DoD Accelerating Alzheimer’s Diagnostics Research Grant

The intent of the FY22 PRARP ADRA is to support high-impact advancement of robust diagnostic and/or prognostic factors pertaining to AD/ADRD following military service and/or TBI. Applications meeting the intent of this mechanism will accelerate clinically useful factors for rapid transfer to clinical practice to bridge a critical gap between identification of relevant factors and clinical usage. The proposed factors for investigation must correlate with clinical endpoints relevant to AD/ADRD following military service and/or TBI. Inclusion of preliminary data is required.

Applicants should clearly describe the intent, purpose, as well as the clinical and practical utility of the diagnostic and/or prognostic factors being studied. Considerations for how the diagnostic/prognostic factors meaningfully inform care and disease management should be described both at the provider and individual living with AD/ADRD level. As part of the application, the proposed prognostic or diagnostic factors should demonstrate their potential for improved specificity and sensitivity with respect to diagnosis and/or prognosis of AD/ADRD as the study endpoint. Additionally, applications should address the utility of the diagnostic/ prognostic factor(s) in rural or resource-limited environments.

Applications may consider elements of biomarker and risk factor validation as part of the application, particularly if validation is intended to widen the diversity of the population to which the factors/biomarkers will be applicable. Biomarker validation is defined as assessing the biomarker’s measurement performance characteristics in terms of reproducibility, accuracy, precision, and limits of sensitivity. Risk factors may include modifiable and non-modifiable factors that influence a person’s likelihood to develop AD/ADRD. Clinical trials are not allowed; however, the FY22 ADRA may use data and/or human anatomical substances from an existing clinical trial to carry out the research.