a2 Pilot Awards

Frequently Asked Questions

Other
Intellectual Property
Invited Full (Round 2) Application
Eligibility
Funding and Timing
Process
Evaluation
What is the application process?

The anticipated application cycle will be as follows:  

1. Preliminary (Round 1) Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 15, 2022.

2. AITCs will review applications on a rolling basis. Those who are invited to submit a Full (Round 2) Application will receive notification by Sept. 16, 2022. Applicants who are not invited to complete a Full Application will also receive direct notification.

3. Invited Full (Round 2) Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 31, 2022.

4. AITCs will review Full Applications on a rolling basis and make conditional awardee decisions in early December 2022.

5. NIA formal award notification is expected in spring 2023.

Who will review the applications?

Applications will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of experts from each respective AITC. Once AITCs have selected conditional awardees, NIA Program Officials will conduct final review and approval of awards.

Does the applicant need to decide which of the three AITCs to apply to before submitting an application?

Yes. Applicants must indicate their preferred AITC as part of their application submission and are strongly encouraged to research the AITCs and their resources to help determine the best fit. If the selected AITC does not wish to advance the application for further consideration, the other AITCs will have an opportunity to review the application for potential funding consideration.

Are applicants expected to contact the preferred AITC prior to the application submission?

Although not required, applicants are encouraged to reach out to their AITC of choice to discuss their project and AITC resources of interest in order to assess feasibility and application readiness. AITCs can also provide support related to questions about previous a2 Pilot Awards applications, budgetary information for the use of AITC resources, and potential collaborations. Reaching out to the AITC as early as possible in the application process is strongly recommended. Prospective applicants can reach JH AITC at jhu-aitc@jh.edu, MassAITC via their online scheduling tool, and PennAITech at pennaitech@nursing.upenn.edu.

Are applications allowed to have multiple PIs?

Yes. The application portal requires identification of the submitting PI. Co-PIs can be indicated in additional key personnel profiles within the application.

Can an applicant apply to more than one AITC?

Yes. An applicant can propose multiple unique pilot projects by submitting separate applications, which may be submitted to different AITCs. Simultaneous submission of the same pilot project to multiple AITCs is not permitted. Because the application platform accepts only one application per email account, a PI designated on multiple applications must use a different email address for each application.

What is the target age range represented in the a2 Pilot Awards’ call for AI and technology solutions that improve care and health outcomes for older adults?

Older adults typically include individuals aged 65 years and over. However, depending on the issue under study, use of an age range that begins younger (e.g., age 50 or 55) or is limited to the oldest old (e.g., age 80 and above), may be appropriate.

To what extent are applicants required to include a commercialization plan?

An applicant is not required to include a business plan for how the product will be commercialized. However, an indication of future commercialization potential or a clear impact on improving care or health outcomes for older adults, such as development of open resources that support future AI research, is critical.

Is there an example of an application or the format for it?

Prospective applicants can view PDFs of the Preliminary (Round 1) Application and Invited Full (Round 2) Application in our Resources section.To begin a Preliminary Application submission, please click the Apply button here. The Preliminary Application will be open from July 1, 2022, to Aug. 15, 2022. The Invited Full (Round 2) Application will be open to invited applicants from Sept. 16, 2022, to Oct. 31, 2022.