BU ADRC Pilot Grants

Request for Applications

The Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (BU ADRC) Is Soliciting Proposals for Pilot and Feasibility Studies

New proposals or initiatives for biomedical, epidemiological behavioral, legal, ethical, health systems or other research in Alzheimer’s disease are encouraged. Two NIH-funded proposals for $25,000 in direct costs for one-year non-renewable studies will be awarded. The Development Grant funding mechanism is intended to support new investigators from other fields eager to bring their expertise to bear on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD), as well as feasibility testing of novel research to develop preliminary data for larger grant applications. Development study support is not intended for large undertakings by established investigators, or to enhance ongoing research projects that are already funded.

Investigators must be assistant professor, instructor, post-doctoral fellow, student in a doctoral program, or a more senior investigators who are new to the ADRD field.

A PDF version of the proposal on an NIH PHS 398 form is due on March 7th, 2024 

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html). (Please combine all required PDFs into one PDF). There is a 5-page maximum for the specific aims, background, preliminary results, and experimental methods sections. No appendices are allowed. (If your study is based on human subjects, a Target Enrollment form must be included with your application). Signatures from department or administrative officials are NOT required. The completed proposal should be e-mailed to bmyoung@bu.edu. At least two expert reviewers will review and score each grant based on scientific merit, and the Executive Committee will make funding decisions based on these scores and program priorities. The selected grants will be funded from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

No adjustments to this funding period and no carry-over of funds are allowed. Proposals that utilize the BU ADC’s resources or data (including the participant registry and/or the brain bank) and grants involving Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) are strongly encouraged. Partnerships with community-based organizations, including resources directed toward the recruitment and retention of diverse research participants, are strongly encouraged as well.

It is critical to our future funding that you cite our NIH grant number P30-AG072978 on any publications, abstracts, or manuscripts that resulted from this project.

For specific program guidelines or additional information regarding the BU ADRC Development Grant program, contact: E-mail: joinadc@bu.edu, Tel: (617) 358-4133.

Submitted proposals should include: 

            1) Name of the grant program and the title of the proposal 

           2) Specific aims and research proposal (maximum 5 pages total excluding references) 

           3) Key personnel biosketch(es) 

           4) Detailed budget and justification. 

           5) Letter of support from primary advisor (for postdoctoral level applicants only)