About the AARG-D-NTF research grant

The AARG-D-NTF grant program aims to fund investigators who are new to Alzheimer's and all dementia fields of research. Individuals who are new to the field of neuroscience or neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lewy body dementia, etc.) will be considered for this program. The program's goal is to provide an opportunity for investigators with expertise outside neurodegenerative research to apply their expertise to advance and accelerate Alzheimer's and 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. We anticipate 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.

This grant is open to U.S. and international researchers.

Grant RFA

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Grant Application

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Competition objectives

The Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity - New to the Field (AARG-D-NTF) award is up to three years (minimum two years) to increase the number of scientists from underrepresented groups at academic institutions in Alzheimer’s and all other dementia research. The AARG-D-NTF aims to fund investigators that are new to Alzheimer’s and all dementia field of research. Individuals who are new to the field of neuroscience or neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, or Vascular Dementia) will be considered for this program.

The goal of the New to the Field program is to provide an opportunity for investigators with expertise outside neurodegenerative research to apply their expertise to advance and accelerate Alzheimer's and all other dementia research. Competitive applications to this program emphasize how the specific expertise/approach will advance 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 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 research will increase.

The mechanism of the award is the individual research grant. The maximum allowable duration is three years (minimum two years).

NOTE: AARG-NTF APPLICANTS MUST CONFIRM THEIR ELIGIBILITY AND RECEIVE APPROVAL PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN LOI. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUBMIT AN LOI WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL. EMAIL GRANTSAPP@ALZ.ORG A COPY OF YOUR CV WITH FULL PUBLICATION AND FUNDING (INCLUDING TITLES AND USD AMOUNTS) HISTORY TO RECEIVE APPROVAL TO SUBMIT.

Funding and award period

Each AARG-D-NTF 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 above at their respective academic institution and who are new to the field of neuroscience or neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, or Vascular Dementia):

  • 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.
  • Applicants must contact the Alzheimer's Association Research Grants Team at grantsapp@alz.org to receive an exception prior to submitting an LOI. Please include your full CV, which must include full publication and funding record (biosketches are not accepted).
  • A doctoral degree is not required for applicants to this program.
  • If applicant is eligible for both AARG and AARG-NTF program the choice is ultimately to the applicant, but we suggest ECRs submit to AARG even if they are new to the field, since the applicant will be competing against others at a similar career stage. The applicant can’t apply to both programs.
  • Only one primary PI per application. Multiple PI projects are not allowed.
  • Applicants should not have more than 1 publication as first or last author in Alzheimer’s or other dementia field; middle authorships do not count against applicants when determining eligibility.
  • Applicants should not have more than $200,000 in current or past funding for Alzheimer’s and other dementia; this includes any supplements to awards where competitive review of the supplement was performed.

Specific for the AARG-D-NTF 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 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.
  • Applicants born in any of the economically developing nations of Africa, 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.
  • 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.

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 as a student in a undergraduate, Master or 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: September 5, 2024, 5 p.m. EST

Each AARG-D-NTF LOI is evaluated with attention to:
 
  • Background and training of applicant and how transitioning to the field will elevate Alzheimer’s and related dementia research; specifically, how their unique expertise applied to Alzheimer’s and related dementia will advance/elevate research in potentially new directions
  • 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 October 7, 2024

Note: due to the high volume of submissions, specific feedback and reviewer comments are not provided at the LOI stage.

Application deadline: November 12, 2024, 5 p.m. EST

If invited to submit a full application, each AARG-NTF 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 and qualifications of the collaborators and the expertise they bring to the project. Review will pay special consideration to applicant description of how applying their expertise and transitioning to the field will elevate Alzheimer’s and related dementia research
  • 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
  • Quality and adequacy of available resources and budget
  • Impact on advancement of diverse science
  • 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 February 28, 2025
 

Budget

A budget justification 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, scientific (including postdoctoral fellows) and technical staff (including laboratory technicians and administrative support directly related to the funded grant); there is no salary cap 
  • 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.
  • Participant travel expenses for projects involving human participants is not included in the travel and are 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)
  • Laboratory equipment such as freezers, ultracentrifuges, RT-PCR, Microscopy/imaging equipment
  • Service contract fees of equipmentConstruction or renovation costs
  • 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).

Contact information

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