as a real-world way to detect subtle cognitive changes that may be consistent with early dementia or related impairment, potentially enabling earlier clinical evaluation or intervention.
How does this opportunity frame driving research differently than typical safety-focused work?
Rather than treating driving only as a safety issue, the opportunity positions driving behavior and in-vehicle data as a window into early neurologic and cognitive change. The emphasis is on developing or validating technology-enabled indicators that could flag concerning cognitive changes early enough to matter clinically.
What NIH grant mechanism is being used?
This is an NIH R01 funding opportunity. The R01 activity code typically supports substantial research projects led by investigators.
Are clinical trials required under this FOA?
No. The FOA states "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that do or do not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, depending on the research design.
What is the scientific focus area of the funded research?
The scientific focus is on automobile technology as a tool for detecting or signaling early signs of cognitive impairment in older adults, using driving as a practical real-world setting for identifying subtle changes in cognition.
What kinds of automobile-based technologies might be relevant to proposed projects?
Based on the description, relevant technologies can include (but are not limited to) in-vehicle sensors, driver-assistance systems, telematics, human-machine interfaces, or other vehicle-related technologies that capture or reflect driving performance, attention, reaction patterns, navigation behavior, or operational decision-making.
What types of research questions does this FOA appear to encourage?
The opportunity suggests work such as identifying which driving-derived measures correlate with early cognitive decline, evaluating how reliably those measures can be captured in everyday driving versus simulations, and determining how to separate cognitive impairment signals from confounding factors like normal aging, temporary stressors, medication effects, or other influences.
Is the goal simply to measure driving ability or safety risk?
No. The goal is not only to measure driving ability, but to develop or validate technology-enabled indicators that could serve as early warning signs of cognitive change with potential clinical relevance.
Does the FOA mention considerations beyond technical accuracy?
Yes. The description highlights issues that naturally arise in this area, including feasibility, accuracy, bias, usability for older adults, and the challenge of communicating potential signals responsibly to drivers, families, clinicians, or licensing authorities without causing unnecessary harm.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is health.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.866.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed in the provided information?
The provided information lists an award ceiling of $500,000.
Does the provided information state how many awards NIH expects to make?
No. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on June 11, 2019.
What was the original closing date listed for this FOA?
The original closing date listed is October 22, 2019.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: 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; tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; AANAPISIs; Hispanic-serving Institutions; HBCUs; TCCUs; and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA mentions eligible agencies of the federal government among eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) as eligible.
Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant categories.
What kinds of disciplines or teams does this FOA seem designed to support?
The breadth of eligibility and the scientific framing suggest the program is open to interdisciplinary teams spanning areas such as aging research, neurology, engineering, transportation safety, data science, and community-based research, including teams capable of recruiting diverse older driver populations.
Why is driving considered a useful setting for early detection research in this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes that older adults often continue driving well into later life, driving is closely tied to independence and quality of life, and subtle cognitive changes may appear in complex real-world tasks like driving before they become obvious during a clinic visit.
What public health motivation is described for this opportunity?
The motivation is to advance early detection approaches for dementia-related cognitive impairment by leveraging modern vehicle technologies and driving behavior, with the longer-term aim of improving early identification and informing safer mobility strategies for older adults.
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