top of page

Call for Proposals: Randomized Clinical Trials on Behavioral Interventions in Aging

Updated: Sep 4

Issued by: The Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translational Research on Aging 

Sponsored by: National Institute on Aging (NIA) 

LOI Deadline: October 15, 2025 

Full Application Deadline: January 5, 2026 


Important Note to Applicants: The following call for proposals outlines independent funding opportunities available at participating Roybal Centers. Applicants should select one Roybal Center to submit a proposal to and adhere to the application guidance 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 2025 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), social health, and disparities among aging populations. 


2026 Funding Opportunities

The Roybal Program is currently accepting applications to fund fully powered, randomized clinical trials on behavioral interventions in aging. 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 primary 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 seeing 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 15, 2025 

o   Applicants must submit a letter of intent outlining the proposed project, its objectives, and the methodology. The LOI should also provide a biosketch and study timeline. 


2. Full Proposal: 

o   Due Date: January 5, 2026 

o   Following the selection of letters of intent, 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.  


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:

  • 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 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 with a particular interest in personalization and adaptation

Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here

For more information about Brigham & Women’s Hospital Roybal Center: Click here


3. 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 


4. Northwell Roybal Center for Personalized Trials

Center Focus: Physical activity interventions for hospitalized ADRD patients or their formal or informal caregivers

Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here

For more information about Northwell Roybal Center: Click here 


5. 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


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. 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 


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 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


10. University of Southern California/Yale - USC-Yale Roybal Center for Behavioral Interventions in Aging

Center Focus: Interventions focusing on the following topics (but are not limited to): preventable readmissions, care transitions, prescribing/deprescribing/polypharmacy, operational optimization (throughput, no-show, scheduling), preventive screening, overuse/inappropriate use of emergency medicine, advance care planning, medication adherence, overuse of diagnostic services, mobility/fall prevention (inpatient and outpatient), mood metrics (depression screening)

Application Criteria & Link to Apply: Click here

For more information about USC-Yale Roybal Center: Click here 

 

11. 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 


 Important Dates 

Letter of Intent Deadline

Letter of Intent Decision Notification

Full Application Deadline 

Funding Decision Notification

 October 15, 2025 

November 12, 2025

January 5, 2026 

February 13, 2026


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! 


 
 
bottom of page