The IMPACT Collaboratory announced a request for applications for its 2026 ePCT Planning Grant Program. The program will fund 12-month awards to support the planning and development of fully specified protocols for embedded pragmatic effectiveness trials in dementia care.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) IMPACT Collaboratory was established in 2019 to build the nation’s capacity to conduct embedded pragmatic clinical trials (ePCTs) of nonpharmacological interventions within healthcare systems to improve the care of people living with dementia and their care partners.

The 2026 ePCT Planning Grant Program will fund up to 2 awards for up to $150,000 in total direct costs to support the activities needed to collaboratively plan and develop a feasible, fully specified protocols for stage IV effectiveness ePCTs in dementia care. Applicants must partner with a nursing home organization and include at least 2 nursing homes, either within a single organization or across multiple organizations.

Read the full request for applications.

From the announcement:

This opportunity focuses exclusively on non-pharmacological interventions to improve the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in nursing homes, including person-centered approaches and strategies to reduce antipsychotic or similar neuroactive medication use. Proposed projects must emphasize nursing home-level approaches suitable for future pilot or full-scale ePCTs.

This award emphasizes strong partnerships among investigators, nursing home provider partners, and advisory boards of residents, care partners and other caregivers to ensure the interventions are feasible, aligned with real-world workflows, and ready for testing in an ePCT. By the end of the award, awardees are expected to deliver a fully specified, implementation ready trial protocol for either a pilot or full-scale ePCT.

For more information, join the informational webinar on May 21 and visit the ePCT Planning Grant Program webpage. Email IMPACTcollaboratory@hsl.harvard.edu with questions about this funding opportunity.

Informational Webinar

Informational webinar: May 21, 2026, at 3:00 pm ET (register here)
Letter of intent (required): Due June 18, 2026, at 6:00 pm ET
Full applications are by invitation only: Due September 10, 2026, at 6:00 pm ET