Program objectives

When Senator Mark Hatfield announced his retirement from the United States Senate in 1996, the Alzheimer’s Association established the Hatfield Award for Clinical Research to honor his long commitment to Alzheimer’s disease research, especially clinical investigations. The award is designed to focus on the Senator’s interests — clinical research and support of new investigators. To be considered, a research grant application must focus on a clinical question or questions in interventions for Alzheimer’s disease.

Funding and award period

We anticipate funding one award under this program. The total award is limited to $225,000 (direct and indirect costs) for up to three years. Requests in any given year may not exceed $112,500 (direct and indirect). Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent (rent for laboratory/office space is expected to be covered by indirect costs paid to the institution).

Eligibility

The Hatfield Award is aimed at those investigators whose goal is to establish research careers focused on clinical issues in Alzheimer’s disease.

Receipt of application deadline and award dates

Letters of intent must be received by the close of business, 5:00 p.m, Eastern Standard Time, December 1, 2007.  Letters of intent will not be accepted after this date.  No exceptions will be made. To be considered under this research grant program, applications must be received by the close of business, 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, January 4, 2008. Scientific and technical review will be conducted February through May 2008.

The second-level review by the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council will be conducted during June 2008. We anticipate funding one award by July 2008.

Mechanism of award and reporting requirements

The mechanism of award is the individual research grant. The maximum duration of award is three years. Annual progress and financial reports are required. Continuation of the grant over the awarded duration is contingent upon the timely receipt of scientific and financial reports. Allowable and disallowed costs are the same as the Investigator-Initiated Research Grant Program.

Budget: A “budget summary” for the proposed research project is required and must be submitted with the application and within the allowable page limits. However, if the application is to be awarded, a more detailed budget will be required prior to the disbursement of funds.

• It is required that most of the funds awarded under this program be used for direct research support.

Other allowable costs include:

• Purchase and care of laboratory animals

• Small pieces of laboratory equipment and laboratory supplies.

• Salary for the principal investigator, scientific (including postdoctoral fellows) and technical staff (including laboratory technicians and modest secretarial support)

• Support for travel to scientific and professional meetings usually attended by the investigators

• Computer hardware or software

• Construction or renovation costs

• Rent for laboratory/office space

• Tuition