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

September 2026: Letter of Intent deadline (projected)

$750,000 total ($250,000/year for 3 years, including up to 10% indirect costs)

Funds transformative, interdisciplinary research advancing the understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, empowering early-to-mid-career investigators.

Forecasted cycle—dates are projected; check program page for updates.

--- ## Description The MIND (Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery) Prize, offered by Pershing Square Philanthropies, supports bold, interdisciplinary research to advance the understanding, prediction, prevention, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and related dementias. The prize is designed to empower early-to-mid-career investigators to pursue innovative, high-risk, high-reward projects that challenge conventional paradigms in neuroscience. Supported research may involve novel tools, technologies, and approaches in neurobiology, brain imaging, machine learning, drug delivery, synthetic biology, and related fields. Awardees join a network of leading researchers and benefit from industry networking, annual retreats, and opportunities to present at conferences. --- ## Due Dates - September 2026: Letter of Intent deadline (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 $25,000/year (10%) may be allocated to indirect costs - Direct costs: up to $225,000/year - Typically, 5–7 prizes are awarded annually --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must hold an MD, PhD, or MD-PhD (or equivalent). - Must have completed at least 1 but no more than 8 years of independent research experience as a tenure-track faculty member (or equivalent) by May 2026. - Must be a full-time faculty member at a 501(c)3 academic research institution in the USA. - Scientists in independent research roles at non-faculty institutions (e.g., national labs) are eligible if they run their own research program and meet other criteria. - Applicants may only apply to the MIND Prize a total of three times (regardless of outcome). - Only one application per PI per cycle; however, a PI may be a collaborator on another application. - Applicants may only apply to one Pershing Square Foundation prize program per year. - Current grantees may not apply to another PSF prize until their third and final year or after their award concludes. - U.S. citizenship is not required, but visa status must allow completion of the project in the U.S. - Investigators do not need a neuroscience background but must have access to an environment capable of high-quality, high-impact brain research. --- ## Application Process - **Stage 1:** Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), biosketch (using PSF template), and budget. - LOI: One page (Georgia, 11pt, single-spaced, 0.5" margins), including project description, innovation, and impact. - Figures must fit within the one-page LOI; references can be on a separate page. - **Stage 2:** Selected finalists are invited to present their proposal (up to three slides) to the Scientific Advisory Board at the Review Board Meeting (in-person preferred, remote option available). - No full proposal stage; the LOI and presentation form the basis for evaluation. - Application materials and templates are available via the [application portal](https://prizeapplication.smapply.io/). - Annual progress reports are required for continued funding. --- ## Additional Information - Projects must be high-risk, high-reward, and have clear application to neurodegenerative or neurocognitive disorders, with preference for relevance to Alzheimer’s and dementias. - Collaborations are encouraged; subcontracts allowed (indirect costs on subcontracts count toward the annual indirect cost cap). - Awardees join a network with access to industry mentors, networking events, and annual retreats. - The PSF does not claim intellectual property or revenue share. - No reviewer feedback is provided to applicants. - Budget proposals must utilize the full $750,000; smaller budgets are not accepted. - Minimum PI effort of 5% is viewed favorably, but not required. - No formal salary cap, but budgets should be reasonable. --- ## External Links - [MIND Prize Program Page](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/mind-prize) - [Application Guidelines](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/initiatives/programs/mind-prize/page/application-guidelines-2) - [Frequently Asked Questions](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 | Web Form/Info Page | |------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | MIND Prize Inquiries | info@mindprize.org | [Contact Page](https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/contact) | ---

MIND Prize

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