Alzheimer's Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG-D)

Competition objectives

The Alzheimer's Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG-D) award is up to three years (minimum two years) to increase the number of scientists from underrepresented groups at academic institutions in Alzheimer’s or all other dementia research.

The objective of this award is to increase the number of highly trained investigators from diverse backgrounds whose basic, clinical and social/behavioral research interests are grounded in the advanced methods and experimental approaches needed to solve problems related to Alzheimer's and all other dementias in general and in health disparities populations. The Alzheimer's Association recognizes the need to increase the number of scientists from underrepresented groups participating in biomedical and behavioral research. The Association anticipates that by providing these research opportunities, the number of scientists from underrepresented groups entering and remaining in biomedical research careers in Alzheimer's and all other dementia will increase.

The purpose of this program is to provide new scientists from underrepresented groups 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 federal and other funding agencies.

The mechanism of this award is the individual research grant. The Alzheimer's Association recognizes the need to increase the number of scientists from underrepresented groups in the research enterprise for Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Young scientists from these groups are encouraged to apply.

Funding and award period

Each AARG-D 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 an Assistant Professors or Associate Professor at their respective academic institution and less than 18 years past their doctoral degree or post-residency (M.D. or D.O.).

• The 18-year period applies to the date of submission of the grant application. Adjustments for career interruptions can be made for events such as: family leave, military service, and major illness or injury. It is the responsibility of the applicant to point out and document such interruptions within their application. Full Professors are ineligible.
• The Alzheimer's Association will make exceptions to the terminal degree requirement when the individual applicant has a full-time faculty position of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) or Associate Professor and is expert in the area of public health, social work, neuropsychology, legal, bioethics or a related area of psychosocial research.
• Applications will be accepted from postdoctoral fellows and other junior faculty members (for example: Instructor, Research Associate Scientist, Lecturer, etc.) who can provide a letter of employment verification indicating they will have a full-time faculty position of an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor prior to notification of funding (July 2024) should the proposal be in funding range and funded.

            o The letter of employment must be uploaded with the application and dated within 3 months from application
             submission date, printed on the hiring institution letterhead, signed by an authorized institutional official (i.e.,
             Grants and Contracts officer) 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.
             There will be no exceptions.
            o In the event your application is funded, you will be required to provide an official letter on organizational
             letterhead, signed by an institutional signing official, stating you have a full-time faculty position of an Assistant
             Professor or Associate Professor.
 

• 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.

Specific for the AARG-D program, eligible applicants have the same requirements as the AARG program, but are an underrepresented faculty in biomedical and behavioral research on a national, international or institutional basis. The world’s low and middle income countries (LMICs) are a diverse group by size, population, and income level. Researchers from these countries are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a Diversity Self Statement (one paragraph max.) during the letter of intent (LOI) stage outlining the applicant’s status and eligibility for this program.

Additional details regarding what may be defined as underrepresented include:

• Applicants from the United States will be subject to the definitions as stated by the National Institutes of Health: NIH-designated U.S. health disparity populations include Blacks/ African Americans, Hispanics/ Latinos, American Indians/ Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, persons with disabilities (defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities), minoritized sexual and gender populations, and Individuals from economically developing nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.
• In addition, applicants born in any of the economically developing nations of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean are eligible granted that all other criteria regarding career stage are met. The Alzheimer’s Association will not require proof of American citizenship or a Permanent Resident Status.
• In addition, applicants employed by a university that is located in an economically developing nation of Africa, Asia and Latin America, are eligible granted that all other criteria regarding career stage are met.

Any questions related to eligibility, please contact the Alzheimer's Association at grantsapp@alz.org prior to submitting an LOI. No exceptions will be made after the LOI deadline has passed. The Alzheimer’s Association reserves the right to require additional documentation if necessary.

The self-statement will not be included in the information shared with reviewers and will only be used to confirm eligibility to this program. This statement will only be accessible to the applicant and the Alzheimer’s Association through their Proposal Central Account (if the applicant gives others access to the LOI, they will be able to view all attachments).

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-D LOI is evaluated with attention to:

• 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.

Note: 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-D 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, qualifications of the collaborators, and the expertise they bring to the project
• 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
• Impact on advancement of diverse science
• Quality and adequacy of available resources and budget
• 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 (PI), scientific (including postdoctoral fellows) and technical staff (including laboratory technicians and administrative support directly related to the funded grant)
• 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. If you request the full $12,500 towards just two years of travel and are requesting a three year award you will not be able to request travel funds for one of those years.
• 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)
• 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).

Note: The continuation of the grant over the awarded duration is contingent upon the timely receipt of all required reports.

Contact Information

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