Introduction

The Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity (AARF-D) grant program is designed to support exceptional researchers from underrepresented groups who are engaged in their post-graduate work (i.e., postdoctoral fellows) and before their first independent faculty positions (i.e., Assistant Professor).

This award aims to increase the number of highly trained investigators from diverse backgrounds whose basic, clinical and social/behavioural 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 behavioural research.

Scope of Work

The AARF-D program supports exceptional scientists from underrepresented groups working in Alzheimer's or all other dementia research. The program is open to postdoctoral fellows with full-time positions at their respective institutions who have less than 10 years of research experience after receipt of their doctorate or other terminal degree.

The program aims to increase the number of highly trained investigators from diverse backgrounds whose basic, clinical and social/behavioural 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.

Eligibility

Applications will be accepted from postdoctoral fellows (or an equivalent level position) with full-time positions at their respective academic institutions and less than 10 years of research experience after receipt of their doctorate (PhD) or terminal degree. Individuals who have a position of an Assistant Professorship or above are not eligible.

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.

• 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, 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 and granted that all other criteria regarding career stage are met.

• Applicants employed by a university located in an economically developing nation of Africa, Asia and Latin America, are eligible granted that all other criteria regarding career stage are met.

Budget and Duration

Each AARF-D award is limited to $200,000. Parts of the award include:

• A total of $180,000 (including direct and indirect costs) will be awarded for costs related to the proposed research 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 in any given year may not exceed $70,000 (direct and indirect costs).

• Support for travel to scientific and professional meetings and additional support for travel expenses necessary to carry out planned research may include site visits. A total of $12,500 over three years may be requested for travel purposes and is not to exceed $7,000 in any given year.

• The remaining funds are two $10,000 research stipends ($10,000 to the applicant and $10,000 to the primary mentor), which are not guaranteed and are awarded only upon successful completion of the award.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of this grant being awarded to the Fellow, in large part due to their uniquely tailored mentoring plan towards achieving specific professional goals, it is expected that the Fellowship will transfer with the Fellow to their future institution. Additionally, the Association must approve any potential change in the Mentor role. This will be strictly adhered to, and an exception will only be considered in extreme circumstances.

Key Dates

Letter of Intent deadline: September 5, 2024, 5 p.m. EST.

Letter of Intent notifications: Week of October 7, 2024.

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

Award notifications: Before February 28, 2025.

Application Process

Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the ProposalCentral website. Registration is required. Apply Now

Selection Process

Each AARF LOI is evaluated with attention to:

• Demonstrable innovation/novelty of the proposed project (especially in the context of the PI's recently funded work)

• Alignment with the research priorities of the Alzheimer’s Association

• Impact of the project on Alzheimer’s and all other dementia research

• Evidence of methodological rigour that addresses the research question(s) being proposed

If invited to submit a full application, each AARF application is evaluated on:

• Quality and nature of the training to be provided and the institutional, departmental, and mentor-specific training environment: this includes available resources to support the applicant in their training (30%)

• Quality and emphasis of applicant and originality of the research plan (40%)

• Significance of the question being studied, quality of the work plan and the impact-risk of the proposal, impact on the advancement of diverse science (30%)

Contact Information

For any inquiries or additional information, please get in touch with a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Research Grants Team at grantsapp@alz.org.

Reporting Requirements

This award requires:

• Annual scientific progress reports.

• Annual Mentor evaluations (including tracking progress towards Fellowship benchmarks).

• Annual financial reports.

• Annual reports on recruitment & retention efforts (if applicable).

For More funding Opportunities, Visit Global Funding Opportunities.