Understanding the Program's Vision
Since awarding its first grants in 1982, the Alzheimer's Association has become the largest private, nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research worldwide, fueling thousands of projects across the globe. The ALZ Discovery Grant Program was established to address the challenge of translating laboratory discoveries into clinical practices. The program funds research capitalizing on existing resources like datasets and animal models.
Core Objectives of the ALZ Discovery Program
Key objectives include leveraging existing resources, promoting multidisciplinary collaboration, and accelerating translational research. This aims to fast-track progress.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
The Alzheimer's Association has specific eligibility criteria. The process starts with a Letter of Intent (LOI).
Who Can Apply?
The grant is open to U.S. and international researchers at various institutions, including for-profit organizations. Postdoctoral fellows and faculty at different levels are welcome, with encouragement for scientists from underrepresented groups.
Who is Not Eligible to be a Primary Applicant?
State and federal government-appropriated laboratories cannot be the primary applicant institution.
Funding Details and Allowable Costs
Funding amounts depend on project scope and resources used. The maximum is $250,000, capped at $100,000 for projects using only downloadable data. Project duration is up to 3 years for those with live animals and up to 2 years otherwise. Indirect costs are limited to 10%. Allowable costs cover research support like salaries, animal costs, equipment, and travel for required meetings.
The Commitment to Open Science and Data Sharing
The ALZ Discovery Grant emphasizes open science, requiring data sharing to promote transparency and prevent redundant work. Data should typically be shared within 12 months through platforms like the AD Knowledge Portal.
ALZ Discovery vs. Other Alzheimer's Grants
The ALZ Discovery Grant focuses on using existing resources, unlike programs supporting early-career investigators generating initial data. For more detailed information on available funding, visit the {Link: Alzheimer's Association's grants page https://www.alz.org/research/for_researchers/grants}.
| Feature | ALZ Discovery Grant Program | AARG Program |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Utilizing existing datasets and animal models for translational research | Supporting early-career investigators to generate pilot data |
| Funding Limit | Up to $250,000 | Up to $200,000 |
| Duration | Up to 3 years (animal) or 2 years (computational) | Up to 3 years |
| Eligibility | Postdocs, faculty, and for-profits from diverse global organizations | Early-career faculty (<15 years post-PhD/MD) |
Conclusion: Accelerating Discovery Together
The ALZ Discovery Grant Program accelerates research by prioritizing efficiency and collaboration, aiming to expedite the journey from lab discovery to patient therapies. By encouraging researchers to build upon shared resources, it fosters innovation to find new treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's and related dementias.
