McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards in Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss

The McKnight Brain Research Foundation (MBRF) and the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) will provide up to two 3-year awards of $750,000 (USD) each to advanced Assistant Professors and recently appointed Associate Professors (MDs and PhDs.) One award will be made to support studies focusing on clinical translational research and another award toward understanding basic biological mechanisms underlying cognitive aging and age-related memory loss.

The application deadline is July 31, 2023.

The Program

The major goal of the program is to identify emerging scientific leaders by building a cadre of outstanding research scientists across the United States to lead transformative research in the field of cognitive aging.

The program targets full-time independent investigators at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor (or equivalent) with established independent research programs who have already demonstrated a firm commitment to cognitive aging research. It will add substantial start-up support for a period of three years to help these investigators develop and/or expand an outstanding research program in cognitive aging and memory loss.

One award will be made to support innovative studies focusing on clinical translational research and another will support innovative studies of basic biological mechanisms underlying cognitive aging and age-related memory loss. It is expected that the proposed research will yield transformative discoveries and thus proposals are invited that are high risk/high gain in nature and that would be less suitable for conventional sources of funding. For example, this support could be deployed towards conducting a pilot clinical trial, developing proof-of concept interventions to ameliorate age associated cognitive impairment, gather preclinical data to accelerate testing of potential interventions, and further study the mechanistic basis of age-associated cognitive impairment in relevant experimental models with a view to identifying novel treatment targets. Scientists proposing to pursue basic research should clearly articulate the potential of their findings to be translated into clinically relevant strategies, and/or treatments. Research studies at the intersection of age-associated cognitive changes and disease-related cognitive impairment may be considered if a strong case can be made for their relevance to cognitive aging and age-related memory loss. However, research that is primarily focused on neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) will not be supported.

Two 3-year awards of $750,000 (USD) each will be made in 2023, of which a maximum of 10% may be used for indirect expenses or institutional overhead. To demonstrate a commitment to the investigator, the institution is asked to support the investigator’s project through matching funds. The investigator needs to identify 50% in matching funds, which can only be from non-federal funds, and cannot be used by more than one project. This could be cash and/or in-kind matching, and can include faculty effort, and goods and services paid from departmental funds. For an in-kind match, the selection committee will determine whether this is equivalent to a monetary match.

Eligibility

To be eligible, the applicant must:

  • Have completed research training prior to the beginning of this award (October 1, 2023):
    o PhD candidates: no more than 7 years from the completion of formal post-doctoral research training post-PhD,
    o MD or combined degree candidates: no more than 12 years from the date when finished residency.
  • Be an independent investigator at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor (appointed no earlier than October 1, 2020), who has received R01 funding (or equivalent funding such as an NIH DP5, R35 or NSF Research awards.)
  • Be tenure-track faculty or equivalent in an academic or non-profit institution with evidence of long-term institutional support as indicated by commitment of resources including independent laboratory space, start-up research funds and personnel. Candidates not in a tenure-track position are also eligible and should demonstrate similar evidence of long-term institutional support and not be in a time-limited appointment.
  • Have a proven track record of research accomplishments in cognitive aging as indicated by their publications in high-impact journals, awards, and other metrics of peer recognition.
  • Be in full time employment at an academic or non-profit research institution in the United States.

The program does not provide support for:

  • Senior faculty, i.e., at the rank of Associate Professor or higher who have held this position before October 1, 2020.
  • Assistant Professors who have not yet received R01 or equivalent extramural independent funding.
  • Investigators who are conducting research at a federal government or for-profit institution.
  • See comment above about disease specific research.

Questions about eligibility and suitability of research project can be addressed to grants@afar.org.

Selection Criteria

Five criteria are used to determine the merit of an application:

  • Qualifications of the applicant;
  • Quality and promise of the proposed research and its relevance to cognitive aging/age-related memory loss;
  • Novelty/impact of the proposed research and potential to have transformative clinical impact;
  • Excellence of the research environment;
  • The commitment by the institution to provide matching funds.

Application Procedures and Timeline

Please refer to the application instructions. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. All applications must be submitted via email to afarapplication@afar.org.

The applications will be reviewed by a committee whose recommendations will be presented to MBRF and AFAR for final funding decisions.

Please review this link which includes suggestions for submitting an LOI or application to AFAR. Click here for our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you are using animals in your research, please review Principles of Animal Use for Gerontological Research or this recent webinar recording from the Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence: https://nathanshockcenters.org...

MBRF and AFAR will not provide reviewer critiques to any applicants at any review level.

Timeline:
Application deadline: July 31, 2023

Anticipated Award Announcement: September 15, 2023

Award Start Date: October 1, 2023

Reporting Requirements

Investigators will be required to submit a brief narrative report annually on the progress of their research. Final narrative and financial reports are required within three months following the end date of the award.

Annual Meeting

Recipients of this award are expected to attend the AFAR Grantee Conference. The purpose of the meeting is to promote scientific and personal exchanges among recent AFAR grantees and experts in aging research. Grantees are also expected to attend the annual inter-institutional meeting of the MBRF.

Funder

Mc Knight Logo

Founded in 1999 by Evelyn McKnight, the Foundation’s specific goal is to better understand and alleviate age-related cognitive decline and memory loss. Cognitive changes due to the normal aging process may affect up to 87 percent of people age 65 and older, impacting abilities like processing speed and decision-making and contributing to some types of memory loss. The McKnight Brain Research Foundation works to champion research to better understand age-related cognitive decline and memory loss and educate the public on the steps that can be taken to maintain cognitive and brain health and age successfully.

In its first 20 years, the Foundation established Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institutes at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Arizona, and the University of Miami, and the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida.

By partnering with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, and with the support of three Cognitive Aging Summits and the National Academy of Medicine Cognitive Aging Report, we have made great progress to better understand the effects of age-related cognitive decline and memory loss over the last two decades.

The McKnight Brain Research Foundation and the McKnight Brain Institutes are leaders in cognitive aging research. By providing research funding to promising investigators as they continue to embark upon independent careers, the MBRF proposes to build a core group of outstanding research scientists across the United States to lead transformative research in the field of cognitive aging.

Funding Updates Newsletter

Receive updates on funding opportunities from AFAR and the field.


Sign Up

More Funding Opportunities

View All Grants >
Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Scholarships for Research in the Biology of Aging

Who is Eligible: MD, DO, PhD, or combined degree students who have completed at least two years by the start date of the scholarship
Research Area:
Biology of aging
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Program Period: 3-6 months
Awards Given: Up to 10
Deadline: April 15, 2024

Hevolution Foundation Scientific Conferences Fund

Who is eligible: Non-profit organizations, public and private universities, colleges, laboratories and government agencies in North America (Canada, United States of America, and Mexico)
Amount of award: Up to $10,000 per meeting
Deadline: January 31, April 30, July 31, October 31

Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program

Who is Eligible: Any allopathic or osteopathic medical student in good standing, who will have successfully completed one year of medical school at a U.S. institution by June 2024.
Award Period: 8-12 weeks

Interested students should be in touch directly with the National Training Centers to determine their eligibility and program deadline.

Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Alzheimer's Disease (R03)

Who is Eligible: Early stage investigators in AD/ADRD research and established researchers who are not currently doing AD/ADRD research
Research area: Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias
Award Amount: $200,000
Award Period: 2 years
Awards Given: approximately 12
Deadlines: February 16, June 16, and October 16.

Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research

Who is eligible: Junior investigators (MDs and/or PhDs) with at least 3 years of independent research. Eligible investigators must be at an academic, government or non-profit institution in the US or Canada.
Research area: Basic biology of aging or geroscience
Amount of award: USD375,000
Award period: 3 years
Number of awards given: 18
Deadline for LOI: The deadline has passed for 2023

Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty

Who is eligible: Independent Junior Faculty
Research area: Biology of aging
Amount of award: $150,000
Award period: 1 or 2 years
Number of awards given: Approximately 10
Deadline for LOI: The deadline has passed for 2024

Glenn Foundation Discovery Award

Who is Eligible: Full-time faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher
Research Focus: Biology of aging
Award Amount: $525,000
Award Period: 3 years
Awards Given: 2
Letter of Intent Deadline: The deadline has passed for 2024

Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research

Who is Eligible: Postdoctoral fellows
Research Focus: Basic and translational research that builds on early discoveries that show translational potential for clinical relevant strategies
Award Amount: $75,000
Award Period: 1 year
Awards Given: 10
Letter of Intent Deadline: The deadline has passed for 2024

The Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty

Who is eligible: Independent Junior Faculty

Research area: Aging-related -omics research

Amount of award: $150,000

Award period: 1 or 2 years

Number of awards given: 1

Letter of Intent Deadline: The deadline has passed for 2024