Description

The McKnight Brain Research Foundation and the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) jointly support independent investigators developing or expanding research programs in cognitive aging and age-related memory loss. The awards target advanced Assistant Professors and recently appointed Associate Professors with established research programs and demonstrated commitment to the field. The goal is to build a cadre of scientific leaders across the United States.

The program invites high-risk, high-gain proposals with potential for transformative discoveries that may be less suitable for conventional funding. Supported work includes pilot clinical trials, proof-of-concept interventions to prevent or slow age-associated cognitive impairment, preclinical data collection, and mechanistic studies in relevant experimental models to identify novel treatment targets. One award supports clinical translational research, while another supports basic biological mechanisms.