ORCASTRAIT pilot study funding

Application overview

ORCASTRAIT focuses on improving ADRD care provider (CP) support by facilitating the wise use of leading-edge technologies to conduct and inform promising scalable intervention studies. The overall objective of ORCASTRAIT’s Pilot Core is to support innovative pilot studies necessary to inform ongoing and future research consistent with the ORCASTRAIT aims-to substantially improve the science of care provider interventions, enabling the research community to build and deliver evidence based, standardized, and measured interventions grounded in sound principles of technology research and development. These are then intended to be translated into wider application.

Pilot research must involve a clinical trial (control conditions not necessary) and be feasible within a one-year time period. These projects also should reflect familiarity with the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development.

The Pilot Core is funded by the NIA-funded ORCASTRAIT Roybal Center and will support two innovative projects each year. Each project is awarded with up to $95,000 in direct costs for one year.

Work leading to innovative care provider intervention research advantaged or enhanced by technology
Pilots that tangibly move an intervention closer toward later Stage Model destinations
Pilots that engage early career, women, and minority researchers or established investigators applying their old knowledge into this new area of research
Feasibility of completion in one year
Likelihood of competitiveness of next submission
Literature supports this as a novel intervention
Plans incorporate insights/perspectives of end-users in pilot design
Appropriate research team qualifications and experience

RFA with Letter of Intent (LOI)
LOIs reviewed for priority criteria
Those meeting criteria submit NIH-style proposals
Peer reviewed and scored
Executive Committee makes decision
Final approval by NIA

A detailed guide to how to apply for pilot study funding

View the instructions

Special call: Letters of Intent

Behavioral Interventions for Dementia Care/Caregiving

Please complete the Letter of Intent (LOI) form.

Special call LOI form

Key dates

Letter of Intent due: April 5, 2023
Anticipated selection date: April 10, 2023
Full proposal due: June 1, 2023
Funding begins: No sooner than April 2024, depending on NIA P30 Center renewal funding and approval from the IRB.

View the detailed application guide