About the AARG-NTF research grant

The AARG-NTF grant program aims to fund investigators who are new to Alzheimer's and all other dementia fields of research, including neuroscience or neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lewy body dementia, etc.), and provide them with funding to establish a research path in Alzheimer's and all other dementias, to develop preliminary or pilot data, to test procedures and to develop hypotheses. The intent is to support research that will lay the groundwork for future research grant applications to federal or other funding entities, like the National Institutes of Health, including future proposals to the Alzheimer's Association. 

This grant is open to U.S. and international researchers.

Grant RFP

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Grant Application

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Grant FAQs

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Competition objectives

The Alzheimer's Association Research Grant – New to the Field (AARG-NTF) award aims to fund investigators who are new to Alzheimer's and all other dementia field of research. The purpose of this program is to provide independent investigators with unique expertise and apply their knowledge to Alzheimer's and all other dementias.

This program aims to provide these investigators with funding to establish a research path in Alzheimer’s and related dementia, to develop preliminary or pilot data, to test procedures and to develop hypotheses. Individuals who are new to the field of neuroscience or neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, or Vascular dementia) will be considered for this program. The intent is to support research that will lay the groundwork for future research grant applications to federal or other funding entities, like the National Institutes of Health, including future proposals to the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer’s Association recognizes the need to increase the number of scientists from underrepresented groups in the research enterprise.

This program is not intended for investigators that have and/or are working in neurodegeneration-related research, nor early career researchers; this program is intended for investigators from other disciplines applying their expertise to Alzheimer’s and all other dementia research. The goal of the New to the Field program is to provide an opportunity for investigators with expertise outside neurodegenerative research to apply their expertise to advance and accelerate Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Competitive applications to this program emphasize how the specific expertise/approach will advance research.

The mechanism of the award is the individual research grant. The maximum allowable duration is three years (minimum two years).

Note: AARG-NTF applicants must confirm their eligibility and receive approval prior to submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI). You will not be able to submit an LOI without prior approval.

Funding and award period

Each AARG-NTF award total is limited to $200,000 (direct and indirect costs) for up to three years (Award should be a minimum 2 years. For a 2-year award the total is limited to $140,000 with direct and indirect costs). Requests may not exceed $70,000 in any given year (direct and indirect costs). Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent of total direct costs and are inclusive of indirect costs for the implementing institution as well as to any subcontracts.

Eligibility

Applicants must be Assistant Professors or above at their respective academic institution and new to the field of neuroscience or neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, or Vascular dementia).

  • If the applicant’s institution does not have an Assistant Professor position, the letter of employment should include sufficient information to allow the Alzheimer's Association staff to evaluate the eligibility of the applicant.
  • Applicants must contact the Alzheimer's Association Research Grants Team at grantsapp@alz.org to receive an exception prior to submitting an LOI. Please include your full CV, which must include full publication and funding record (biosketches are not accepted).
  • A doctoral degree is not required for applicants to this program.
  • Applicants should not have more than 1 publication as first or last author in Alzheimer’s or other dementia field; middle authorships do not count against applicants when determining eligibility.
  • Applicants should not have more than $200,000 in current or past funding for Alzheimer’s and other dementia; this includes any supplements to awards where competitive review of the supplement was performed.

Applicants must contact the Alzheimer's Association Research Grants Team at grantsapp@alz.org to verify eligibility and inquire regarding any possible exception prior to submitting a LOI. No exceptions will be made after the LOI deadline has passed.

Note: Alzheimer’s Association grants are generally open to scientists and researchers across the globe; however, as a U.S.-based charity, the Alzheimer’s Association is subject to, and complies with, U.S. law. As a result, the Alzheimer’s Association cannot award, and will not award, grants in violation of applicable U.S. statutes and regulations. This means, among other things, that the Alzheimer’s Association cannot, and will not, fund any individual or entity (i) that is subject to U.S. comprehensive or targeted sanctions or if awarding funding would result in a violation of such sanctions, (ii) that is on the U.S. List of Specially Designated Nationals or entities owned or controlled by such persons, or (iii) when doing so is otherwise prohibited by U.S. laws related to combating terrorism.

Ineligibility

  • Individuals currently enrolled in a Doctoral Program are not eligible, regardless of prior degree status.
  • Please refer to Section III: B. Eligibility & Ineligibility in the full Program Announcement for additional ineligibility criteria.

Deadlines and award dates

  • Letter of Intent deadline: February 28, 2024, 5 p.m. EST
Each AARG-NTF LOI is evaluated with attention to:
 
  • Background and training of applicant and how transitioning to the field will elevate Alzheimer’s andrelated dementia research; specifically, how their unique expertise applied to Alzheimer’s and related dementia will advance/elevate research in potentially new directions
  • Demonstrable innovation/novelty of the proposed project (especially in the context of the PIs recently funded work)
  • Alignment with the research priorities of the Alzheimer’s Association
  • Impact of project on Alzheimer’s and related dementia research
  • Evidence of methodological rigor that address the research question(s) being proposed
  • Letter of Intent notifications: Week of April 1, 2024
Due to the high volume of submissions, specific feedback and reviewer comments are not provided at the loi stage.
 
  • Application deadline: May 1, 2024, 5 p.m. EST
If invited to submit a full application, each AARG-NTF application is evaluated on:
 
  • Significance of the question being studied
  • Applicant information – including the training of the PI insofar as it enables them to perform the work proposed and qualifications of the collaborators and the expertise they bring to the project. Review will pay special consideration to applicant description of how applying their expertise and transitioning to the field will elevate Alzheimer’s and all dementia research
  • Quality of the work plan – including novelty and innovation of the proposed project; additionally, projects that involve humans subjects will be evaluated on planned recruitment efforts
  • Quality and adequacy of available resources and budget
  • Impact on advancement of diverse science
  • Impact-Risk of the proposal and how it will add to the field’s overall knowledge and advancement
  • Resubmissions will have the opportunity to provide a response to prior review
  • Award notifications: Prior to August 30, 2024

Budget

A “budget summary” for the proposed research project is required and must be submitted with the application and within the allowable two-page limit. However, if the application is to be awarded, a more detailed budget will be required and must be approved before the disbursement of funds.

Allowable costs under this award

It is required that most of the funds awarded under this program be used for direct research support. No more than 10% of the total direct costs may be included as indirect costs; this is inclusive of indirect costs for the implementing institution as well as any to subcontracts.

Allowable costs include:

  • Purchase and care of laboratory animals
  • Small pieces of laboratory equipment and laboratory supplies 
  • Purchases over $10,000 require prior approval, even if included in the project proposal budget
  • Computer software if used strictly for data collection (requires prior approval)
  • Salary for the principal investigator, scientific (including postdoctoral fellows) and technical staff (including laboratory technicians and administrative support directly related to the funded grant); there is no salary cap 
  • Membership to scientific association
  • Professional development / communication training
  • Training costs to visit and perform research related to the awarded project on another laboratory/facility (this is not to be included in the travel costs)​
  • Support for travel to scientific and professional meetings and additional support for travel expenses necessary to carry out research planned – this may include site visits. A total of $12,500 over a three year period may be requested for travel purposes and is not to exceed $7,000 in any given year.
  • Participant travel expenses for projects involving human participants is not included in the travel and is allowable expenses that can be captured under other expenses (itemized) in the budget.
  • As part of Alzheimer’s Association ongoing efforts to develop programs that support family-friendly research environments, Alzheimer’s Association awardees can request up to $2,500 per budget period for childcare costs provided by a licensed childcare provider.

Direct costs not allowed under this award

Direct costs not allowed include:

  • Computer hardware or standard software (e.g., Microsoft Office, mouse monitor, computer parts, AppleCare)
  • Laboratory equipment such as freezers, ultracentrifuges, RT-PCR, Microscopy/imaging equipment
  • Service contract fees of equipment
  • Construction or renovation costs
  • Tuition
  • Rent for laboratory/office space
  • Visa costs and fees
  • Expenses such as Data Network Recharges and Computing and communication device support services. However, data sharing and/or data storage for imaging, sequencing and other study data is allowed
  • General liability insurances, such as GAEL
  • Wire and currency exchange fees
  • The Alzheimer’s Association Medical and Scientific Advisory Group (MSAG), the International Research Grant Program (IRGP) Council members and current employees of the Alzheimer’s Association are allowed to be key personnel or collaborators on projects, however they are NOT ALLOWED to receive any salary or compensation. A complete list of MSAG and IRGP Council members can be found on our website.

Reporting requirements

Please see Section III, J: Reporting Requirements for additional details. This award requires:

  • Annual scientific progress reports.
  • Annual financial reports.
  • Annual reports on recruitment & retention efforts (if applicable).

Contact information

For any inquires or additional information, please contact a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Research Grants Team at grantsapp@alz.org.