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This National Institute on Aging (NIA) Small Research Grant Program supports important and innovative research in areas in which more scientific investigation is needed to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). The program was developed from the New Investigator Awards in Alzheimer's Disease research program, launched in 2007 by The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR). The program aims to support the next generation of Alzheimer's disease researchers through funding and annual meetings that provide networking, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities. Awards provide two years of funding totaling $200,000 to support innovative research that advances strategies and tools needed to tackle Alzheimer's disease and its devastating impact on patients and caregivers.

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 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. 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.