National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center
National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center
The NIA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers Program
National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center
National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center & Gates Ventures AD/ADRD Digital Biomarker Pilot Program
Congratulations to 2024 Award Winners!

Two proposals were selected for funding after a rigorous review process, with input from digital health experts across industry, government, and academia, culminating in a public pitch competition.

Missed the Pitch Competition? Catch the live recording here


Program Overview

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) research is entering the digital age! There is a huge opportunity to leverage digital tools to advance AD/ADRD research and discovery and make this research more inclusive. A key focus of this award program, a partnership between Gates Ventures and National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC), is to accelerate the pace of digital innovation in AD/ADRD and to facilitate impactful collaborations between academia and industry. This award will create pathways for digital technology to be applied within the Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRC) network which serves as a model for the global AD/ADRD community. The data collected through these awards will be integrated with other standardized data modalities at NACC and made freely available to researchers everywhere. We are committed to working with awardees to scale successful projects across the full ADRC network and beyond. Together this data will open the door to better early detection, treatment, and prevention of AD/ADRD.

About the Digital Biomarker Pilot Program

The goals of this program are to:

  • Accelerate impactful digital data collection and sharing across the ADRC Program to advance AD/ADRD research and discovery.
  • Leverage technology to capture richer and more objective data with less burden for participants and ADRCs.
  • Advance the development and/or validation of digital biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, or monitoring.

The selection committee will choose one to three pilot projects and award between $250,000 to $ 1,000,000 (direct costs, 15% indirect cap) for one to two-year digital pilot projects. Award amounts will be based on the stage and scope of the pilot projects proposed. Funding will be provided for pilot projects that leverage technology to enable richer and more objective data collection with less burden for participants and ADRCs and that advance the development and validation of digital biomarkers.

Budget
1-3 pilots ranging from $250K to $1M (direct costs). Award amounts will be based on the stage and scope of the pilot projects proposed.
Pilot Length
1 - 2 Years
Eligibility
Funding is open to any ADRC or non-ADRC groups or companies. Applicants must have multiple (two or more) ADRC collaborators to be considered.

Data Sharing Requirements

All data generated or used in each pilot project must be made accessible to the research community through the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Data Platform.

Please note: Pilot projects and their partnering companies are expected to share raw digital data files with NACC.

Pilot Project Requirements
  • Add research value and enhances metrics
  • Reduce burden: projects must demonstrate how they will reduce burden on patients and/or providers and medical center staff
  • Expand accessibility/reach and addresses diversity
  • Involves multiple ADRCs
  • Demonstrates scalability (ADRCs and beyond)
  • Be amenable to open science experiments such as data challenges down the line
  • Partnering companies must provide the raw digital files to NACC (some raw data required, companies may still protect IP as needed)
Example Modalities
  • Sleep
  • Movement and/or Phone gyroscope measures
  • Fall detection
  • Mood State
  • Speech
  • Video
  • Language
  • Eye tracking
  • Digitized UDS (Uniform Data Set) and non-UDS
  • Diet
  • Driving
  • Keystrokes
Example Tools
  • Wearables devices (e.g. smart watch)
  • Single-Sensors
  • Multi-sensor
  • Mobile/tablet apps
  • Smart home systems
  • Virtual and augmented reality platforms
  • Desktop/web apps
  • Deep machine learning-AI-driven Algorithms
  • Single Digital Modality Processing Software
  • Multi-Digital Modality Processing Software
  • Large Language Models

Timeline

  • October 19, 2023: RFA Announced and Applications period opens
  • February 21, 2024: Deadline for applications
  • March - April 2024: Applications reviewed by selection committee
  • May 2024: Pitch Competition
  • May - June 2024: One to three winners are selected, and funding is awarded via NACC
  • Summer 2024: Pilot projects are launched (pilot length one to two years)

Potential for follow-up support

  • Promising digital pilot projects may be scaled to the full ADRC program and eligible for follow-on funding via NACC's U24 renewal.
  • Funded Data Challenge using data collected from the pilots selected for funding.
  • SBIR/STTR
    SBIR/STTR Logo
  • AD Diagnostics Accelerator
    ADDF Logo

Events

AD/ADRD Digital Pilot Program Pitch Competition

 Introducing the Pitch Competition on May 31, 2024

About the Pitch Competition:

Top applicants of the NACC and Gates Ventures Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Digital Pilot Program pitched their proposals to the judge panel in front of a live audience. In pursuit of $250K-$1M in funding, these top teams shared how their pilot projects will leverage digital tools to enable richer and more objective data collection across the ADRC Program and beyond with less burden for research subjects and patients.

This event was an excellent opportunity to learn about emerging digital solutions and how digital data collection is transforming AD/ADRD research and discovery.

The 6 Finalist Teams

6 Finalist Teams

What to expect

  • Pitching teams were given 6 minutes to pitch their proposals
  • Pitches were followed by 4 minutes of Q&A from our panel of expert judges made up of digital health leaders from across the academic, industry, and government sectors.
  • At the end of the event, audience members joined an “Ask Me Anything” Virtual Poster Session where they metwith the pitching teams to ask questions and learn more about their projects.

Event Agenda - Full Agenda

  • 15min Event start and introduction
  • 70min Pitch Competition: two 30min parts with a 10min break
  • 15min Event end and closing remarks
  • 10min Break
  • 40min "Ask me anything" Virtual Poster Session

Judge Panel


Informational Webinar on the NACC & Gates Ventures AD/ADRD Digital Biomarker Pilot Program - January 22, 2024

Digital Biomarkers Pilot Webinar

The webinar featured an overview of the new program launched by NACC and Gates Ventures and the value that this data will have on AD/ADRD research and innovation! Our speakers Niranjan Bose, PhD of Gates Ventures, Nina Silverberg, PhD of NIA, Rhoda Au, PhD, MBA of Boston University, and Sarah Biber, PhD of NACC covered highly relevant topics such as how to connect with industry partners from an academic lens and why the ADRC Program is a good testbed for developing impactful digital biomarkers. This webinar wrapped up with a Q&A panel - which has been included in the FAQ section.

Application Review

Our goal is to provide applicants with high-standard, professional assessments of scientific appraisals. The multi-stage process described below is designed to ensure both scientific rigor and fairness in the review of all submitted applications.

Review / Selection Process

  1. Prescreening: All applications will be pre-screened to ensure that they meet the minimum selection criteria (at least 2 ADRC collaborators, reduces burden on patients and/or staff, expands and addresses diversity, agrees to data sharing via NACC, budget is within RFA scope, etc.)

  2. Review Committee: Each proposal will be reviewed by at least 2-3 committee members and assigned scores. After initial scores are assigned, reviewers will discuss and determine which applicants will be invited to the next stage of the review process.

  3. Pitch Competition: The top proposal teams (5-10 applications) will be invited to participate in a pitch competition. Selection committee members will attend and discuss each team's pitch to assign final scores and make funding recommendations.

  4. Awardees Selected: NACC and Gates Ventures will determine final funding decisions for 1-3 winning proposals with the selection committee's recommendations. Awardees will be announced.

Proposals will be scored based on the following criteria:

Significance

  • How does the proposed digital data collection contribute critical data needed in the Alzheimer’s Disease field?
  • Is the team addressing a real problem/need in AD/ADRD research or healthcare?

Innovation

  • Does the proposal demonstrate how this data will open the door to better early detection/diagnosis, phenotypes, predicting prognosis, monitoring disease progression and/or treatment (longitudinal), and optimizing clinical trials in AD/ADRD?
  • Could this project lead to the development of a validated digital biomarker (biomarkers can include diagnostic, monitoring, predictive, prognostic, and susceptibility/risk factors) in research and clinical settings?

Feasibility

  • Does the project have a realistic plan and timeline for execution of the solution?

Scalability

  • Does the project design allow for scalability across the ADRC Program and beyond?

Accessibility & Equity

  • Does this project enable AD/ADRD research and discovery to be more inclusive?

Review Committee

Our review committee is made up of experts in scalable digital technologies from across academia, industry, and government. Each application will be scored by 2-3 committee members and assigned an average score.

How to Apply

1. Carefully review the RFA linked here

Request for Applications (RFA)

Application deadline: February 21, 2024

2. Review the mission statement, application restrictions and review policies, and funding policies below

3. Submit your application

Application Deadline: February 21, 2024

Please review the following application instructions and details below:

4. Review Process

Proposals will be reviewed by the selection committee after all applications have been received on the due date, February 21, 2024. Applicants can expect to hear back on their application status within 1-2 months after the due date.

Proposal Body Details

The Proposal Body should include the following six sections:

Contact Us

Please send all questions to naccmail@uw.edu and the NACC team will respond to you within 1-3 business days.

Are you a technology or industry partner interested in being connected with ADRCs who are looking for partners? Contact NACC via the button above.

Partner Information

About the ADRC Program

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) funds 33 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) at major medical institutions across the United States. Researchers at these Centers are working to translate research advances into improved diagnosis and care for people with Alzheimer's disease, as well as working to find a treatment or way to prevent Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. In addition, NIA funds four Exploratory ADRCs that are designed to expand and diversify research and education opportunities to new areas of the country, new populations, and new areas of science and approaches to research.

About NACC

The National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) functions as the centralized data repository, and collaboration and communication hub for the National Institute of Aging's (NIA's) Alzheimer's Disease and Research Centers (ADRC) Program, which currently includes 33 centers and 4 exploratory centers across the United States.

The National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center was established in 1999 by the National Institute on Aging/NIH to facilitate collaborative research. Using data collected from NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) across the United States, NACC has developed and maintains a large relational database of standardized clinical and neuropathological research data. In partnership with the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC), the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (NCRAD), and the NIA Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease Data Storage Site (NIAGADS), NACC provides a valuable resource for both exploratory and explanatory Alzheimer's disease research. NACC data are freely available to all researchers.

About Gates Ventures

Gates Ventures is the private Executive office of Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates and was founded 2008 in Kirkland, Washington, United States. It comprises his personal staff, a think tank on problems of health and global development, and a technology investment portfolio.

FAQs

Program and Program Partners

Eligibility and Application Requirements

Partnerships between Academia and Industry

Data and Data Sharing

If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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NACC is funded by the National Institute on Aging (U24 AG072122) and located in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health, Walter A. Kukull, Ph.D., Director. © 2025 University of Washington