IMPACT Collaboratory Requests Applications: 2026 ePCT Planning Grants Program

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) Imbedded Pragmatic Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Clinical Trials (IMPACT) Collaboratory (U54AG063546) was established in 2019 to build the nation’s capacity to conduct embedded pragmatic clinical trials (ePCTs) of non-pharmacological interventions within health care systems to improve the care of people living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners.

The IMPACT Collaboratory will fund up to two 12-month awards for up to $150,000 (total direct costs) to support the activities needed to collaboratively plan and develop a feasible, fully specified protocol for a Stage IV effectiveness ePCT in dementia care. Applicants must partner with a nursing home organization and include at least two nursing homes (either within a single organization or across multiple organizations).

This opportunity focuses exclusively on non-pharmacological interventions to improve the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in nursing homes, including person-centered approaches and strategies to reduce antipsychotic or similar neuroactive medication use. Proposed projects must emphasize nursing home-level approaches suitable for future pilot or full-scale ePCTs.

This award emphasizes strong partnerships among investigators, nursing home provider partners, and advisory boards of residents, care partners and other caregivers to ensure the interventions are feasible, aligned with real-world workflows, and ready for testing in an ePCT.  By the end of the award, awardees are expected to deliver a fully specified, implementation ready trial protocol for either a pilot or full-scale ePCT.

This funding opportunity does not support early-stage intervention development (Stages 0-I) or protocol development for efficacy trials (Stages II-III on the NIH Stage Model).

Read the full RFA here

Informational Webinar

An optional informational webinar will be hosted to provide investigators with an overview of application details and an opportunity to ask questions.

May 21, 2026, at 3pm ET: Register here.

Letters of intent are due June 18, 2026, at 6pm ET

Questions? Please contact, Elaine Bergman, IMPACT Communications Lead