NIA Launches 2026 Mentorship Prize Competition

The National Institute on Aging is launching a new prize competition on August 17, 2026 to recognize excellence in aging research mentorship. The competition will award $100,000 each for up to six outstanding faculty mentors — three in the Early Career category and three in the Midcareer/Established category — for a total prize pool of $600,000. Current and former trainees can nominate NIA-funded mentors who shaped their careers through October 15, 2026. Mentors with two or more nominations who meet eligibility requirements will then be invited to participate in the prize competition and complete a submission by November 23, 2026. Winners will be announced the week of April 12, 2027. Full details and submission forms are available on NIH's Challenges and Prize Competitions page.

Behavioral intervention research training opportunities

NIA is currently funding the development of two short-course trainings in behavioral intervention research using the NIH Stage Model. Broadly, the NIH Stage Model is a systematic framework that encourages developing interventions defined by their principles as a way to maximize real-world implementation. The Stage Model is non-prescriptive in almost every way, so it is compatible with any reasonable theory, study design, and statistical plan, and generally compatible with other intervention development frameworks, especially as implementation frameworks are increasingly emphasizing causal mechanisms (e.g., core elements, function vs. form). Both short-course trainings are designed for doctoral-level, early- to mid-career investigators conducting or preparing to conduct behavioral intervention research. In their current forms, the two training programs select a cohort of scholars from a competitive application process, and cohorts meet virtually for didactic training and hands-on course work led by distinguished faculty. We’d appreciate your help distributing this information broadly to your research communities to reach investigators who might be interested in applying. Seeking attendance at these short-courses may be especially useful to include in the applications of investigators applying for mentored career development awards, as a way to gain expertise in rigorous behavioral intervention research. 

Information about the Columbia University Behavioral Intervention Development Winter 2026 training can be found by contacting the team here: bidtrainingprogram@cumc.columbia.edu.

Highlighted Topics: A Centralized and Simple Resource to Learn About Research Areas of Interest to NIH

NIH announces a new centralized and simplified resource, called NIH Highlighted Topics, that informs the research community about particular areas of science of interest to NIH. Visiting this resource early and often when conceptualizing your research ideas will help ensure you are aware of some of NIH’s latest scientific interests. It also aims to help facilitate innovation and discovery through a strong focus on more investigator initiated driven research.

Subscribe to Highlighted Topics to receive updates on these topics here.

Recent HTs from NIA include:

Request for Information: NIH Common Fund is Soliciting Ideas for NIH-wide Challenges and Opportunities

The Common Fund supports bold scientific programs that catalyze discovery across all biomedical and behavioral research. These programs bring together investigators and multiple NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICOs) to collaborate on innovative research. Common Fund programs are expected to address high priority challenges for NIH as a whole and make a broader impact on the scientific community. Many Common Fund programs are designed to produce specific deliverables, such as broadly useful datasets, tools, technologies, research methods, or fundamental scientific paradigms. These deliverables are expected to have exceptional impact on the way science is conducted, our understanding of human physiology or disease, or our ability to support human health. 

NEW NIA Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology Newsletter

To subscribe, email NIADGCGinquiries@nih.gov and indicate “subscribe to newsletter”.

Save the Date! NACC in Seattle for the 2026 Fall ADRC Meeting

"We’re looking forward to welcoming the ADRC community to NACC’s home base of Seattle, WA for the 2026 Fall ADRC Meeting from October 25–27, 2026. This biannual gathering is an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, exchange ideas, hear the latest program and research updates, and strengthen collaboration across the ADRC network. We hope you’ll join us for three days of learning, conversation, and connection."

What you can look forward to:

Symposium on Entropy and Aging

September 18 & 19, 2026, 12-1pm ET | San Francisco, CA & Virtual

This Inaugural Symposium on Entropy and Aging will explore the role of entropy in outcomes of aging, how to measure aging, and discuss whether entropy can be reversed. Speakers include experts and pioneers in research.

2026 Evidence to Impact Workshop: Advancing VA Implementation Science in Aging and Geriatrics

September 21-23, 2026 | Durham, NC

This workshop will advance the science and practice of implementation and innovation to improve the care and outcomes of older adults. Hosted this year by Duke University, the workshop's hybrid format with a focus on VA implementation, allows for in-person interactive sessions, mentorship and workgroups and uses a webinar platform to engage a wider virtual audience for plenary presentation. Participants will include health systems leadership, researchers, trainees, and clinicians.

Rare to Common Neurodegeneration Impact Prize

Deadline: August 31, 2026

The Impact Prize is a new research award of the NCL Foundation with a total funding of 200,000 EUR. The prize supports collaborative research projects that bring together expertise in CLN3 (Batten disease) and more common neurodegenerative or age‑related disorders.

IMPACT Collaboratory: James L. Rudolph Career Development Award Program

Deadline: September 10, 2026

The IMPACT Collaboratory will fund up to two career development awards annually. These awards are designed to support the development of early-stage investigators (MD, PhD, or equivalent) whose long-term career goals are centered on conducting ePCTs to improve care for PLWD and their care partners. 

McKnight Clinical Translational Research Scholarship in Cognitive Aging

Deadline: September 10, 2026

The McKnight Brain Research Foundation will provide two 2-year scholarships of $65,000 per year, plus a $10,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs for early-career investigators pursuing studies relevant to age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.

Early Career Flexible, High Value Pilot RFA

Deadline: September 14, 2026

The Pepper OAIC Coordinating Center is seeking proposals for a type of application that allows maximal flexibility and creativity. In the 1-page applications, proposers will explain how their proposed use of the funds (up to $5,000) will help advance the applicant’s career and build cross-center collaboration.

Early Career Travel Exchange Program RFA

Deadline: September 14, 2026

The OAIC Coordinating Center is offering an inter-OAIC exchange opportunity in the coming year. Career-development can be enhanced by the early development of collaborative, professional networks, and exposure to an array of conceptual viewpoints and operational methods beyond those available at a single institution.

Roybal Call for Proposals: Clinical Trials on Behavioral Interventions in Aging

LOI Deadline: October 1, 2026

The Roybal Program is currently accepting applications to fund fully powered clinical trials on behavioral interventions in aging. Underpowered clinical trials of any stage are unlikely to be successful. Applicants must apply the NIH Stage Model as a conceptual framework and clearly articulate a plan for how their trial will progress through the NIH Stage Model. All clinical trials must have adequate statistical power to test mechanism of behavior change and/or efficacy of the intervention.

DoD Accelerated Aging Processes Associated with Military Service

The Department of Defense’s 2026 Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program includes “Accelerated Aging Processes Associated with Military Service” as an eligible research topic. Investigators interested in applying can review the FY26 PRMRP funding opportunities here: CDMRP FY26 PRMRP Funding Opportunities

AFAR Funding Opportunities

The American Federation for Aging Research has recently released multiple calls for applications for several of their funding opportunities, with upcoming deadlines in the winter.

NIA Demography and Economics Coordinating Center Funding Opportunities

The NIA Demography and Economics Coordinating Center (DECC) has compiled this listing of calls for pilot proposals that may be relevant for the broader RCCN community.