[Pershing Square Philanthropies](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org)

September 2026 (Letter of Intent)

$750,000 total ($250,000/year for 3 years, includes up to 10% indirect costs); 5–7 awards annually

Supports early-to-mid-career investigators pursuing bold, interdisciplinary research to transform understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Forecasted cycle; eligibility limited to those within 1–8 years of independent research experience as of May 2026.

--- ## Description The MIND Prize (Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery), offered by Pershing Square Philanthropies, aims to catalyze transformative advances in neurodegenerative disease (NDD) research—including Alzheimer’s, dementia, and related disorders. The program is designed for early-to-mid-career investigators ready to pursue high-risk, high-reward projects that may not be fundable through traditional sources. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary approaches, collaboration, and innovation in areas such as neurobiology, brain mapping, imaging, machine learning, drug delivery, and synthetic biology. Awardees join a vibrant network of peers and mentors, gaining access to annual retreats, industry connections, and opportunities to present their work. The program seeks projects with clear potential for radical impact on the understanding, prediction, prevention, or treatment of NDDs. --- ## Due Dates - September 2026 (Letter of Intent) — **anticipated/projected** *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Total Award:** $750,000 over three years ($250,000/year) - Up to $225,000/year in direct costs - Up to $25,000/year in indirect costs (maximum 10% of total; may be less) - **Number of Awards:** Typically 5–7 prizes awarded annually - **Duration:** 3 years - **Full award amount must be budgeted; smaller requests are not accepted** --- ## Eligibility - **Career Stage:** Early-to-mid-career investigators with independent research experience - **Experience Requirement:** Minimum of 1 year, maximum of 8 years as an independent faculty member (or equivalent) by May 2026 - **Degree:** MD, PhD, MD-PhD, or equivalent - **Institution:** Must be a full-time, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty at a U.S.-based academic research institution (501(c)3) - Independent researchers at non-faculty institutions (e.g., NIH, Janelia) may be eligible if running their own lab/program - **Citizenship:** Open to non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents, provided visa status allows completion of the project in the U.S. - **Other Restrictions:** - Maximum of 3 lifetime applications to the MIND Prize per PI - Cannot apply to multiple Pershing Square Foundation prize programs in the same year - Current grantees may not apply again until their third and final year or after award completion - Only one LOI per PI per cycle (can be a collaborator on other applications) - Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible --- ## Application Process - **Stage 1:** Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), biosketch (Pershing Square format), and budget - LOI: One page, Georgia 11pt, single-spaced, 0.5" margins; figures allowed within limit; references may be appended - LOI should address: field gap, proposal, innovation, and the PI’s unique qualifications - Templates for biosketch and budget are provided via the application portal - **Stage 2:** Finalists are invited to present a brief (≤3 slides) presentation to the Scientific Advisory Board (in-person in NYC preferred; remote option available) - **No full proposal stage**; final selection is based on LOI and finalist presentation - **Award Agreement:** Must be signed by PI and institution; terms are non-negotiable except for factual corrections - **Reporting:** Annual progress reports required; continued funding contingent on satisfactory progress --- ## Additional Information - **Collaboration:** Strongly encouraged; only the lead PI must meet eligibility, but collaborators can be included (no biosketch/letters of support required for collaborators) - **Indirect Costs:** Capped at 10% ($25,000/year) across all institutions involved - **Effort:** No formal minimum, but ≥5% PI effort is viewed favorably - **Carryover/Extensions:** Allowed with justification and approval - **Annual Retreat:** Awardees participate in a scientific retreat and networking events - **No reviewer feedback is provided to applicants** - **Publicity:** PI’s name/image may be used for non-commercial program publicity --- ## External Links - [MIND Prize Program Page](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/mind-prize) - [Application Guidelines (PDF)](https://prizeapplication.smapply.io/protected/nr/Kb5M7/MIND_Prize_-_2026_Application_Guidelines_RFP.pdf) - [Application FAQs](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/mind-prize/page/frequently-asked-questions-2) - [Application Portal](https://prizeapplication.smapply.io/) - [Scientific Advisory Board](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/mind-prize/page/scientific-advisory-board) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Page Link | |------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MIND Prize Team | info@mindprize.org | [Contact Page](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/contact) | ---

2026 MIND Prize

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