Exposomic Contributions to ADRD Pathology and Resilience

Key Facts

Status: Open

Posted date: March 11, 2026

Opportunity ID: 361451

Opportunity number: RFA-NS-26-031

Opportunity category: Discretionary

Agency name: National Institutes of Health

Agency code: HHS-NIH11

Award floor: $0

Award ceiling: $0

Cost sharing required: No

Funding Instrument Types
  • Grant
Category of Funding Activity
  • Health
Eligible Applicants
  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • 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
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Tools
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
  • agency_code:hhs_nih11
  • category_of_funding_activity:health
  • cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:false
  • eligible_applicants:city_or_township_governments
  • eligible_applicants:county_governments
  • eligible_applicants:for_profit_organizations_other_than_small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:independent_school_districts
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_governments_federally_recognized
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_organizations_other_than_federally_recognized_tribal_governments
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_having_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_that_do_not_have_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:others
  • eligible_applicants:private_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:public_and_state_controlled_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:public_housing_authoritiesindian_housing_authorities
  • eligible_applicants:small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:special_district_governments
  • eligible_applicants:state_governments
  • funding_instrument_type:grant
  • opportunity_category:discretionary
  • status:open
Description

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is interested in supporting research projects that investigate how specific neural exposome factors contribute mechanistically to Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD) pathology and resilience. For the purposes of this program, exposome factors of interest include, but are not limited to, environmental toxins, sleep and circadian rhythms, stress, and the real-world conditions that modulate them (e.g., light, noise, heat).Applications will be expected to propose research on the synergistic action between multiple exposome factors, and the composite effects of mixtures of exposome factors on neural mechanisms relevant to ADRD. Applicants are encouraged to focus on mechanistic pathways (e.g., microbiome–brain interactions, neuroimmune signaling, epigenetic modifications) that link exposures to ADRD risk, progression, and resilience. Applicants are further encouraged to consider studies that cover the lifespan, including work that investigates critical or sensitive periods of exposure or factors that may lead to neurological health disparities. Applicants may propose mechanistic, translational, and/or human subjects research, drawing on clinical data, human samples, and observational or interventional studies. However, NIH-defined clinical trials will not be supported under this program.Applications are not currently being solicited. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. Investigative teams with expertise in exposomics and environmental neuroscience, community engagement, ADRD mechanisms, and non-medical factors that may lead to health disparities are encouraged to apply.

Exposomic Contributions to ADRD Pathology and Resilience
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is interested in supporting research projects that investigate how specific neural exposome factors contribute mechanistically to Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD) pathology and resilience. For the purposes of this program, exposome factors of interest include, but are not limited to, environmental toxins, sleep and circadian rhythms, stress, and the real-world conditions that modulate them (e.g., light, noise, heat).Applications will be expected to propose research on the synergistic action between multiple exposome factors, and the composite effects of mixtures of exposome factors on neural mechanisms relevant to ADRD. Applicants are encouraged to focus on mechanistic pathways (e.g., microbiome–brain interactions, neuroimmune signaling, epigenetic modifications) that link exposures to ADRD risk, progression, and resilience. Applicants are further encouraged to consider studies that cover the lifespan, including work that investigates critical or sensitive periods of exposure or factors that may lead to neurological health disparities. Applicants may propose mechanistic, translational, and/or human subjects research, drawing on clinical data, human samples, and observational or interventional studies. However, NIH-defined clinical trials will not be supported under this program.Applications are not currently being solicited. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. Investigative teams with expertise in exposomics and environmental neuroscience, community engagement, ADRD mechanisms, and non-medical factors that may lead to health disparities are encouraged to apply.
Exposomic Contributions to ADRD Pathology and Resilience
Open
National Institutes of Health
Health
Grant
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
2026-03-11