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

McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards in Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss is sponsored by American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR). These awards support research in cognitive aging and memory loss. AFAR encourages applications from members of groups that are under-represented in the biomedical sciences.

McKnight Innovator Award - 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 .

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2025 AFAR Awards of Distinction McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards in Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss The McKnight Brain Research Foundation (MBRF) and the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) will provide up to two 3-year awards of $750,000 (USD) each to advanced Assistant Professors and recently appointed Associate Professors (MDs and PhDs.)

One award will be made to support studies focusing on clinical translational research and another award toward understanding basic biological mechanisms underlying cognitive aging and age-related memory loss. The Letter of Intent deadline is April 15, 2026.

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 2026, of which a maximum of 10% may be used for indirect expenses or institutional overhead.

To be eligible, the applicant must: Have completed research training prior to the beginning of this award (October 1, 2026): 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, 2023), who has received R01 funding. Equivalent funding is considered NIH DP1, DP2, DP5, R37, R56, RF1, RL1, U01 and R35 or VA Merit Award, and NSF funding of at least $200,000 a year in direct costs.

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 . 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, 2023. 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 .

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 Letter of Intent (LOI) instructions and form . Incomplete LOIs cannot be considered. All LOIs must be submitted here .

The 2025 recipients of the Innovator Awards can be viewed here , and earlier recipients here . 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, we strongly encourage you to review Guidelines for Aging Rodent Research . MBRF and AFAR will not provide reviewer critiques to any applicants at any review level.

Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline: April 15, 2026 Results LOI review: mid-June, 2026 Full Application deadline: mid-August, 2026 Anticipated Award Announcement: late September, 2026 Award Start Date: October 1, 2026 Investigators will be required to submit a brief narrative report annually on the progress of their research. Final narrative and financial reports are required within three months following the end date of the award.

Recipients of this award are expected to attend the AFAR Grantee Conference. The purpose of the meeting is to promote scientific and personal exchanges among recent AFAR grantees and experts in aging research. Grantees are also expected to attend the annual inter-institutional meeting of the MBRF.

Founded in 1999 by Evelyn McKnight, the Foundation’s specific goal is to better understand and alleviate age-related cognitive decline and memory loss. Cognitive changes due to the normal aging process may affect up to 87 percent of people age 65 and older, impacting abilities like processing speed and decision-making and contributing to some types of memory loss.

The McKnight Brain Research Foundation works to champion research to better understand age-related cognitive decline and memory loss and educate the public on the steps that can be taken to maintain cognitive and brain health and age successfully. In its first 20 years, the Foundation established Evelyn F.

McKnight Brain Institutes at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Arizona, and the University of Miami, and the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida.

By partnering with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, and with the support of three Cognitive Aging Summits and the National Academy of Medicine Cognitive Aging Report, we have made great progress to better understand the effects of age-related cognitive decline and memory loss over the last two decades. The McKnight Brain Research Foundation and the McKnight Brain Institutes are leaders in cognitive aging research.

By providing research funding to promising investigators as they continue to embark upon independent careers, the MBRF proposes to build a core group of outstanding research scientists across the United States to lead transformative research in the field of cognitive aging.

Funding Updates Newsletter 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 AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Grants for Junior Faculty Who is eligible: Independent Early Stage Investigators Research area: Biology of aging Amount of award: $160,000 Award period: 1 or 2 years Number of awards given: Approximately 10 Deadline for LOI: The deadline has passed for 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.