The Alzheimer’s Association aims to support innovative, high-risk, collaborative team science opportunities that investigate and focus on outstanding questions related to the biological underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including the vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). This new funding call builds off the last ten years of work to better understand VCID and its contributions to AD/ ADRD pathogenesis by targeting scientific questions on how VCID may intersect with immune, lipid and endolysosomal related functions to contribute to disease. This funding call will be supported through an innovative funding model, the Alzheimer’s Disease Strategic Fund, established in 2019 to support studies that advance our understanding of mechanistic and underpinning biology of disease.
Open to researchers at academic institutions and other non-profit research institutions. The Principal Investigator of the project must be a full-time faculty member (Assistant Professor, Instructor, Lecturer or higher).
The maximum grant amount is $300,000; with anticipated funding ranges to be $150,000 to $300,000 depending on the project scope. Budget spending should be appropriately aligned to the specific aims and proposed milestones of the project. The maximum project duration is 3 years, and there is no minimum timeframe. No indirect costs will be allowed. The Association will evaluate projects on progress toward specific milestones; continued disbursement of funds is dependent on demonstrated progress toward key milestones.
Each Funding Opportunity (e.g., Part the Cloud, ALZ‑RWD, specific RFA topics) has distinct research priorities. Success starts with tight alignment:
LOIs must clearly match the call objectives—addressing knowledge gaps, innovation, and AD/ADRD impact
Projects involving real-world data must enhance platform infrastructure globally and promote equity
LOI review focuses on demonstrable novelty, rigor, and team science potential
Full proposals are judged on sound hypothesis, design quality, power calculations, and feasibility—backed by clear milestones .
Highlight the expertise and recent achievements of the PI and team. Multi-disciplinary collaboration is a plus .
Early-stage awards (e.g., fellowships) support diverse career stages; diversity-focused mechanisms value investigator potential
A detailed workplan with yearly milestones helps reviewers evaluate progress potential .
Strategic calls (e.g., translational drug programs) require IND-enabling path clarity
Data management and sharing plans are mandatory; budget for data sharing in proposals
RWD proposals must coordinate with global platforms like ALZ-NET and include equity considerations
Indirect costs limited to ≤10%; certain mechanisms (e.g., translational platforms) disallow indirects
Budgets should directly support the work plan and milestones .
LOI stage determines eligibility for full proposal submission
Full proposals undergo multi-layered peer review, with final decisions by the Medical & Scientific Advisory Group
Diversity-focused grants offer opportunity for resubmission with feedback
Programs target international collaboration, with emphasis on low- and middle-income country eligibility .
Calls like AARG-D are structured to broaden representation in dementia science .
📋 Summary Table
Predictor | Key Actions |
---|---|
Call alignment | Map aims to RFA priorities with precision |
Innovation & rigor | Emphasize novelty, methodology, and feasibility |
Team strength | Showcase expertise, collaborations, and ECI inclusion |
Milestone-based planning | Provide clear yearly deliverables and timelines |
Data sharing & openness | Include robust data plans and platform coordination |
Budget compliance | Direct costs only; abide by indirect cost limits |
Review-stage strategy | Prepare LOI, full proposal, and incorporate feedback |
Equity & global inclusion | Engage diverse institutions, including LMICs and diversity grants |
🛠 Pro Tips for Strong Applications
Start with a precise LOI—highlight innovation, alignment, and feasibility.
Map partners and platforms early for RWD/global calls.
Budget for data management and indirect limits accurately.
Build multi-stage proposals—LOI → full → revisions.
Engage diverse, global teams, especially for diversity and equity awards.
Leverage feedback from earlier attempts; resubmissions are allowed in some lines.
The VCID-UMD Grant Program is open to researchers at academic institutions and other non-profit research institutions. The Principal Investigator of the project must be a full-time faculty member (Assistant Professor, Instructor, Lecturer or higher) or full time paid employee of
the organization submitting the proposal. Applications from post-doctoral researchers will not be accepted, however, they can be included on applications as key personnel.
Investigators that have received Alzheimer’s Association funding and are currently delinquent in submitting required reports or have awards closed as “Incomplete” are not eligible to apply. For questions about eligibility, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association at grantsapp@alz.org.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Alzheimer's Association
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 800.272.3900
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Aug 12, 2025
$300,000
Affiliation: Alzheimer's Association
Address: 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 800.272.3900
Website URL: https://www.alz.org/research/for_researchers/grants/types-of-grants/vcid-umd
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.