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Alzheimer’s Association AI-BOND Leaders (ALZ AI-BOND) Pilot Awards in Brain Health Program

Alzheimer's Association

The ALZ AI-BOND Pilot Awards support AI-BOND alumni and scholars in advancing data analysis capacity in brain health, Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases in Africa. This invitation-only pilot leverages the overlapping missions of the Alzheimer’s Association and the African Initiative for Bioinformatics Online Training in Neurodegenerative Diseases (AI- BOND) program to advance AD/ADRD research led by African scientists. Projects must use a bioinformatics-focused secondary data analysis approach, with preference for proposals that elevate African data sets or Africa-specific questions.

This grant is only open to applicants who are currently enrolled or have successfully completed the AI BOND training program.

Program overview

The ALZ AI-BOND Pilot Awards support AI-BOND alumni and scholars in advancing data analysis capacity in brain health, Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases in Africa. This invitation-only pilot leverages the overlapping missions of the Alzheimer’s Association and the African Initiative for Bioinformatics Online Training in Neurodegenerative Diseases (AI-BOND) program to advance AD/ADRD research led by African scientists. Projects must use a bioinformatics-focused secondary data analysis approach, with preference for proposals that elevate African data sets or Africa-specific questions.

Key dates and deadlines

All deadlines are 5 p.m. ET. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Letter of Intent launch: by June 15, 2026
Letter of Intent due: July 31, 2026 – 5 p.m. ET
Full application due: Oct. 7, 2026 – 5 p.m. ET
Application review: October–November 2026
Award notifications: by Dec. 30, 2026

Funding overview

Each AI-BOND award is limited to a maximum of $16,500 USD total funding.
Project duration: minimum one year, maximum two years.
Indirect costs are capped at 10% of total direct costs and are inclusive of indirect costs for the implementing institution as well as for any subcontracts.
Detailed guidelines on allowed costs are included in the RFA.

Application process

Letters of intent are required. More information can be found in the RFA and on ProposalCentral.
Full applications must be submitted through ProposalCentral.

Additional information

For more information on eligibility, application requirements, review criteria, and more, please see the RFA.
All applicants/institutions are strongly encouraged to review the Conditions of Award before submitting an LOI.
More information on the AI-BOND program is available at AIBOND.org.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong relevance to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the fundamental requirement.

Competitive proposals should directly address:

Alzheimer’s disease
Related dementias (ADRD)
Disease mechanisms
Diagnosis and biomarkers
Prevention
Risk factors
Treatment development
Disease progression
Dementia care
Brain health
Caregiver and patient outcomes

The Association funds research intended to advance understanding of Alzheimer's, identify treatments, improve dementia care, and advance prevention and brain health.

2. Significance of the research question ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Significance is an explicit review criterion.

A strong proposal should clearly explain:

What major problem is being addressed
Why the problem matters
What knowledge gap exists
Why existing approaches are insufficient
What could change if the project succeeds

For example, current Alzheimer’s Association research programs explicitly evaluate the significance of the question being studied and the rationale for the proposed target or approach.

3. Potential overall impact ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Association's review process places substantial emphasis on overall impact—whether the research could significantly advance its relevant field.

Strong projects should have potential to:

Change understanding of Alzheimer's/ADRD
Improve diagnosis
Enable earlier detection
Identify new therapeutic targets
Improve prevention
Improve patient care
Improve quality of life
Address important dementia-care challenges

The final review process uses overall impact and comparative ranking to identify proposals with the greatest potential to advance the field.

4. Innovation and originality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Innovation is an explicit evaluation criterion.

Competitive proposals may introduce:

Novel hypotheses
New biomarkers
New therapeutic approaches
Innovative imaging
Artificial intelligence/computational approaches
New disease models
New approaches to dementia care
Novel prevention strategies
New uses of existing datasets

The Association's research programs specifically evaluate the novelty and innovation of proposed projects.

5. Strong methodology and work plan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A scientifically exciting idea still needs a rigorous plan.

Reviewers consider:

Scientific strategy
Methodology
Analysis
Study design
Feasibility
Recruitment where human subjects are involved
Appropriate resources
Timeline

The Association's published criteria explicitly include the approach/work plan, including methodology and analyses.

6. Strong investigator and research team ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The investigator(s) are explicitly evaluated.

Competitive applicants should demonstrate:

Relevant training
Research expertise
Publications or prior accomplishments
Ability to perform the proposed work
Appropriate collaborators
Complementary expertise

The Association's review criteria specifically assess the qualifications of the research team and the training/expertise that enables the PI and collaborators to conduct the proposed research.

7. Appropriate research environment and resources ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The research setting is also explicitly assessed.

Strong proposals demonstrate:

Appropriate institutional facilities
Access to relevant patient populations
Laboratory or clinical infrastructure
Data resources
Imaging or computational capabilities where needed
Qualified research personnel

The review framework evaluates the adequacy of the research environment, resources, and facilities.

8. Diversity, inclusion and health equity ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is increasingly important in Alzheimer’s Association research.

The Association's review criteria include:

Inclusion of underrepresented populations
Racial and ethnic populations
Gender/sex considerations
Other underrepresented groups

Some programs specifically prioritize projects that address health equity, diversity, and inclusion.

A strong proposal should explain whether the research population appropriately represents the people affected by Alzheimer's/ADRD and how the findings could benefit populations that have historically been underrepresented.

9. Patient-centered, clinical and real-world relevance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Research should ultimately contribute to meaningful improvements for people affected by dementia.

Strong projects may address:

Patient outcomes
Caregiver burden
Quality of life
Clinical decision-making
Treatment effectiveness
Real-world evidence
Healthcare access
Dementia-care systems

The Association also funds dedicated programs involving real-world data, where reviewers assess the platform, population representativeness, potential impact, data sharing, and collaboration.

10. Exact fit with the selected Alzheimer’s Association program ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is critical because the Association operates many different grant mechanisms.

Current programs include opportunities for:

New investigators
Early-career researchers
Clinical scientists
Basic scientists
Translational researchers
Real-world data projects
Imaging
Dementia prevention
Health equity
Specific disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets

For example, the New Investigator Award Program evaluates overall impact, significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, environment, and budget/resources.

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be either currently enrolled in or have successfully completed the AI-BOND training program.
Applicants must be considered full-time employees or students by their institution.
Only one primary PI is allowed per proposal; multiple PIs are not permitted, though collaborators and key personnel may be included.
Non-profit public or private research laboratories, medical centers, hospitals, and universities are eligible to apply. For-profit and government-appropriated laboratories are not eligible.
Full eligibility criteria are detailed in the RFA.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Alzheimer's Association

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 800.272.3900

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