Motivated by a deep interest in improving the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), launched the New Investigator Awards in Alzheimer’s Disease research program in 2007. Since then, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation has invested almost $4 million to support New Investigators in the United States and Israel conducting Alzheimer’s disease research. These highly talented scientists and clinicians were selected through a rigorous review process. The Program has both helped develop their individual careers and nurtured a community of researchers who are the future of Alzheimer’s disease research – part of the next generation of investigators who are advancing the research, strategies and tools we need to tackle Alzheimer’s disease and its devastating impact on patients and their caregivers.
In 2017, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and AFAR published the report, “New Investigator Awards in Alzheimer’s Disease Research: A Successful Model for Investing in Futures.” The report looks at the first ten years of the New Investigator Awards in Alzheimer’s Disease research program and describes the program’s evolution, accomplishments, responsiveness to emerging needs in the field, and lessons learned. Read the report here.
In 2018, the NIA launched the Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Clinical Researchers in Alzheimer's Disease which will continue to support the next generation of Alzheimer’s disease researchers. The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and AFAR will continue to support and organize the Annual Meetings where we nurture and develop a collective identity and cohesiveness among the investigators. Through the annual meetings and other activities, investigators can better exchange information and network more effectively. These intimate gatherings, typically attended by current grantees and alumni, provide the investigators with access to colleagues who are working on similar scientific issues related to Alzheimer’s disease, though often in different disciplines. The meeting is an essential component of the program, and consists of a mix of scientific and leadership development sessions, networking, and mentorship opportunities. Alumni participation further stimulates the development of scholarship, leadership and informal mentorship to the current investigators, and strengthens the network among alumni and current investigators.