Development of Socially-Assistive Robots (SARs) to Engage Persons with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD), and their Caregivers (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 185

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 185

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR 18-185 supports the creation and early-stage testing of socially-assistive robots (SARs) and related enabling technologies designed for people living with Alzheimer's disease (AD), AD-related dementias (ADRD), and common coexisting health conditions that often affect older adults. It is offered under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program using the R41/R42 mechanism, meaning it is geared toward small businesses working in formal partnership with a research institution. The overall aim is to push practical, science-based robotics solutions from concept through prototype development and, where appropriate, into clinical testing, with the goal of improving health, reducing disability, and making day-to-day life safer and more manageable for affected individuals.

A central theme of the opportunity is "engagement" through assistive robotics. In practice, that typically means technologies that can interact with a person in ways that support cognitive function, emotional well-being, and routine activities, while respecting the unique challenges that dementia introduces, such as memory impairment, confusion, communication difficulties, anxiety, agitation, and changes in sleep or daily rhythms. The FOA is broadly about assistive robotics that can help maintain independence longer, support quality of life, and potentially reduce avoidable health events that come from disorientation, missed medications, inactivity, falls risk, loneliness, or unmanaged stress. The NIH language also makes clear that solutions can address AD/ADRD alongside other comorbidities common in older populations, which opens the door to robots or robotic systems that support mobility, physical activity, monitoring, or assistance tied to multiple health needs rather than dementia in isolation.

Just as importantly, the announcement explicitly includes caregivers as intended beneficiaries. The NIH is encouraging SAR concepts that reduce caregiver burden and address caregiver health and well-being, recognizing that dementia care can be physically and emotionally exhausting and can contribute to burnout, depression, sleep disruption, and reduced ability to work or maintain personal health. Technologies responsive to caregiver needs could include tools that help with routine supervision, reminders and scheduling, guided activities that give caregivers respite time, coaching and decision support, or systems that improve communication and coordination among family members and professional care teams. The emphasis is on real-world utility: robotics that can fit into home or care settings and meaningfully improve daily caregiving conditions rather than remaining purely experimental.

From a program structure perspective, this is an STTR grant, which is distinct from standard NIH research grants because it is built around commercialization-oriented R and D led by a small business, conducted in collaboration with a nonprofit research institution such as a university or medical center. The funding mechanism listed is R41/R42, which generally corresponds to a phased pathway: an initial phase focused on feasibility and proof-of-concept work, followed by a second phase focused on more advanced development, refinement, and readiness for broader testing and commercialization. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," indicating that applicants may propose a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the technology and stage of development, but a clinical trial is not required. This flexibility is useful for robotics projects because some efforts may focus on design, usability, safety, and technical validation first, while others may be ready for formal evaluation of outcomes in target populations.

Eligibility is limited to small businesses, consistent with STTR requirements, and the opportunity explicitly excludes non-U.S. entities from applying. Foreign institutions are not eligible as applicants, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components may be allowed under NIH policy as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means certain discrete parts of a project may be conducted abroad if strongly justified and allowable, but the core applicant organization must be an eligible U.S. small business. The listing also indicates the agency is NIH, the activity category is health, and the CFDA number is 93.866, which is associated with aging and related research. The original closing date shown is July 5, 2020, and the creation date is November 28, 2017, placing it in a time period when NIH was actively expanding support for technology-enabled dementia care and caregiver support innovations.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted commercialization and translational research opportunity: it is meant to help small businesses and their academic partners build and validate socially-assistive robotic technologies that can engage people living with AD/ADRD, support their health and functioning, and also address the often-overlooked needs of caregivers who provide daily support.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Socially-Assistive Robots (SARs) to Engage Persons with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD), and their Caregivers (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

Apply for PAR 18 185

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