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

The Hevolution Foundation and AFAR will provide up to 18 three-year awards of USD375,000 each to junior investigators (MDs and/or PhDs) with at least 3 years of independent research, who conduct research projects in basic biology of aging or geroscience. Funding will be made available to investigators with labs in Canada and the United States. The Letter of Intent deadline for the 2023 program is September 25, 2023.

This is an initiative from Hevolution Foundation and AFAR. The major goal of this initiative is to identify and support promising junior investigators in aging research and geroscience with at least 3 years of independent research. The program provides flexible support for research projects in basic biology of aging, as well as geroscience (projects that translate advances in basic research on aging biology from the laboratory to the clinic.) The projects should focus on understanding the basic mechanisms of aging rather than disease-specific research. Projects investigating age-related diseases or functional disorders are supported only if approached from the point of view of how basic aging processes may lead to disease outcomes. Projects that deal strictly with clinical problems such as the diagnosis or treatment of disease, health outcomes, or the social context of aging are not eligible. Research areas could include, but are not limited to those described in the Hallmarks of Aging.

It is anticipated that up to 18 three-year awards of up to USD375,000 (total cost) each will be awarded in 2023. Overhead/indirect costs of up to 20% of the cost of the grant can be requested, not to exceed USD62,500. Award start date is December 31, 2023.

To be eligible, the applicant must:

• Be an independent investigator with independent research space for at least 3 years, as of September 25, 2023, as described in the Institutional Commitment Form.
• Be no more than 12 years beyond the start of postdoctoral research training as of September 25, 2023. Exceptions to the twelve-year rule may be requested by emailing a biosketch to AFAR at grants@afar.org at least one week prior to the deadline date.
• Have published at least three last author research papers in an international peer reviewed journal from independent work carried out in their own laboratory.
• Propose a research project in basic biology of aging or geroscience.
• Be at an academic, government or non-profit institution in Canada or the United States.

The Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience do not provide support for:

• Research on age-related diseases without a clear focus on the underlying biology of aging
• Projects that deal strictly with clinical topics such as the diagnosis and/or treatment of disease and health outcomes
• Postdoctoral fellows in the laboratory of a senior investigator
• Senior faculty with more than 12 years beyond the start date of postdoctoral training
• Investigators who are conducting research at a for-profit institution

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

The following criteria are used to determine the merit of an application:

• Quality of the proposed research;
• Alignment of the research topic with Hevolution’s goals and mission
• Innovation and creativity
• Qualifications and track record of quality basic research and/or applied science conducted in aging research with an emphasis on priority areas;
• Excellence of the research environment; including availability of all tools and platforms
• Likelihood that the project will advance the applicant's career in aging research.

Please refer to the LOI instructions. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. All Letters of Intent must be uploaded here. Institutional Commitment forms must be submitted via email to afarapplication@afar.org.

The Letters of Intent will be reviewed by ad hoc reviewers. A subset of applicants will be invited to submit a full application which will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee’s recommendations will be presented to The Hevolution Foundation which will make 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.

The Hevolution Foundation and AFAR will not provide reviewer critiques to any applicants at any review level.

Timeline:

LOI deadline: September 25, 2023

Results LOI review: Mid-October, 2023

Deadline to submit full application: November 21, 2023

Award Start Date: December 31, 2023

An interim narrative report is required after each year of funding, and final narrative and financial reports are required within three months following the end date of the award. Guidelines for submitting reports as well as other administrative questions can be found here.

Award recipients are expected to attend one Glenn AFAR Grantee Conference in the year following receipt of the award. The conference convenes grant recipients, mentors and leaders in the field to review and disseminate the research progress of the grantees and their findings. The meeting encourages networking, facilitates collaborations, and enhances the development of leadership.