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 fifth annual a2 Pilot Awards competition will accept applications from Dec. 2, 2024, to Jan. 15, 2025 (5 p.m. ET). A full request for applications (RFA) outlining parameters for the fifth annual competition is available in the Applicant Resources section. To view projects selected for award in past competitions, visit our Awardees page. Prospective applicants should visit the three AITC websites to review their individual RFAs, which include additional details on project scope and example project topics.
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. Prospective applicants can reach JH AITC at jhu-aitc@jh.edu, MassAITC at massaitc@umass.edu, and PennAITech at pennaitech@nursing.upenn.edu. Contacting AITCs through these designated channels, rather than reaching out to AITC investigators directly, is strongly recommended to ensure timely review of inquiries.
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, submission of a more detailed proposal in the Round 2 application due Mar. 31, 2025 (5 p.m. ET). The request for applications (RFA) for the fifth annual competition is available in the Applicant Resources section.
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. Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis. 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 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.
Applications that propose either incremental enhancements or new indications/patient populations for technologies/platforms that have been supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding are not eligible for funding in the fifth annual a2 Pilot Awards competition (note this restriction does not apply to non-NIH SBIR/STTR awards).
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.
