Cycle 3 applications due December 14, 2026
The NEXT STEPs program was established in 2024 with funding by a cooperative agreement from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) [Grant U24AG087939]. The goal of NEXT STEPs is to support high-quality research by advising on research design, disseminating best practices, and sharing findings with those who can use them to improve the lives of nursing home residents, their families, and staff.
The intent of funding NEXT STEPs pilot projects is to support investigators in their effort to obtain preliminary data necessary to successfully garner funding for and to conduct explanatory clinical trials in nursing homes. In addition to receiving funding, awardees will have access to relevant curriculum content and receive input from experts to help them hone their research skills and ensure successful project completion.
Examples of clinical trials that could be considered:
- Using data from the LTCDC, to study the impact of an intervention to promote vaccination on vaccination rates and hospitalizations due to influenza.
- Test an intervention to train nursing home providers on the use of point of care ultrasound to improve outcomes during heart failure exacerbations.
- Test an arts and music therapy intervention to reduce agitation among nursing home residents with dementia.
To be responsive, pilot projects must be preparatory for a full-scale explanatory clinical trial defined by the NIH stage model.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages pilot research grant applications focused on: 1) generating pilot data for planned clinical trials; and 2) supporting investigator development for conducting research in nursing homes.
Applicants are encouraged to use data from the Long-Term Care Data Cooperative (LTCDC). Use of LTCDC data is encouraged but not required. Do not wait to reach out to LTCDC to initiate review of your proposed project! Please email us at nhtrials@iu.edu if you need assistance with the LTCDC.
The LTC Data Cooperative encourages two types of research:
- Observational comparative effectiveness studies, which compare outcomes for residents who were or were not exposed to a particular treatment (drug, test, or care regimen) or who were exposed to different treatments intended to address the same clinical condition
- Clinical research studies that test and evaluate interventions in post-acute and long-term care facilities, such as pragmatic trials.
The NEXT STEPs Pilot Review Committee, NIA program officers, and NEXT STEPs leadership will prioritize projects that:
- Focus on nursing home explanatory clinical trials;
- Are feasible to accomplish in 12 months;
- Generate pilot data that would support future extramurally funded clinical trials involving nursing homes;
- Use LTCDC data and/or add new nursing homes contributing data to the LTCDC;
- Demonstrate alignment with nursing home operators, staff, resident and/or family priorities; and
- Demonstrate a clear partnership with one or more nursing homes
- Each individual award budget is limited to $125,000 [Total costs].
- Duration one year (12 months).
- We anticipate funding 2-3 awards in the third cycle.
The NEXT STEPs team is eager to work alongside and support your focused nursing home research projects. The NEXT STEPs team has the opportunity to provide additional support to awarded pilot investigators that may include:
- Up to 20% of a data scientist to support use of LTCDC
- Travel to NEXT STEPs Annual Meetings
- Travel to another professional meeting to present research findings
- Publication costs
Eligible applicants
Applicants must hold a faculty or research scientist position at an eligible institution (see below) by the start date of the award or be otherwise eligible to serve as a Principal Investigator as determined by their organization. Applicants who are junior faculty are encouraged to identify a mentor with research experience in nursing homes and include this person as a mentor on the application. Interested applicants without a mentor can request to be paired with a mentor through the NEXT STEPs program. More information on who qualifies as a ESI can be found here.
Although investigators at all stages of their career are invited to apply, funding priority will be given to:
- Qualified and promising early career investigators
- Mid-career investigators who are new to Nursing Home research
Applicants must be a NEXT STEPs member or have applied for membership at the time of application submission. To become a NEXT STEPs member, please complete the membership application.
*Please note individuals who are currently on a training award (e.g. T32, R02, and F awards) are not eligible to apply.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States and project work needs to be completed in the U.S.
Eligible Institutions
Any organization with a Unique Entity Identifier and processes for following federal guidelines/regulations for using research funds meet eligibility for this grant.
Applications are due by 8:00pm ET on December 14, 2026. More details can be found in this informational webinar recording.
Applications will be limited to 4-pages.
The 4-page application must include:
- Title of proposed activity
- Specific Aims – 1 page
- Brief background/Evidence Gap/Significance to nursing home community
- Nursing Home Partner (if applicable/identified)
- Study Design/Method
- Study population & setting, including planned nursing home partnership (if applicable)
- Plan detailing use of LTCDC resources (if applicable)
- Timeline with milestones
- Required Data Sharing Plan
- Plans for future extramural funding from this work
Additional attachments compiled in 1 PDF document (not included in 4-page limit):
- References
- NIH Biosketches (key personnel)
- Project summary paragraph
- Inclusion enrollment report form (use the NIH form)
- Letter of support (for early career faculty applicants) from mentor. Applicants can request to be matched to a mentor if needed.
- Budget – Please submit using R&R Budget Template.
- Budget Justification
- Nursing home partner LOS (if applicable)
- IRB submission plan (approval not required at time of pilot grant application submission but awards will not be funded until IRB approvals are received)
- Brief outline of data safety plan if planning a clinical trial
- Letter from LTCDC indicating applicant discussed application with LTCDC and believes it is feasible (if using LTCDC).
By applying to this funding mechanism, you agree to follow all NIH rules and regulations.
Pilot awardees will be expected to present at the NEXT STEPs Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.
Click here to submit your application.
Please direct inquiries to: nhtrials@iu.edu
Pilot applications will be evaluated on their scientific and technical merit by a NEXT STEPs review panel.
The following criteria will be considered in the reviews:
- Alignment of the proposed project to the NEXT STEPs aims;
- Use of the LTCDC;
- Importance, significance and relevance of project to stakeholders;
- Design;
- Feasibility of a 1-year timeline to completion;
- Milestones that are specific, measurable, achievable and aligned with the project; and
- Likelihood project will lead to successful future funding of a clinical trial.
The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
- Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review;
- Availability of funds. We anticipate funding 2-3 awards;
- Relevance of the proposed project to pilot program priorities; and
- Likelihood pilot work will lead to a successful application for an explanatory clinical trial in the nursing home setting.
- Does my proposed project need to be a clinical trial? No. Your proposed project may be a clinical trial or comparative effectiveness trial. We will also consider applications that are collecting data in preparation for a future clinical trial application (e.g. NIH “K” career award, “R” award).
- What if I’m interested in applying to use the Long-term Care Data Cooperative (LTCDC)? We recommend you spend time familiarizing yourself with the LTCDC resources. Please note there is an application process to use the LTCDC. Please visit the researcher tab on the LTCDC website. Please email us at nhtrials@iu.edu with questions and for support.