Issued by: The Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translational Research on Aging
Sponsored by: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
LOI Deadline: October 1, 2026
The application system will accept submissions until 11:59 PM ET on the LOI due date.
Full Application Deadline: December 7, 2026
The application system will accept submissions until 11:59 PM ET on the full application due date.
Important Note to Applicants: The following call for proposals outlines independent funding opportunities available at participating Roybal Centers. Applicants should review and adhere to the application guidance and submission deadlines specific to that Roybal Center.
About the Roybal Program
The Roybal Centers for Translational Research on Aging are designed to accelerate the translation of behavioral and social science research into practical interventions that can improve the quality of life for older adults. The Northwell Roybal Coordinating Center invites applications for funding under any of the Roybal Centers participating in the 2026-2027 application cycle. Supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), these centers address a broad range of themes that aim to tackle the complex challenges of aging, Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), treatments, social health, and disparities among aging populations.
2026-2027 Funding Opportunities
The Roybal Program is currently accepting applications to fund fully powered clinical trials on behavioral interventions in aging. Underpowered clinical trials of any stage are unlikely to be successful. Applicants must apply the NIH Stage Model as a conceptual framework and clearly articulate a plan for how their trial will progress through the NIH Stage Model. All clinical trials must have adequate statistical power to test mechanism of behavior change and/or efficacy of the intervention.
Each Roybal Center has a unique theme and individual call for proposals with eligibility criteria and budgets specific to each center. Please refer to the following guidance in identifying which Roybal Center your proposal is best aligned with and follow the application submission instructions specific to that center.
Applicants may propose projects that align with any of the following key themes addressed by the Roybal Centers. To view center specific application criteria and application links, please review information below. Once you have identified a center you would like to apply to, complete the form to initiate access to the letter of intent application.
Award & Funding Requirements
Award Amount & Funding Period: Varies by Roybal Center. Please refer to specific Roybal Center funding opportunities for award amounts and funding period information.
Guidance for Indirect Costs: Applicants should contact their institution’s sponsored programs office to determine the use of a federally negotiated indirect cost rate or other institutionally accepted rate for indirect costs. Since total allowable costs vary by Roybal Center, applicants should refer to center specific guidance and may wish to consider seeking an indirect cost (IDC) waiver from their institution to maximize available direct costs. If invited to submit a full application in these cases, applicants will need to include a letter from an Authorized Organizational Representative confirming the institution’s indirect cost rate and commitment, if awarded.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, early-stage, mid-career, and established investigators from academic, non-profit, or corporate institutions. Review center links for center-specific applicant criteria.
Application Process
1. Letter of Intent (LOI):
o Due Date: October 1, 2026
o Applicants must submit a letter of intent outlining the proposed project, its objectives, and the methodology. The LOI should also provide a biosketches for senior/key personnel and study timeline.
o The application system will accept submissions until 11:59 PM ET on the LOI due date.
2. Full Proposal:
o Due Date: December 7, 2026
o Following the review of letters of intent, select applicants will be contacted and invited to submit a full proposal that includes a detailed research plan, biosketches for senior/key personnel, budget and justification, and other supplementary items as requested by Roybal Centers.
o The application system will accept submissions until 11:59 PM ET on the full proposal due date.
How to Apply
Letters of intent and invited full proposals must be submitted through the provided application links associated with a specific Roybal Center. Applicants should carefully review instructions contained in the application link, as guidance is specific to the individual Roybal Center an applicant is responding to.
For center-specific questions and application guidance, please contact the Center contact listed in the application portal.
Review & Evaluation Criteria
Each Roybal Center has an independent review panel which will evaluate LOIs and full proposals, respectively. Evaluations of full proposals will include the following criteria, at minimum:
Scientific Merit: The novelty, quality, and rigor of the research.
Relevance to Aging Populations: The importance of the research in addressing aging-related issues.
Potential for Impact: The likelihood that the research will result in practical interventions that improve health outcomes for older adults.
Feasibility: The approach's practicality, scalability, and potential for translation into real-world applications.
Qualifications of the Research Team: Expertise of the team in aging, social science, and related fields.
2026-2027 Roybal Center Themes & Application Links
1. Arizona State University Roybal Center
Center Focus: Mechanisms of behavioral change-driven, technology-enabled behavioral interventions to delay ADRD and improve quality of life (QoL) among older adults living alone with cognitive decline.
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about Arizona State University Roybal Center: Click here
2. Brigham & Women's Hospital Roybal Center for Therapeutic Optimization Using Behavioral Science
Center Focus: Behavioral interventions aimed at improving evidence-based medication use (e.g. non-adherence, overuse, and underuse) with a particular interest in, including but not limited to, technology, personalization and machine learning adaptation
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about Brigham & Women’s Hospital Roybal Center: Click here
3. Columbia Roybal Center for Fearless Behavior Change
Center Focus: Advance behavioral interventions that reduce psychological distress and improve health behaviors among midlife and older adults who experienced serious health events
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about Brigham & Women’s Hospital Roybal Center: Click here
4. Cornell – Translational Research Institute on Pain in Later Life (TRIPLL) Roybal Center
Center Focus: Behavioral interventions focused on testing innovative social or behavioral approaches to manage pain in older adults
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about Cornell Roybal Center: Click here
5. Emory Roybal Center for Dementia Caregiving Mastery
Center Focus: Behavioral interventions designed to enhance competence and confidence (mastery/self-efficacy) of caregivers to enact solution or problem-focused coping behaviors in context-specific caregiving situations
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about Emory Roybal Center: Click here
Please note Emory’s deadlines as follows:
LOI Submissions Due: November 16, 2026
LOI Decision Notification: December 17, 2026
Full Proposals Due: January 25, 2027
Full Proposal Decision Notification: February 23, 2027
6. National Bureau of Economic Research Roybal Center for Behavior Change in Health
Center Focus: Test scalable interventions with potential to broadly improve population health; special interest in evaluating mechanisms of behavior change
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about National Bureau of Economic Research Roybal Center: Click here
7. Northwell Roybal Center for Personalized Trials
Center Focus: Walking interventions for patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about Northwell Roybal Center: Click here
8. University of Illinois at Chicago - Midwest Roybal Center for Promoting Adherence to Behavior Change and Enhancing Cognitive Function
Center Focus: Behavioral health intervention focusing on translation research relevant to older adults while including ADRD risk reduction component
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about Midwest Roybal Center: Click here
9. University of Michigan Roybal Center for Promoting Adherence to Behavior Change and Enhancing Cognitive Function
Center Focus: Test mechanism of behavior change and/or efficacy of intervention for promoting physical activity
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about University of Michigan Roybal Center: Click here
10. University of Minnesota - Establishing Mechanisms of Benefit to Reinforce Alzheimer's Care Experience (EMBRACE) AD/ADRD Roybal Center
Center Focus: Mechanism-driven, tailored dementia care interventions in home-and community-based contexts
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about EMBRACE Roybal Center: Click here
11. University of California San Francisco - UCSF Neuroscape Roybal Center for Cognitive Interventions in Aging
Center Focus: Enhance cognitive abilities in older adults by leveraging mobile technology; assess the efficacy of app-based interventions that target cognitive domains associated with impairment; develop adaptive, closed-loop digital interventions to provide an engaging experience with results that translate to real-world outcomes.
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about the UCSF Neuroscape Roybal Center: Click here
12. University of Pennsylvania - Penn Roybal Center for Behavioral Economic and Health
Center Focus: Explore mechanisms of behavior change in rigorous and innovative ways while also incorporating themes relating to design thinking, digital platforms, and dynamic adaptation
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about Penn Roybal Center: Click here
13. University of Southern California/Yale - USC-Yale Roybal Center for Behavioral Interventions in Aging
Center Focus: To 1) understand mechanisms of behavior change that will improve the general effectiveness of interventions focusing on the overuse and underuse of health services in aging populations and 2) address crucial problems relating to translation and development of patient- and provider-facing interventions.
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about USC-Yale Roybal Center: Click here
14. UTHealth Houston - Roybal Center for Elder Mistreatment Intervention Research
Center Focus: Behavioral and social interventions that aim to reduce exposure to elder mistreatment and/or its mental and physical impacts on community-dwelling older adults and their caregivers
Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here
For more information about UTHealth Houston Roybal Center: Click here
Important Dates
Letter of Intent Deadline | Letter of Intent Decision Notification | Full Application Deadline | Funding Decision Notification |
October 1, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | December 7, 2026 | February 15, 2027 |
This funding opportunity aligns with the Roybal Centers’ mission to advance innovative research in aging, with a focus on translating evidence into meaningful interventions that improve the lives of older adults. We look forward to your submissions!
