Development of Socially-Assistive Robots (SARs) to Engage Persons with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD), and their Caregivers (R41/R42) | PAR 17 107

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 107

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offered this funding opportunity, titled "Development of Socially-Assistive Robots (SARs) to Engage Persons with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD), and their Caregivers (R41/R42)," to support the creation and early-stage advancement of socially-assistive robotics and related technologies aimed at improving the lives of older adults living with AD, ADRD, and common coexisting health conditions. Structured as a Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) program announcement (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-17-107), it is designed specifically to push innovation out of the lab and toward practical, testable solutions by requiring collaboration between an eligible small business and a research partner institution. The overall focus is on technology that can meaningfully enhance health, reduce illness, and limit disability in affected older adults by providing assistance, engagement, or supportive interactions that align with the realities of dementia care.

A central theme of the opportunity is the development of socially-assistive robots (SARs), meaning robotic systems that are not just functional devices but are intended to interact with people in socially aware ways. In the context of AD and ADRD, this can include technologies that help maintain daily functioning, support routines, encourage physical activity or cognitive engagement, reduce agitation or isolation, facilitate communication, or provide structured prompts and companionship-like engagement that is safe and appropriate for individuals with cognitive impairment. The FOA also explicitly extends its interest beyond the person with dementia to include the caregiver, encouraging innovations that address caregiver needs and conditions. This reflects the practical understanding that caregiver burden, stress, fatigue, and mental health strain are major drivers of poor outcomes in dementia care, and that tools which reduce workload, improve monitoring, support respite, or help caregivers manage difficult behaviors can indirectly improve patient outcomes as well.

The funding mechanism is the NIH STTR phased model, using R41 and R42 grant activity codes. In typical STTR terms, Phase I (R41) supports feasibility, proof-of-concept work, and early prototyping or initial testing to show that the technology can work and is worth further development. Phase II (R42) generally supports a more advanced stage of research and development, such as refining the technology, testing it in more realistic settings, improving usability, and generating stronger evidence needed for eventual commercialization or broader deployment. The intent is not purely academic research; it is translational, product-oriented development meant to lead to real-world tools and services that can be used in homes, community settings, assisted living environments, memory care units, or clinical contexts that serve people with dementia and their caregivers.

Eligibility is limited to small businesses, consistent with STTR requirements, and applicants must be able to carry out the collaborative small business-research institution partnership that defines the STTR program. The FOA also makes clear that non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, it notes that "foreign components," as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed in some cases, which typically means discrete parts of the project could potentially be conducted abroad if they meet NIH policy requirements and receive approval, but the applicant organization itself must be eligible and primarily U.S.-based under NIH rules.

From the published source details, this opportunity falls under the NIH health funding category and is associated with CFDA number 93.866. The instrument type is a grant, and it is a discretionary opportunity. The announcement was created on January 9, 2017, and the original closing date listed is July 5, 2020. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the source fields provided, which usually means applicants would need to refer to the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance for allowable costs, phase budget limits, project periods, and any institute-specific considerations.

In practical terms, this FOA is best understood as a targeted push to bring dementia-focused assistive robotics from concept to early validation and toward commercialization, with a strong emphasis on real human needs: supporting engagement and functioning for people living with AD/ADRD, and reducing the strain and unmet needs of the caregivers who make day-to-day dementia care possible.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Socially-Assistive Robots (SARs) to Engage Persons with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD), and their Caregivers (R41/R42)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-01-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

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