Funder: Alzheimer's Association
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 (LOI) | December 3, 2026 (ISTAART LOI) | February 2, 2027 (Application) | February 4, 2027 (ISTAART application); all at 5 p.m. ET
Funding Amounts: Up to five awards of up to $160,000 each over two years, including direct and indirect costs
Summary: Supports early-career Kentucky investigators conducting Alzheimer's and related dementia research relevant to people living in Kentucky.
Key Information: Applicants must be full-time employees of eligible Kentucky nonprofits and obtain LOI approval before submitting full applications.
Description
The Scientists Pursuing Alzheimer's/Related Dementias Research in Kentucky (SPARK) program supports early-career investigators studying Alzheimer's and all other dementias. Administered by the Alzheimer's Association International Research Grant Program, it is funded through the Commonwealth of Kentucky's 2026–2028 HB 900 appropriation. Research must take place in Kentucky and be strongly relevant to the needs of Kentuckians.
The program spans basic and translational science, clinical and drug-development research, health disparities and rural health, implementation science, and population and public health research. Examples include molecular mechanisms, neuropathology, biomarkers, real-world effects of disease-modifying therapies, access challenges in Appalachian communities, scaling evidence-based dementia interventions, and Kentucky-specific data informing prevention, risk reduction, and care delivery.
