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McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards in Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss

American Federation for Aging Research

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.

One award will be made to support innovative studies focusing on clinical translational research and another will support innovative studies of basic biological mechanisms underlying cognitive aging and age-related 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. For example, this support could be deployed towards conducting a pilot clinical trial, developing proof-of concept interventions to ameliorate age associated cognitive impairment, gather preclinical data to accelerate testing of potential interventions, and further study the mechanistic basis of age-associated cognitive impairment in relevant experimental models with a view to identifying novel treatment targets. Scientists proposing to pursue basic research should clearly articulate the potential of their findings to be translated into clinically relevant strategies, and/or treatments. Research studies at the intersection of age-associated cognitive changes and disease-related cognitive impairment may be considered if a strong case can be made for their relevance to cognitive aging and age-related memory loss. However, research that is primarily focused on neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) will not be supported.

Two 3-year awards of $750,000 (USD) each will be made in 2025, of which a maximum of 10% may be used for indirect expenses or institutional overhead.

Selection Criteria

Five criteria are used to determine the merit of an application:

Qualifications of the applicant;
Quality and promise of the proposed research and its relevance to cognitive aging/age-related memory loss;
Novelty/impact of the proposed research and potential to have transformative clinical impact;
Excellence of the research environment;
The commitment by the institution to the applicant as described in the institutional commitment form and letter.

Application Procedures and Timeline

Please refer to the application instructions. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. All applications must be submitted via email to afarapplication@afar.org.

The applications will be reviewed by a committee whose recommendations will be presented to MBRF and AFAR for 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 or this recent webinar recording from the Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence: https://nathanshockcenters.org...

MBRF and AFAR will not provide reviewer critiques to any applicants at any review level.

Timeline:
Application deadline: August 12, 2025

Anticipated Award Announcement: September 30, 2025

Award Start Date: October 1, 2025

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. ✔️ Applicant Credentials & Track Record

AFAR prioritizes early-career researchers—particularly junior faculty or postdocs—who have strong credentials in aging biology .

Evaluators look for evidence of career advancement potential in aging research .

2. 🧪 Scientific Excellence & Fit with Aging Biology

Research proposals must explore the basic biology of aging or apply aging mechanisms to age-related diseases—not merely disease-focused projects .

Study designs must use appropriate age models, be statistically sound, and include clear contingency plans .

3. 🔬 Strong Research Environment

Proposals should detail an excellent institutional support structure, including mentorship or team expertise in aging biology .

Collaborations with aging experts (e.g., Nathan Shock Centers) or established labs are viewed favorably .

4. 📈 Career Development & Impact Potential

AFAR favors projects likely to advance the applicant's independent research trajectory in gerontology 

For scholars, a clear narrative showing how the grant will lead to larger-scale funding is essential.

5. 🧩 Structured Multi-Stage Review Process

Most programs use LOI → invited full application → selection committee review; compliance with instructions is critical 

They do not provide reviewer critiques, so your submission must be strong on first pass .

6. 💸 Budget Accuracy & Fund Use

Funding covers direct research costs—salaries, supplies—with no indirect costs allowed .

Ensure project scope fits budget and award duration; avoid overly ambitious plans .

7. 📊 Rigor & Clarity in Proposal Writing

The abstract and Specific Aims are crucial—grabbing reviewers’ interest early is key .

Use clear, jargon‑free language, especially in describing significance to aging biology 

8. 🗓️ Post‑Award Engagement

Funding recipients are expected to attend AFAR’s annual grantee conference, present progress, and submit narrative and financial reports .

📝 Summary Table

Predictor	What to Do
Credentials	Show strong aging‑related track record
Research fit	Focus on basic aging biology with age‑appropriate models
Institution support	Demonstrate mentorship and aging‑expert collaborations
Career impact	Highlight how project pushes aging research trajectory
Review compliance	Follow LOI/full‑application structure meticulously
Budget realism	Align project scope with funding limits; no overheads
Writing clarity & rigor	Craft engaging aims and accessible narrative
Engagement & accountability	Commit to conference participation and reporting

🛠 Pro Tips

Engage aging experts early—including prospective mentors—in your planning.

Fit the model—justify age choices (e.g., why an 18‑month mouse is “old”) explicitly.

Clarify project scope to match funding duration; avoid overreach.

Prioritize a compelling abstract and aims page—set the tone.

Eliminate jargon; make aging relevance clear to non-specialist reviewers.

Ensure institutional endorsement and readiness to attend the AFAR conference.

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, the applicant must:

Have completed research training prior to the beginning of this award (October 1, 2025):
o PhD candidates: no more than 7 years from the completion of formal post-doctoral research training post-PhD,
o MD or combined degree candidates: no more than 12 years from the date when finished residency.
Exceptions to the 7 and 12 year limits may be considered for certain life events (e.g. familial, personal commitments or other exceptional circumstances). An exception request can be submitted by emailing an NIH-style biosketch to AFAR at grants@afar.org at least one week prior to the deadline date.
Be an independent investigator at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor (promoted to the rank of Associate Professor no earlier than October 1, 2022), who has received R01 funding (or equivalent funding such as an NIH DP5, R35 or NSF Research awards.)
Be tenure-track faculty or equivalent in an academic or non-profit institution with evidence of long-term institutional support as indicated by commitment of resources including independent laboratory space, start-up research funds and personnel. Candidates not in a tenure-track position are also eligible and should demonstrate similar evidence of long-term institutional support and not be in a time-limited appointment.
Have a proven track record of research accomplishments in cognitive aging as indicated by their publications in high-impact journals, awards, and other metrics of peer recognition.
Provide evidence of institutional commitment as described in a form completed by the Dean or CEO and a letter of commitment signed by the Department Chair.
Be in full time employment at an academic or non-profit research institution in the United States.

The program does not provide support for:

Senior faculty, i.e., at the rank of Associate Professor or higher who have held this position before October 1, 2022.
Assistant Professors who have not yet received R01 or equivalent extramural independent funding.
Investigators who are conducting research at a federal government or for-profit institution.
See comment above about disease specific research.

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

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Federation for Aging Research

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 55 West 39th Street, 16th Floor New York, NY 10018 Phone: (212) 703-9977 Toll-Free: (888) 582-2327 Fax: (212) 997-0330 Email: info@afar.org

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