Program overview

Applications will be accepted from academic investigators and small companies. The proposed project may be one of the following:

• Lead candidate therapeutic agents that require early stage testing prior (Phase 1) to Proof of Concept (POC) Phase 2 or 3 efficacy studies.
• Lead therapeutic agents with established human safety data and require a small-scale pilot Proof of Mechanism (POM) study in humans to begin proving the scientific concept in humans.
• Phase 1 studies or pilot small- scale Phase 2a studies for repurposed drugs in normal individuals or individuals with symptomatic or symptomatic Alzheimer’s and related dementia (i.e. early human studies to set the stage for efficacy studies). These may include single and multiple dose studies to establish safety, brain penetration and/or target engagement, and POM in preparation for larger proof of concept trials. In some scenarios, a Phase 3 study will also be eligible, depending on the scope and scale of the approach.
• POC to validate biological marker(s) of disease progression in a clinical trial environment.

Any proposal must have a clear focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders and be translational in nature. All proposals should clearly and explicitly outline the measure to be investigated, the methods for study, the study population, include any biomarker confirmations, and outcomes. Researchers from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

• Applicants must hold a full-time position at their organization that is equivalent to the level of Assistant Professor or above. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to apply but they are able to serve on the application as key personnel.
• In general, public, private, research laboratories, medical centers, hospitals and universities are eligible to apply.
• For profit organizations are eligible to apply.
• International applicants are encouraged to apply.
• 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).
• Investigators who are delinquent in reporting to the Alzheimer’s Association are not eligible to apply.

Key dates

LOI and application submissions must be received by 5 p.m. ET by their respective deadlines. Late submissions will not be accepted - no exceptions.

• Letter of Intent due: March 26, 2026 – 5 p.m. ET
• Full application due: April 30, 2026 – 5 p.m. ET
• Award notifications: by July 15, 2026

Funding and award period

• Each Phase 2-3 PTC award is limited to a total of $2,000,000 (direct and indirect costs) for a duration of two to three years. In rare instances, up to $3,000,000 may be considered, on a case-by-case basis.
• Phase 1 projects are limited to a total of $1,000,000 total costs. Indirect costs are only allowed for non-profit organizations, and are capped at 10 percent of total direct costs, inclusive of indirect costs for any subcontracts.
• For-profit organizations are not permitted indirect costs.
• Detailed guidelines on allowed / not allowed costs are included in the Request for Applications (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 Example PTC Award Letter and Conditions (PDF) before submitting an LOI.

Contact information