Health Services Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (HSR-ADRD) Funding Program
About the HSR-ADRD funding program
Through the Alzheimer’s Association William and Sheila Konar Health Services Research Initiative, the Alzheimer’s Association announces the Health Services Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (HSR-ADRD) funding program aimed at advancing health services research that ensures high-quality, equitable, and person-centered dementia care across the healthcare continuum. This program is focused on actionable, equity-driven studies that incorporate the voices of individuals
and communities impacted by dementia.
This grant is open to U.S. and international researchers.
Grant RFA
View program objectives, LOI instructions, timelines, eligibility requirements and more.
Grant Application
Apply for the HSR-ADRD funding program by submitting your LOI through the ProposalCentral website. Registration is required.
Background
The detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) are critical components of effective care and treatment. Yet, substantial disparities exist in timely and accurate diagnoses, disproportionately affecting minoritized populations. For example, socioeconomic status influences the likelihood of receiving a diagnosis and the quality of subsequent care. Evidence indicates that individuals from minoritized racial and ethnic groups, rural areas, and low-income settings face significant delays or misdiagnoses compared to their more privileged counterparts. At the individual level, cultural differences in the perception of dementia symptoms may delay care-seeking behaviors, while language barriers or mistrust in the healthcare system may further limit
access to diagnostic services. At the community and health system levels, unequal access to advanced diagnostic technologies, insufficient provider training on culturally competent care and use of newly available biomarker-based diagnostic tools, and biases within healthcare delivery systems compound the challenges. These inequities exacerbate health disparities and diminish opportunities for early intervention, ultimately impacting long-term outcomes for individuals and their families.
Despite recent innovations, the field has yet to adequately investigate or address the complex interplay of multilevel factors driving disparities in dementia detection and diagnosis. Furthermore, existing research has predominantly focused on well-resourced populations, leaving significant gaps in understanding how these disparities manifest and persist across different groups. This lack of actionable data perpetuates inequities and restricts progress toward equitable care.
Moreover, funding mechanisms often focus on large-scale efficacy studies or advanced
stages of care delivery, leaving critical early-phase research and pilot studies underfunded. As a result, innovative approaches to reducing disparities remain untested and underutilized. The Alzheimer’s Association Health Services Research (AA-HSR) Program aims to address this gap by supporting research that builds scientific evidence on disparities in dementia detection and diagnosis and fosters innovative solutions to advance equitable care. By bridging this funding gap, the AA-HSR Program seeks to accelerate the development of sustainable, evidence-based practices that ensure timely and accurate diagnoses for all individuals, regardless of their background.
Funding
This program provides funding of up to $250,000 (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) over a two-year period, with Year 1 funding capped at $137,500 and Year 2 funding capped at $112,500. Indirect costs, limited to 10% of total direct costs and must cover essential operational expenses. Ethical approvals, such as Institutional Review Board (IRB) certifications, are not required at the time of application but must be submitted prior to the project start date, which must fall within six months of the award notification. Investigators should plan accordingly, as institutional ethical reviews may require 90 days or more for completion. Grant terms may be extended without additional funding (no-cost extension) upon electronic request submitted at least 45 days before the grant expiration. Extensions typically range from six to twelve months and are limited to six months per year of the award duration (e.g., a two-year award may qualify for a single six-month extension). Applicants are encouraged to design projects that align with program objectives, are feasible within the funding limits and timeline, and provide a strong justification for resource allocation.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from researchers at all career levels, including postdoctoral fellows, instructors, assistant, associate, and full professors. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with academic institutions, government agencies, health plans or systems, or non-profit organizations. Applicants are required to hold a terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., DrPH, MD, DO, or an equivalent doctoral-level credential) and possess documented expertise in health services research related to dementia, aging, or a closely associated field.
This program seeks proposals that utilize rigorous methodologies to address disparities in the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD). Studies may employ quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods approaches and must align with the program's focus on generating actionable findings that advance equity and improve outcomes in dementia care.Eligible study designs include but are not limited to:
- Observational studies that analyze existing disparities and identify gaps in diagnostic practices.
- Cross-sectional studies that examine specific populations and care pathways at a single point in time to identify inequities.
- Cohort studies that track populations over time to evaluate disparities in access to diagnostic tools and services.
- Pragmatic randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that test interventions aimed at reducing disparities in real-world settings.
- Implementation science studies that explore the deployment of evidence-based interventions to address equity in dementia diagnosis and detection.
- Longitudinal studies that assess the long-term impact of targeted interventions or systemic changes on reducing diagnostic disparities.
- Health economics studies that evaluate cost-effectiveness and sustainability of innovative care and diagnostic models.
- Technology integration studies that explore the application of advanced tools such as artificial intelligence and telehealth in reducing diagnostic inequities.
- Evaluation studies that assess the effectiveness of policies, programs, and interventions designed to promote equity in AD and ADRD diagnosis.
- Primary data such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups designed to capture firsthand insights from diverse populations.
- Secondary data from large datasets, registries, electronic health records (EHR), and claims data, providing a robust foundation for analyzing disparities and evaluating interventions.
Researchers who are delinquent in reporting on previous grants or have unresolved deliverables from prior awards are not eligible to apply. Additionally, adjunct faculty, current students, and individuals holding only temporary academic appointments are ineligible to serve as principal investigators but may participate as collaborators. For clarity on eligibility or if you are unsure of your status, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association grants team at grantsapp@alz.org.
This program is committed to advancing research that meaningfully addresses disparities and ensures that the voices and needs of diverse populations are central to all funded projects
Current members of the Association’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Group (MSAG) and the International Research Grant Program (IRGP) Council are ineligible to (a) compete for any research grant and (b) be included as co-investigator or to receive any financial benefit from an application. These individuals may be listed as key personnel/collaborator to an application and will be recused from participating in their peer-review.
Note: Alzheimer’s Association grants are generally open to scientists and researchers across the globe; however, as a U.S.-based charity, the Alzheimer’s Association is subject to, and complies with, U.S. law. As a result, the Alzheimer’s Association cannot award, and will not award, grants in violation of applicable U.S. statutes and regulations. This means, among other things, that the Alzheimer’s Association cannot, and will not, fund any individual or entity (i) that is subject to U.S. comprehensive or targeted sanctions or if awarding funding would result in a violation of such sanctions, (ii) that is on the U.S. List of Specially Designated Nationals or entities owned or controlled by such persons, or (iii) when doing so is otherwise prohibited by U.S. laws related to
combating terrorism.
Deadlines and award dates
The Letter of Intent and application must be submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the respective deadlines. Late submissions, hard copies, or email submissions will not be accepted.
- Letter of Intent Launch: January 9, 2025
- Letter of Intent Submission Deadline: February 26, 2025, 5 p.m. ET
- Full Proposal Invitations: March 19, 2025
- Application Submission Deadline: April 23, 2025, 5 p.m. ET
- Application Review: May - June 2025
- Award Notification: July 15, 2025
Budget
Applicants must submit a budget summary (max 2 pages) with their application. A detailed budget will be required and approved before fund disbursement for awarded projects. The total budget, including direct and indirect costs, must not exceed $250,000 for up to two years, with indirect costs capped at 10% of total direct costs.
Allowable costs under this award
- Research supplies and small laboratory equipment (purchases over $10,000 require prior approval).
- Software strictly for data collection and analysis.
- Salaries for PIs, scientific, and technical staff.
- Open access publication fees and membership to ISTAART.
- Travel to scientific meetings: A total of $12,500 over a two year period may be requested for travel purposes and is not to exceed $7,000 in any given year.
Direct costs not allowed under this award
- Standard computer hardware/software (e.g., Microsoft Office)
- Major equipment (e.g., freezers, ultracentrifuges).
- Construction, tuition, or office space rent.
- General liability insurance, wire fees, or indirect compensation for Alzheimer’s
Association staff or council members. - Visa costs and fees
- Expenses such as Data Network Recharges and Computing and communication
device support services. However, data sharing and/or data storage for imaging,
sequencing and other study data is allowed. - We reserve the right to decline any charge that is an institutional feed and/or
service charge.
Contact information
For any inquires or additional information, please contact a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Research Grants Team at grantsapp@alz.org.
This funding program is made possible through a grant from the William and Sheila Konar Foundation.