The national a2 Pilot Awards competition is hosted annually by the a2 Collective and funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, through the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratories (AITC) for Aging Research program. NIA has earmarked $40 million to fund technology demonstration projects that utilize artificial intelligence (AI) approaches and technology to improve care and health outcomes for older Americans, including persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), and their caregivers.
The application information below is relevant to the fifth annual a2 Pilot Awards competition, which is accepting applications from Dec 2, 2024 to Jan 15, 2025 (5 p.m. ET). To view projects selected for award in past competitions, visit our Awardees page. If you have any questions about the application process, please email us here. For any specific questions about your pilot project scope or collaborating with an AITC, we suggest that you contact the AITC directly to establish a dialogue.
The fifth annual a2 Pilot Awards competition includes an additional focus area on the biological underpinnings of physical and cognitive decline in aging and AD/ADRD. Please see the addendum to the competition request for applications in our Applicant Resources section to learn more. Note that the addendum represents an additional area of interest and does not modify the a2 Collective's continued interest in project applications outside of this topic area.
Round 1 applications for the fifth annual a2 Pilot Awards will be accepted from Dec 2, 2024 to Jan 15, 2025 (5 p.m. ET). The application process consists of two rounds: an initial submission of a brief project proposal in Round 1, and for those invited to proceed, a full proposal submission in Round 2 due Mar 31, 2025 @ 5 p.m. ET. The request for applications (RFA) for the fifth annual competition will soon be available in the Applicant Resources section.
Note:If an error prevents the application platform from loading, we recommend attempting to open the page in Google Chrome. If you are unable to access the application in Chrome, please contact support@a2collective.ai for assistance.
The a2 Collective comprises three Collaboratories (AITCs) centered at Johns Hopkins University (JH AITC), the University of Massachusetts Amherst (MassAITC), and the University of Pennsylvania (PennAITech) and a Coordinating Center managed by Rose Li & Associates, Inc. (RLA). Each AITC will support pilot projects focused on healthy aging and AD/ADRD.
All AITCs are multidisciplinary research centers that provide research translation support; state-of-the-art facilities; and access to software and hardware platforms, datasets and other resources, and population study sites. Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit each AITC website to determine the best fit for a proposed project.
Applicants may request up to $200,000 in non-dilutive grant funding (direct costs) to be expended within a 12-month period. Most funded project budgets are in the $50,000 to $150,000 range. Higher amounts, multi-year commitments, and extensions may be selectively granted on a case-by-case basis by the awarding AITC.
If the awarded applicant institution has a federally negotiated indirect rate, additional indirect costs can be requested at that indirect rate. For applicant institutions without federally negotiated indirect rates, the maximum indirect costs rate is 10 percent of direct costs. See additional details in our FAQ.
Applicant institutions can be any fiscally responsible organization with a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number within the United States, which includes for-profit organizations, higher education institutions, other nonprofits, eligible agencies of the federal government, local government entities, and other organizations.
The principal investigator is not required to have a PhD or MD but must demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and environment necessary to carry out the proposed project. Applicants from populations that are underrepresented in the AI and technology fields as well as individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply for funding.
Pilot projects selected for funding consideration will be required to submit additional documentation, including public health service grant application forms and, if applicable, human subjects protection information and subject recruitment criteria.
Pilot project applications will be reviewed on a number of factors, including the project’s scientific merit, potential commercial or translational impact, and team and project plan strength.
Additional consideration may be given to projects that leverage an AITC’s resources or facilities or generate datasets, software, or hardware that might benefit the AITC research community at large. Other areas of consideration might include go-to-market strategy, regulatory and reimbursement pathways, and mitigation of health disparities across the United States, including improving access to and delivery of care in rural areas.
