Next Generation Research Grants (General)

The American Brain Foundation's Next Generation Research Grants support early career investigators conducting high-quality research intended to improve understanding, treatment, and cures for brain diseases. The program is offered in collaboration with disease-focused partner organizations and reflects the Foundation's Cure One, Cure Many research philosophy, which emphasizes the potential for discoveries in one area of brain research to accelerate progress across multiple diseases and conditions. The award is intended for early career researchers studying disease mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention, with particular value placed on work that may be relevant to more than one condition. The grant provides support for preclinical, clinical, or translational research over a two-year award period. Each award totals $150,000, consisting of $75,000 per year for two years. Of each annual payment, $65,000 is designated for salary support and $10,000 for research-related expenses. Indirect costs are not supported, and all grant funds must be used directly for the proposed project. Applicants may supplement the award with other grants, but the other grant or grants cannot exceed $75,000 annually. The RFP also specifies that recipients must have 70% protected research time during the award period. No matching or cost-share requirement is stated. Eligible applicants must be clinician-investigators holding an MD, PhD, or equivalent terminal-level clinical or research degree and must have completed clinical residency or a PhD in 2022 or later. Applicants affiliated with accredited United States or international institutions may apply, and there is no citizenship requirement. There is no institutional limit on the number of applications submitted. An applicant may also apply for more than one Next Generation Research Grant during the same application cycle, but a separate and complete application is required for each grant. The Foundation states that it provides equal opportunities without regard to protected characteristics and seeks research incorporating a broad range of perspectives and study populations reflecting individuals affected by brain disease. Applications must be submitted through ProposalCentral. Required materials include a lay summary of no more than 250 words written for a non-specialist audience; an alignment statement of no more than 500 words explaining how the project advances the RFP goals and the Cure One, Cure Many philosophy; a career development plan of up to one page; and a research plan of up to three single-spaced pages, excluding bibliographic references. The research plan must address the hypothesis, objectives and specific aims, background and significance, methodology, potential pitfalls and alternative approaches, and any supporting preliminary data or figures. Applicants must also provide a current NIH Biosketch. The research plan is expected to be the applicant's original work, and any use of AI to generate proposal ideas or assist with writing or editing must be disclosed. Additional required materials include a letter of support from the applicant's academic advisor, mentor, or lab head and institutional sign-off from the department chair or equivalent official. The mentor or advisor receives an automated email link and must submit a letter of no more than 1,000 words addressing the relationship of the proposed research to the mentor's program, the mentor's expertise and anticipated supervisory commitment, prior mentoring experience, and the applicant's potential for an independent research career. The letter writer must also upload an NIH Biosketch. The institutional official receives a separate link to confirm institutional support and adequate protected research time. No institutional sign-off letter is required. All components, including the mentor letter and institutional sign-off, must be completed by the application deadline; incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed. Applications are evaluated by a selection committee of experts convened by the American Brain Foundation. Core review criteria include scientific rationale, innovation, methodological rigor, a well-developed and testable hypothesis, potential clinical impact and translational value, alignment with grant research priorities, investigator expertise and potential for an independent research career, feasibility of proposed aims, consideration of pitfalls and alternative approaches, and the quality and commitment of mentorship. Topics of particular interest include mental health and neuropsychiatry, women's health, prevention and resilience, and Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Reviewers also identify strong statistical planning, focused and feasible aims, relevance across multiple diseases or conditions, a well-defined career development plan, and clear writing as characteristics of competitive applications. All application materials are due October 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT through ProposalCentral. The RFP does not state a separate application opening date or a pre-application requirement such as an LOI or concept paper. Funding is contingent on receipt of all required institutional, ethical, and regulatory approvals, including IRB approval when applicable, before the award start date. Award announcements are anticipated in March 2027. The award and funding period is scheduled to begin July 1, 2027 and end June 30, 2029. Questions about the RFP or application process may be directed to grants@americanbrainfoundation.org, while ProposalCentral platform questions may be directed to pcsupport@altum.com.

State a clear testable hypothesis; include a detailed and appropriate statistical plan; demonstrate strong mentorship with relevant expertise; keep aims focused and feasible within the award period; emphasize innovation and potential relevance across multiple diseases or conditions; provide a clear gap-based career development plan; write the lay summary in plain language focused on patient and family impact; identify potential pitfalls and alternative approaches; communicate the project clearly