Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship for All (AARFA) Program
Program overview
The Alzheimer’s Association recognizes the importance of supporting the early career development of promising researchers working to advance the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s and all other dementias. Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship for All (AARFA) Program is designed to nurture the next generation of scientists by providing funding to postdoctoral researchers who have completed their doctoral training and are actively working in Alzheimer’s or dementia-related research under the mentorship of established investigators. This program aims to facilitate the transition of early career investigators toward becoming independent researchers, equipped to lead their own innovative studies in the field of Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Applications are welcome from all areas of Alzheimer’s and related dementia research, including but not limited to basic science, translational studies, clinical research, and psychosocial investigations. Projects may span topics such as disease mechanisms, biomarker development, therapeutic targets, epidemiology, neuroimaging, care interventions, or health equity research. The Alzheimer's Association feels strongly that the mentoring and involvement of researchers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives is essential to engaging cutting-edge ideas and thinking in addressing scientific gaps for Alzheimer’s and all dementias.
Grant RFA
View program objectives, eligibility, submission process and more.
Grant Application
Apply for the AARFA research grant by submitting your LOI through the ProposalCentral website.
Eligibility
- This grant is open to U.S. and international researchers.
- Applicants are eligible if they possess a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent), are within 10 years of receiving their terminal degree at the time of Letter of Intent (LOI) submission, and hold a full-time position at a not-for-profit academic, medical, or research institution.
- Individuals must not hold an independent faculty position (e.g., Assistant Professor or equivalent) at the time of award.
- Only one primary principal investigator is allowed per proposal. Multiple Principal Investigators (PIs) are not permitted, though collaborators and key personnel may be included.
- Non-profit public or private research laboratories, medical centers, hospitals and universities are eligible to apply. For-profit organizations are not eligible.
- Applicants are permitted a single application to either this program or the Alzheimer’s Association Research Grants for All (AARGA) or the Alzheimer’s Association Clinical Scientist Fellowship for All (AACSFA) in a given cycle.
Key dates
- Letter of Intent due: Aug. 14, 2026 – 5 p.m. ET
- Full application due: Oct. 14, 2026 – 5 p.m. ET
- Award notifications: By Jan. 30, 2027
Funding overview
- Award duration is a minimum of two years to a maximum of three years.
- The total award will not exceed $200,000, consisting of a research budget and a separate dissemination stipend:
- Research budget (including direct and indirect costs): up to $180,000 total. The budget requested in any given year may not exceed $100,000 (direct and indirect costs).
- Dissemination stipend: Separate from the research budget, a $20,000 stipend supports dissemination of the research results following successful completion of the project — $10,000 each to the Principal Investigator and the named mentor will be paid to the institution(s). These funds are not guaranteed and are awarded only upon successful completion of the award, disbursed directly to the Fellow’s and mentor’s institutions at the time of release, and are not subject to reporting. Successful completion includes, but is not limited to, achieving the project aims and accomplishing all Fellowship benchmarks.
- Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent of total direct costs and are inclusive of indirect costs for the implementing institution as well as any subcontracts.
Application process
- Letters of intent are required. More information can be found in the RFA and on ProposalCentral.
- By submitting a Letter of Intent or application to this program, the applicant organization acknowledges that it has reviewed the program’s terms and conditions of award and agrees to accept them as written. The conditions of award are non-negotiable, and submission constitutes the organization’s confirmation that it is prepared to comply with them in full should an award be made.
- Full applications must be submitted through ProposalCentral.
Application review process
Please see the How to Apply for a Research Grant page for more information about the Alzheimer’s Association application review process.
Additional information
For more information on eligibility, application requirements, review criteria, and more, please see the RFA.
Contact information
Please contact grantsapp@alz.org with any questions.