The NIA and NINDS encourage wider use of data and samples generated by
grants supported by the institute(s) including the Alzheimers Disease
Centers (ADCs). The purpose of this RFA is to accelerate collaborative
cross-disciplinary and multi-institutional approaches that will
contribute new and vital information about the clinical and
pathological course of normal aging and the neurodegenerative diseases
associated with aging.
This RFA requires the utilization of data and/or samples from at least
three currently funded NIA ADCs with the possibility of using
additional relevant data or samples from outside of the Centers. The
project must use the National Alzheimers Coordinating Center (NACC)
http://www.alz.washington.edu/ for expert advice on planning, study
design, and also utilize NACC for statistical analyses and data
management during conduct of the research projects. Applicants can be
from the Alzheimers Disease Centers, the Morris K. Udall Centers, or
the research community at large. There should be a plan to share data
originating from these studies by archiving them at NACC or another
appropriate National databank so that other investigators will be able
to conduct additional analyses when appropriate. There must also be a
plan to encourage sample utilization after the current study.
This is a research opportunity for scientists both within and outside
the ADCs to gain access to unique resources related to Alzheimers
Disease, other neurodegenerative diseases, and normal aging and to
support collection of new data and samples. Applicants can also propose
to utilize Center data and samples to investigate other age-related
neurodegenerative diseases, such as Vascular dementia, Parkinsons
dementia, Lewy Body disease, Fronto-Temporal dementia, as well as study
psychiatric symptoms associated with dementia, sociobehavioral aspects
of dementia, and management and care of dementia patients.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is
interested in those specific applications which include the Morris K.
Udall Centers of Excellence, or other Parkinsons research centers, in
the pursuit of those research objectives focused on Parkinson's Disease
(PD) or related parkinsonisms. The PD center need not be located with
ADCs, but collaboration with those ADCs with existing samples and data
sets focused on PD is required. Specific scientific projects of
interest include the use of clinico-pathological correlations to study
mechanisms of pathogenesis in PD or other parkinsonian conditions,
characterization of the pathological features of these conditions, and
the collection of patient data on their associated symptoms.