[Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation](https://www.alzdiscovery.org)

June 1, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | August 17, 2026 (Full proposal)

Up to $600,000 over 2 years; milestone-driven payments; industry expert guidance included.

Supports academic drug discovery for Alzheimer’s and related dementias with funding and expert industry guidance for innovative, milestone-driven therapeutic projects.

--- ## Description The ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program is a collaborative initiative between the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and the Brain Health Medicines Centers of the Harrington Discovery Institute. It is designed to advance academic discoveries into medicines for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by providing both substantial financial support and project guidance from pharmaceutical industry experts. The program focuses on progressing promising drug candidates from hit-to-lead optimization through IND-enabling studies, emphasizing innovative therapeutic targets, particularly in emerging areas like proteostasis and senescence, as well as other novel mechanisms relevant to dementia. Awardees benefit from milestone-driven project management, expert oversight, and participation in an engaged scientific community. --- ## Due Dates - **Letter of Intent:** June 1, 2026 - **Full Proposal:** August 17, 2026 Award decisions are anticipated by March 2027. --- ## Funding Amount - **Maximum Award:** Up to $600,000 over 2 years - **Payment Structure:** Milestone-driven payments, with progress reviewed by an oversight committee - **Additional Support:** Dedicated guidance from a team of industry veterans in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and business development --- ## Eligibility - **Who Can Apply:** Academic investigators at accredited medical centers, research institutions, and universities in the United States, Canada, or United Kingdom - **PI Requirements:** Lead investigator must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree - **Project Stage:** Research must be at the hit-to-lead optimization stage through IND-enabling studies; a lead structural series must already be identified - **Intellectual Property:** Applicants should possess IP or have potential for novel IP not yet licensed to a for-profit entity - **Focus:** Projects should have potential to advance discoveries into meaningful therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (including vascular, frontotemporal, Lewy Body, LATE, etc.) - **Drug Modalities:** All novel drug programs eligible (small molecules, antibodies, peptides, oligonucleotides, gene therapies) - **Geographic Scope:** United States, Canada, United Kingdom --- ## Application Process 1. **Review Program Materials:** - Review the [RFP](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/research-and-grants/funding-opportunities/harrington) and [application instructions](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/research-and-grants/funding-opportunities/harrington-application-instructions). 2. **Register:** Create an account on the [ADDF Funding Portal](https://addf.fluxx.io/) (allow 1–2 business days for registration). 3. **Letter of Intent (LOI):** - Submit via the ADDF Funding Portal. - Include project details, rationale, supporting data, IP summary, and industry relationships. 4. **Full Proposal (by invitation):** - Submit only if invited after LOI review. - Requires detailed project narrative, budget, biosketches, supporting data, and relevant forms (e.g., [Compound Report Card](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/uploads/grants/ADDF-FORM_Compound_Report_Card_updated.xls), [Animal Studies Questionnaire](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/uploads/grants/ADDF-FORM_Animal_Studies_Worksheet.docx)). - Applications and budgets should be structured around clear, quantifiable milestones. 5. **Review Process:** - Proposals are assessed on scientific quality, innovation, potential impact, and feasibility. - Projects undergo due diligence and may receive feedback for resubmission if not funded. --- ## Additional Information - **Funding Priorities:** Highest priority for projects targeting proteostasis, senescence, or other novel mechanisms relevant to dementia. Clear markers of target engagement are favored. - **Ineligible Approaches:** Anti-amyloid therapies (e.g., Abeta vaccines, beta/gamma-secretase inhibitors) and cholinesterase inhibitors are not supported; tau-targeted approaches must be clearly distinct from those in clinical development. - **Expectations:** Awardees must collaborate with the Therapeutics Development Team, submit progress and financial reports, and attend the annual scientific symposium in Cleveland, OH. - **Intellectual Property:** No claim to IP by ADDF or Harrington; PIs are encouraged to work with their institution’s tech transfer office. - **Allowable Costs:** Personnel, supplies, small equipment (<$2,500), consultants, and patient costs related to clinical trials. No indirect costs, capital equipment, or general travel (except symposium attendance). --- ## External Links - [Program RFP and Details](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/research-and-grants/funding-opportunities/harrington) - [Application Instructions](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/research-and-grants/funding-opportunities/harrington-application-instructions) - [ADDF Funding Portal](https://addf.fluxx.io/) - [Funding Policies](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/research-and-grants/funding-opportunities/policies) - [Harrington Discovery Institute Partnership](https://www.harringtondiscovery.org/funding/addf-harrington/about-our-partnership) --- ## Contact Information | Organization | Contact Name & Role | Email | Additional Info | |--------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------| | Harrington Discovery Institute | Andrew A. Pieper, MD, PhD (Director, Brain Health Medicines Center) | [Andrew.Pieper@harringtondiscovery.org](mailto:Andrew.Pieper@harringtondiscovery.org?subject=ADDF-Harrington%20RFP) | [Program page](https://www.harringtondiscovery.org/funding/addf-harrington/about-our-partnership) | | Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation | Aaron Burstein, PharmD (Head of Search and Evaluation) | [aburstein@alzdiscovery.org](mailto:aburstein@alzdiscovery.org?subject=ADDF-Harrington%20RFP) | | | ADDF Grants Team | — | [grants@alzdiscovery.org](mailto:grants@alzdiscovery.org?subject=ADDF-Harrington%20RFP) | For application submission | | General Info | — | [info@alzdiscovery.org](mailto:info@alzdiscovery.org) | [Contact form](https://www.alzdiscovery.org/contact-us) | ---

2027 Request for Proposals

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