Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Program

Grants provide funding to identify a potential microbial link to Alzheimer’s disease. All awards must be narrowly focused on elucidating the possible roles of infectious agents in the causation of Alzheimer’s disease. The grant awards will support innovative research including basic, clinical and/or non-traditional approaches. This includes proposals that span the breadth of the microbial world, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses and microbial synergy, among other possibilities.

Find out more about research we have funded 

As long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements, yes, you may resubmit an application.

The application for the past cycle opened on October 15, 2024. Applications closed on January 10, 2025.

If the deadline has not passed, you will be able to edit your application, even after submission. If you encounter any issues, please contact Amy Shapley-Farrell, Program Manager. She will be able to assist you.

Equipment and travel costs are not allowed in grant requests. Travel scholarships are available for some travel costs through the grant program.

No indirect costs are provided to the institution to which grants are awarded.

Total salary support for PI should not exceed 15% (this includes fringe costs):

• $100,000 level: PI salary should not exceed $15,000.
• $75,000 level: PI salary should not exceed $11,250.

Multiple investigators working on the project at the time of application is allowed, but there may only be one PI. Submission of a research proposal is required by an identified PI.

We highly recommend attending the Microbial Pathogenesis in Alzheimer’s Disease Grant informational webinar. The link can be found below under Resources. 

Both members and nonmembers of IDSA are encouraged to apply. This includes established investigators and academic and health professionals in all disciplines and health-related professions.

• PhDs and MDs are welcome to apply.
• Interdisciplinary research is encouraged, including collaborations between experts in Alzheimer’s research and infectious diseases.
• Clinical and basic scientists are encouraged to apply.
• International applications and non-U.S. citizens are welcome to apply.

Requirements at which level of grant funding applicants may apply vary. The following are eligible to apply at each grant level:

• $100,000: Senior/mid-career investigators (assistant professor to professor) to established research applications at $100,000 to further existing pathogenic AD research and to facilitate development of a research proposal for submission to the NIH and/or other institutions to continue their research.
• $75,000: Team of current investigators where at least one team member is a past awardees of this grant program. Research team members have demonstrated significant progress in initial research findings and are looking to further their research through collaboration with other labs. 

Yes, the grant is open to those in and outside of the U.S. Non-U.S. citizens are also eligible to apply.

Grant amounts vary each grant period, dependent on the availability of funds, merits of the project, and grant program goals for the year. The current RFA is for 5 grants:

• Three grants at $100,000 for existing research.
• Two grants at $75,000 to establish collaborative research projects between two or more researchers/ labs.

This is a competitive grant process. Over 75 applications were received the past 2 years. Sixteen individual grants were funded in 2023, ranging between $30,000 and $250,000 for a total of $2.24 million in grant funding in the 2023 grant period. 

All grant applications will be checked for compliance and then reviewed by a convened expert panel with final decision by the IDSA Board of Directors.

The terms and conditions of support are available on the RFA.RFA