logo
    Docs
 

Disease Report: Alzheimer's disease


Groups and Companies
Funding
Standard of Care
Unmet Medical Need
Novel Modalities and Combinations
Symptoms Evidence
Symptoms Targets
Pathogenesis Evidence
Pathogenesis Targets
Assays and Models

Certainly! Here is a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of funding agencies, opportunities, and open calls specifically for research and drug development in Alzheimer’s disease, with sources for each statement.

1. Summary:

Alzheimer’s disease research and drug development are supported by a robust ecosystem of public, nonprofit, and philanthropic funding agencies. The most significant funders are the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA, part of NIH), the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), and the Alzheimer’s Association. These organizations offer a variety of grant mechanisms, including support for basic, translational, and clinical research, as well as biomarker and drug development. There are also international and national organizations in other countries, such as the Alzheimer Society of Canada and Alzheimer’s Research UK, but this summary focuses on the largest and most globally relevant agencies and their current (as of May 2025) opportunities.

2. Funding agencies:

* National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH

  • The primary U.S. federal agency funding Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias research, including drug development, clinical trials, and infrastructure (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers).
  • NIA Funding Opportunities

* Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)

  • A nonprofit venture philanthropy funder focused solely on accelerating the discovery and development of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s disease. Funds both academic and biotech/industry projects globally.
  • ADDF Funding Opportunities

* Alzheimer’s Association

  • The world’s largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research, supporting a wide range of grants for basic, translational, clinical, and health services research, as well as drug development and biomarker discovery.
  • Alzheimer’s Association Grants

* Other Notable Agencies

  • Alzheimer Society of Canada: National research funding for Canadian researchers (source)
  • Alzheimer’s Research UK: Major UK-based funder (source)
  • International collaborations and consortia, such as the International Alzheimer’s Disease Research Portfolio (IADRP) (source)

3. Funding opportunities:

* National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH

  • Parent NOFOs for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD):
    • PAR-22-093 (R01 Research Project Grant)
    • PAR-22-094 (R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant)
    • Current NIA NOFOs
  • Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs):
    • Funding for collaborative research centers focused on AD/ADRD (RFA-AG-24-001)
  • Special Initiatives:
    • PAR-25-331: Research on Current Topics in Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Related Dementias (source)

* Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)

  • Drug Development RFP: Supports IND-enabling studies and early-phase clinical trials for promising pharmacological interventions and devices for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (source)
  • Biomarker Development: Funding for projects advancing biomarker discovery and validation (source)
  • Diagnostics Accelerator: Focused on advancing novel diagnostic tools and biomarkers (source)

* Alzheimer’s Association

  • International Research Grant Program (IRGP): Funds basic, translational, and clinical research globally (source)
  • Health Services Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (HSR-ADRD): Supports research to improve dementia care (source)
  • Imaging Research in Alzheimer’s and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases: In partnership with the American Society of Neuroradiology (source)

4. Open calls (as of May 2025):

* National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH

  • PAR-22-093 (R01) and PAR-22-094 (R21): Ongoing parent announcements for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias research. Deadlines are rolling; see NIA NOFOs for details.
  • PAR-25-331: Research on Current Topics in Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Related Dementias (source)
  • RFA-AG-24-001: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) (source)

* Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)

  • Drug Development RFP: Next LOI deadline is February 3, 2025; full proposal deadline April 7, 2025 (source)
  • Other RFPs: Check ADDF Funding Opportunities for current and upcoming calls.

* Alzheimer’s Association

  • International Research Grant Program: 2025 application process is open (source)
  • HSR-ADRD Grant: 2025 call is open (source)
  • Other grant programs: See Types of Grants for current deadlines and eligibility.

5. Additional context:

  • Funding Scale: NIH/NIA is the largest single funder, with annual U.S. federal funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia research exceeding $3.8 billion (source). The Alzheimer’s Association has funded over 2,600 projects in 56 countries, totaling over $430 million (PMID: 11782193). ADDF has awarded over $290 million to more than 750 programs (source).
  • Eligibility: Most opportunities are open to academic researchers, clinicians, and biotech companies worldwide. Some programs are specifically for early-career investigators or for projects at the translational/clinical interface.
  • Application Process: NIH/NIA uses the standard NIH grants process via Grants.gov. ADDF and the Alzheimer’s Association have their own online application portals and specific RFPs.
  • International Collaboration: The International Alzheimer’s Disease Research Portfolio (IADRP) coordinates global funding strategies (source).

6. References:

If you need more details on a specific funding mechanism, eligibility, or application process, please specify!