Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Discovery Award
The GFMR Discovery Award funds innovative research on the fundamental biological mechanisms of human aging, encouraging interdisciplinary and novel approaches to advance the science of aging.
Funder: American Federation for Aging Research
Due Dates: February 18, 2026 (Letter of Intent, 5:00 p.m. EST) | June 15, 2026 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $555,000 total per award ($185,000/year for 3 years; max 8% indirect costs, not to exceed $13,704/year); up to two awards in 2026.
Summary: Supports innovative research into fundamental biological mechanisms of human aging, encouraging new investigators and interdisciplinary approaches.
Key Information: Applicants must be full-time Assistant Professors or higher with R01-equivalent funding at a U.S. non-profit institution.
Description
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Discovery Award, administered in partnership with the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), funds research projects with strong potential to advance pioneering discoveries in the biological mechanisms underlying normal human aging and physiological decline. The program welcomes proposals from any branch of biology and encourages applications from principal investigators who may not have previously worked in aging but whose expertise is relevant to aging biology. Projects should focus on fundamental mechanisms of aging, not on aging as a disease or on specific diseases unless the link to aging biology or translational opportunities for improving healthspan is direct and clear. Awardees are expected to participate in annual conferences to facilitate scientific exchange in the aging research community.
