AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Grants for Junior Faculty

AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Grants for Junior Faculty is a grant from American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research that funds early-career researchers conducting studies on the biology of aging. Awards of up to $160,000 support one- to two-year projects focused on understanding the basic mechanisms of aging rather than specific diseases.

Eligible applicants are independent investigators no more than 10 years post-postdoctoral training, below Associate Professor rank, without major extramural funding, at U.S. institutions. The Letter of Intent deadline is December 15, 2025.

AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Grants for Junior Faculty - American Federation for Aging Research Ask the Expert Interviews 2025 Grantee Spotlight Interviews Dorothy Dillon Eweson Lecture Series Administrative Guidelines Things to Consider When Applying Funding Updates Newsletter by funding Grant Programs and Fellowships by guiding studies such as the FAST Initiative , the SuperAgers Initiative , and the TAME Trial by supporting the infrastructure of three NIA Initiatives and leading the Amplifying Geroscience Initiative .

Top Breakthroughs driven by AFAR Experts Delaying Disease by Targeting Aging Saving Costs by Extending Healthspan What are the Hallmarks of Aging? What is the Longevity Dividend? Why AFAR, Why Aging Research Clarence Pearson Fellowship NIA Infrastructure Support The SuperAgers Initiative Amplifying Geroscience Initiative Breakthroughs by AFAR Experts What are the Hallmarks of Aging?

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2025 AFAR Awards of Distinction AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Grants for Junior Faculty AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Grants for Junior Faculty provide up to $160,000 for a one- to two-year award to early career faculty (MDs and PhDs) to conduct research that will serve as the basis for longer term research efforts on the biology of aging .

These investigators study a broad range of biomedical and clinical topics related to aging . The Letter of Intent deadline is December 15, 2025. The major goal of this program is to assist in the development of the careers of junior investigators committed to pursuing careers in aging research.

The program supports research projects concerned with understanding the basic mechanisms of aging rather than disease-specific research . Projects investigating age-related diseases are supported if approached from the point of view of how basic aging processes may lead to these conditions.

Projects concerning mechanisms underlying common geriatric functional disorders are also eligible, as long as these include connections to fundamental problems in the biology of aging . Projects that deal strictly with clinical problems such as the diagnosis and treatment of disease, health outcomes, or the social context of aging are not eligible.

Projects investigating mechanisms of, or putative therapies for, Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, are not eligible for this award and investigators should consider applying instead to the Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Alzheimer's Disease (R03) . Projects investigating ger-omics should apply for The Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty .

It is anticipated that approximately 10 grants of up to $160,000 each will be awarded in 2026. Applicants may propose using the award over the course of one or two years as justified by the proposed research. Up to 8% of funds may be budgeted for overhead or indirect costs (not to exceed $11,852).

Funding will begin July 1, 2026. To be eligible, the applicant must be: An independent investigator with independent research space as described in a form completed by the Dean or Department Chair . No more than 10 years beyond the start of postdoctoral research training as of July 1, 2026.

Exceptions to the ten year rule may be considered for certain life events (e.g. familial, personal commitments or other exceptional circumstances) and may be requested by emailing an NIH-style biosketch to AFAR at grants@afar. org at least one week prior to the deadline date. COVID-related exception requests are not considered.

For Awards funded by the GFMR preference will be given to investigators who are in the first 3 years of a faculty appointment.

The program does not provide support for: Postdoctoral fellows in the laboratory of a senior investigator Investigators who have received major extramural funding for research in any area as a PI or Co-PI (not Co-I) - such as an NIH DP1, DP2, DP5, R01, R37, R56, RF1, RL1, U01 and R35 or VA Merit Award - prior to and including the start date of this award (applicants may hold K, K99/R00 or R21 funding, or NSF funding provided direct costs do not exceed $200,000 a year) Senior faculty, i.e. at the rank of Associate Professor level or higher Former recipients of this award and Sagol Network GerOmic Award Applicants for the 2026 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Discovery Award, and/or the 2026 Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty Applicants who are conducting research at a for-profit institution, or at an institution outside of the United States Alzheimer's Disease and/or related dementias research Four criteria are used to determine the merit of an application: Qualifications and research record of the applicant; Quality of the proposed research in the basic biology of aging; Excellence of the research environment; Likelihood that the project will advance the applicant's career in aging research.

Please refer to the LOI instructions . Incomplete applications cannot be considered. All Letters of Intent must be uploaded here .

Institutional Commitment forms must be submitted via email to afarapplication@afar. org . The Letters of Intent will be reviewed by a committee.

A subset of applicants will be invited to submit a full application which will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee’s recommendations will be presented to AFAR which will make 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, we strongly encourage you to review Guidelines for Aging Rodent Research . AFAR will not provide reviewer critiques to any applicants at any review level.

LOI deadline: December 15, 2025 Results LOI review: Mid-March 2026 Deadline full application: Late April 2026 Award Announcement: Mid-June 2026 Award Start Date: July 1, 2026 Final narrative and financial reports are required within three months following the end date of the award. Guidelines for submitting reports as well as other administrative questions can be found here .

The award recipients are expected to attend the Glenn Foundation/AFAR Grantee Conference which convenes AFAR and GFMR grant recipients, mentors and leaders in the field to review and disseminate the research progress of the grantees and their findings. The meeting encourages networking, facilitates collaborations, and enhances the development of leadership. The major funder is The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Founded by Paul F.

Glenn in 1965, the mission of the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research is to extend the healthy years of life through research on mechanisms of biology that govern normal human aging and its related physiological decline, with the objective of translating research into interventions that will extend healthspan with lifespan. Other major funders include: The James A. and Dorothy R.

Brunn Foundation The Lowell F. Johnson Foundation The Marion Esser Kaufman Foundation The Irving S.

Wright Endowment Funding Updates Newsletter McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards in Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss Who is eligible: Independent Assistant and Associate Professors Research area: Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss Amount of award: $750,000 Number of awards given: Two Deadline for Letter of Intent: April 15, 2026 Hevolution Foundation Scientific Conferences Fund Who is eligible: Non-profit organizations, public and private universities, colleges, laboratories and government agencies in North America (Canada, United States of America, and Mexico), the United Kingdom, and countries in the European Union Amount of award: Up to $10,000 per meeting Deadline: January 31, April 30, July 31, October 31 Diana Jacobs Kalman/AFAR Graduate Student Awards in Geroscience Who is Eligible: MD, DO, PhD, or combined degree students who have completed at least two years by October 1, 2026 Research Area: Geroscience and the Biology of aging Nomination Deadline: May 8, 2026 The Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty Who is eligible: Independent Junior Faculty Research area: Aging-related -omics research Amount of award: $160,000 Award period: 1 or 2 years Number of awards given: 1 Letter of Intent Deadline: The deadline has passed for 2026 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research Who is Eligible: Postdoctoral fellows Research Focus: Basic and translational research that builds on early discoveries that show translational potential for clinical relevant strategies Letter of Intent Deadline : The deadline has passed for 2026 2025 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Continuation Awards Who is Eligible: Current or former GFMR Postdoctoral Fellows in Aging Research Research Focus: Basic and translational research that builds on early discoveries that show translational potential for clinical relevant strategies Award Amount: $80,000 (a minimum of $62,652 is to be used for salary and the remainder to be used for allowable expenses) Letter of Intent Deadline : The deadline has passed for 2026 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Discovery Award Who is Eligible: Full-time faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher Research Focus: Biology of aging Letter of Intent Deadline: The deadline has passed for 2026 Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program Who is Eligible: Any allopathic or osteopathic medical student in good standing, who will have successfully completed one year of medical school at a U.S. institution by June 2026.

Interested students should be in touch directly with the National Training Centers to determine their eligibility and program deadline.

Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Alzheimer's Disease (R03) Who is Eligible: Early stage investigators in AD/ADRD research and established researchers who are not currently doing AD/ADRD research Research area: Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias Awards Given: approximately 12 Deadlines: February 16, June 16, and October 16.