Bridge Funding for Disrupted Neurodegenerative Research Grant Program (BFDN): Powering the Next Generation of Research
Program overview
U.S. federal government-sponsored research funding has experienced a series of changes that challenges ongoing research initiatives and the future of the U.S. biomedical research enterprise.
This program specifically aims to ensure continuity of career support for early career researchers and researchers who are within seven years of their designation as an Early Stage Investigator (ESI) based on the NIH definition. This program will provide funding for salary and other direct costs for research projects.
Grant RFA
View program objectives, eligibility, submission process and more.
Grant Application
Apply for the BFDN research grant by submitting your LOI through the ProposalCentral website.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be within seven years of their designation as an Early Stage Investigator (ESI) based on the NIH definition.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate research disruption based on recent U.S. federal funding challenges and provide the federal agency review, communication, and/or summary statement demonstrating the delay as part of the application.
- This program will not support projects that were not funded due to specific payline cutoffs.
- Full eligibility criteria are detailed in the RFA.
Key dates and deadlines
LOI and application submissions must be received by 5 p.m. ET on their respective deadlines. Late submissions will not be accepted - no exceptions.- Letter of Intent due: July 30, 2026; Oct. 30, 2026; Jan. 29, 2027; April 30, 2027
- Full application due: invited applicants will receive a specific submission deadline (within four weeks of the invitation) and instructions for application submission
- Award notifications: within three months of LOI submission
Funding overview
- Proposed budgets may vary but should not exceed US$250,000, although very rare and extraordinary circumstances may warrant a waiver of this requirement.
- Investigators may apply for bridge funding spanning three to 12 months for U.S. and international projects impacted by changes in the federal funding landscape.
- Institutions are required to commit to investment in the career and/or research of the application’s named principal investigator applying to this opportunity, as demonstrated by up to 25% cost share, which can include financial, protected time, or other types of support.
Application process
- Letters of intent are required. More information can be found in the RFA and on ProposalCentral.
- Full applications must be submitted through ProposalCentral (ALZ) or SmartSimple (MJFF).
Application Review Process
Please see “how to apply” for more information about the application review process.Additional Information
- For more information on eligibility, application requirements, review criteria, and more, please see the RFA.
- All applicants/institutions are strongly encouraged to review the Conditions of Award before submitting an LOI.