Real World Data Scholars Program

Program Overview

The Real World Data Scholars Program fosters the development of a skilled community of investigators capable of conducting rigorous, practice-relevant research using real-world data to improve care for older adults.

This program supports mentored scholar awards that allow early-career investigators to build methodological expertise in real-world data research, enhance their analytic proficiency, and engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and career development. Through a multi-faceted training experience that includes mentored guidance, participation in monthly working groups, peer-learning sessions, research-in-progress seminars, and more, Scholars complete a mentored research project that focuses on developing and/or validating measures capable of being applied to clinical trials within nursing homes and assisted living communities.

Funding Opportunity Description

Funding: Up to $60,000 direct costs
Duration: 12 months
Awards Available: Up to 3 per year

Request for Applications (RFA)

Read the full RFA for detailed information about eligibility, application requirements, instructions on how and when to apply, budget considerations, and other essential details.

Learn More

The 2026 Real World Data Scholars Program Award is a collaborative initiative among the IMPACT Collaboratory, NEXT STEPs Network and the Long-Term Care (LTC) Data Cooperative. Together, these NIA-funded national efforts aim to build capacity for rigorous, data-driven research to improve care for people living in nursing homes and assisted living communities, including people living with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias. All projects funded under this opportunity will use .

This mentored training experience is designed to build practical skills and professional networks for early-career investigators, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students interested in using real-world data to improve care of people living with dementia and care partners. In addition to the program structure outlined above, Scholars have opportunities to engage in the activities of the IMPACT Collaboratory and collaborating networks, including Grand Rounds, training opportunities, and annual meetings.

The IMPACT Collaboratory and NEXT STEPs Network fund up to three Real World Data Scholar awards. Awards are for 12 months, for up to $60,000 (total direct costs). Facilities & administrative (indirect) costs may not exceed 8% of total direct costs.

Eligibility

Eligible individuals include postdoctoral fellows, advanced graduate students, and early-career faculty at or up to the assistant professor level seeking to expand their expertise in working with EHR and other real-world data. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows must apply with a faculty sponsor from their local institution.

Ideal candidates will have strong hands-on experience using large-scale administrative or clinical data (e.g., EHR data, Medicare claims or encounter data, Minimum Data Set, registry datasets). In this funding cycle, preference will be given to candidates with research experience in post-acute care, nursing home, or assisted living settings.

Candidates with backgrounds in health services research, pharmacoepidemiology, natural language processing, or clinical investigations are also encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be affiliated with academic or research institution based in the United States (US) and be US citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents at the time of application. No research may be conducted outside of the US.