Program objectives

The program formerly known as the “Pilot Research Grant Program” has become the “New Investigator Research Grant Program.” This title change is designed to reinforce the historical emphasis of this competition — to fund investigators who are no more than 10 years past their doctoral degree.

The purpose of this program is to provide new investigators with funding that will allow them to develop preliminary or pilot data, to test procedures and to develop hypotheses. The intent is to support early-career development that will lay the groundwork for future research grant applications to the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and other funding agencies and groups, including future proposals to the Alzheimer's Association.

All applications submitted to the New Investigator Research Grant program must target defined areas of focus for fiscal year 2008 in order to be considered responsive to the program announcement.

Funding and award period

The Association anticipates funding 25 awards under this program. Each total award is limited to $100,000 (direct and indirect) for up to two years. Requests in any given year may not exceed $60,000 (direct and indirect). Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent.

Eligibility

Eligibility to apply for this grant program is restricted to investigators who have less than 10 years of research experience after receipt of terminal degree (postdoctoral fellows ineligible to apply). The 10-year period applies to the date of submission of the grant application. Adjustments for career interruptions can be made. These would include, but not be limited to, family leave, military service, and major illness or injury. It is the responsibility of the applicant to point out and document such interruptions.

In general, postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to apply for any Alzheimer’s Association grant except in one special case relevant to one competition. Applications for a New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) will be accepted from postdocs who can provide a letter indicating they will have a full-time faculty position, such as an assistant professorship, by the application deadline. The letter of employment must be on hiring institution letterhead and must indicate that the position will be activated by the grant award date. If the anticipated position is not activated by the award date for any reason, any offer of funding will be withdrawn.

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 20 awards by July 2008.

Mechanism of award and reporting requirements

The mechanism of the award is the individual research grant. The maximum allowable duration is two 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 for Investigator-Initiated Research Grants.

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.

• Tuition

• Rent for laboratory/office space.