Program overview

The program welcomes proposals that utilize rigorous methodologies to advance understanding and improvement of cognitive impairment, including MCI and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) detection, diagnosis, and post-diagnostic care.

This award is structured as an individual research grant, with funding administered through the recipient’s institution. Proposals should address one or more Areas of Focus. Areas of Focus represent high-priority research topics for which this program is actively seeking proposals and include: 

• The Value of Early Detection and Diagnosis: Studies should investigate outcomes associated with early detection and diagnosis on at least two levels of the dementia care ecosystem (i.e., individual/families, providers/clinicians, health systems/payers, and policy/society).
• Care Pathways for Individuals with MCI or Dementia: Studies should consider comorbidities and investigate how people are being screened and diagnosed in different settings, and the post-diagnosis pathways for care and treatment, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions or combinations thereof.

Eligibility

• Applicants can be any career level, including postdoctoral fellow but must hold a full-time position at the time of the grant application submission at an academic institution, or Veterans Administration hospital in the U.S.
• International applicants are welcome.
• Individuals currently enrolled as a student in an undergraduate, master or doctoral program are not eligible, regardless of prior degree status.
• Applicants CANNOT submit more than one proposal to any of the programs in the current grant competition—even if the proposals cover distinctly different topics (i.e. only one application is allowed regardless of the distinct areas of focus).
• Full eligibility criteria are detailed in the RFA.

Key dates and deadlines

• Letter of Intent due: May 6, 2026 – 5 p.m. ET
• Full application due: July 22, 2026 – 5 p.m. ET
• Award notifications: by Nov. 30, 2026

Funding overview

• Each HSR-ADRD award is limited to a total of $250,000 U.S. (direct and indirect costs) for a duration of up to two years (awards should be a minimum one year).
• Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent of total direct costs and are inclusive of indirect costs for the implementing institution as well as for any subcontracts.
• Detailed guidelines on allowed costs are included in the RFA. 

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.

Application review process

• Please see “how to apply” for more information about the Alzheimer’s Association application review process. Details are also available in the RFA.

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 (PDF) before submitting an LOI.

U.S. sanctions

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.

Contact information

Please contact grantsapp@alz.org with any questions.