Open-Source tools to test conversational AI for dementia care
Official title: OpenCARE: Open-Source Infrastructure for Evaluating Conversational AI in Dementia Care
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11447548 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multilingual AI benchmarking project aims to help improve chatbots and virtual assistants used in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, with open tools and datasets for researchers and clinicians.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $582,492 |
| NIH project number | 1R61AG104103-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447548 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and their caregivers may participate via input, feedback, or data contributed through partnerships with care settings.
✕Less likely to help
In some cases, AI tools may not be appropriate for individuals with very specific needs or limited access to technology.
What this research studies
This project will create open, benchmark datasets and an agile collaboration platform to test and improve AI assistants that help people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It focuses on ensuring safety, reliability, and usefulness of AI tools in care settings, while addressing regulatory considerations. By bringing together researchers, clinicians, patients, and caregivers, the work aims to accelerate responsible AI development for ADRD care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and families could benefit from safer, more helpful AI tools that support daily care and information access.
How similar studies have gone: There is growing interest in AI for dementia care, but standardized benchmarking and open collaboration platforms are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zheng, Zhi — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Zheng, Zhi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.