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Bridge Funding for Disrupted Neurodegenerative Research Grant Program (BFDN) Powering the Next Generation of Research

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

This program aims to support early career investigator-led Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related research projects disrupted by changes in federal research funding.

U.S. federal government-sponsored research funding has experienced a series of changes that challenges ongoing research initiatives and the future of the U.S. biomedical research enterprise. Maintaining continuity of funding for these projects enables further scientific progress and is critical to millions of Americans affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders and age-related causes of dementia — and millions more who may be affected by these diseases in the future, as rates for neurological disease are increasing around the world and expected to double as age is the biggest risk factor.

Recent advances in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disorders research show tremendous promise, and ensuring funding for priority research grants is vital for investigators to effectively and efficiently perform life-saving research and carry- out public health programs toward better health outcomes for the United States — and the world.

As the world’s largest nonprofit funders with a shared commitment and purpose to deliver better treatments and a cure for (respectively) Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related disorders, the Alzheimer’s Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research are evolving the Bridge Funding for Disrupted Neurodegenerative Research (BFDN) grant program. The Alzheimer’s Association has partnered with the Robertson Foundation to support this unique funding program.

This program specifically aims to ensure continuity of career support for early career researchers and researchers who are within 7 years of their designation as an Early Stage Investigator (ESI) based on the NIH definition. This program will provide funding for salary and other direct costs for research projects focused on Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, atypical Parkinson's and/or other related disorders that have been impacted by specific changes in the federal research funding landscape within NIH and/or other U.S. Federal Funding Agency.

Investigators meeting the ESI career stage eligibility (see above) and have been impacted by at least one of the following challenges may apply:

Delayed Review: Projects stalled due to study review process delays related to operational changes at the NIH and/or other U.S. Federal Funding agency.

Termination: Laboratories whose federal grants have been terminated and/or cut significantly due to changes in funding priorities and/or area of interest and are seeking other permanent funding.

Priority Misalignment: Projects that no longer fit the NIH and/or other U.S. federal agency focus areas requiring redirection to align with reframing to reflect adjusted priorities and areas of interest.

Gaps: Previously funded projects awaiting reapproval under new criteria.

Investigators whose proposals do not meet the above criteria and are experiencing challenges meeting revised paylines due to an increasingly competitive funding landscape do not meet the intent of this program.

Institutional Cost Sharing

This program requires institutions commit to investment in the career and/or research of the application’s named principal investigator applying to this opportunity. To demonstrate this, all applications are required to contain an element of institutional cost-sharing of up to 25% of the total requested budget. Institutional cost share may support the following, included but not limited to: protected research time, facility and core fees, salary and fringe, as well as computing and other equipment otherwise not allowable under Alzheimer's Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation funding.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Clear relevance to Parkinson's disease and patient needs ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the most important predictor.

Competitive proposals should clearly address:

Parkinson's disease biology
Disease progression
Diagnosis
Biomarkers
Therapeutic development
Clinical trials
Symptoms and quality of life
Prevention or risk reduction
Patient needs and unmet clinical problems

MJFF specifically looks for a sound scientific rationale with clear relevance to people with Parkinson's.

2. Significant unmet need and potential patient impact ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Strong proposals should explain:

What important Parkinson's problem remains unsolved
Why existing approaches are insufficient
How the proposed research addresses that gap
How successful results could improve treatment or understanding of PD

MJFF's formal review criteria specifically consider the impact on patients and whether a project addresses a critical unmet need.

3. Strong scientific rationale and experimental design ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Competitive applications need:

Clear research questions
Strong biological/clinical rationale
Well-defined aims
Appropriate methodology
Appropriate controls
Sound statistical analysis
Clearly described experimental plans

MJFF states that reviewers assess scientific rationale, experimental design, investigator expertise, and overall feasibility.

4. Innovation and originality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MJFF explicitly welcomes novel ideas and states that no idea is too novel for consideration.

Competitive projects may:

Test new therapeutic targets
Develop novel biomarkers
Apply new technologies
Challenge existing assumptions
Develop new disease models
Identify new mechanisms of Parkinson's
Create innovative treatment strategies

Innovation should ultimately have a credible connection to advancing Parkinson's research or treatment.

5. Clear pathway toward therapeutic development ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is particularly important for translational and therapeutic programs.

Strong proposals explain how the work can move through the development pathway:

Discovery → validation → preclinical evidence → clinical development → patient treatment

MJFF's research strategy emphasizes speeding promising therapies toward patients and funding projects that generate meaningful evidence for critical development milestones.

6. Investigator expertise and track record ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reviewers consider:

Relevant research experience
Publications
Technical expertise
Previous accomplishments
Ability to execute the proposed work
Appropriate collaborators

MJFF specifically lists investigator expertise among its general review criteria.

Importantly, MJFF funds both academic and industry researchers, including biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

7. Feasibility and likelihood of successful completion ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Competitive proposals should demonstrate:

Achievable objectives
Appropriate resources
Realistic timelines
Risk-management strategies
Appropriate expertise
Adequate preliminary evidence where necessary

MJFF explicitly evaluates overall feasibility as part of its review.

8. Alignment with the specific MJFF funding program ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is extremely important.

Applicants should choose the program that best matches the stage and immediate objective of the project. MJFF advises applicants not to submit the same idea to multiple programs and notes that proposals may be redirected to a more appropriate program.

For example, current programs include:

Parkinson's Disease Therapeutics Pipeline Program
Targeted research programs
Biomarker and disease-progression initiatives
Early-career research opportunities
Other targeted and supplemental funding mechanisms

The exact criteria vary by program.

9. Collaboration and use of complementary expertise ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

MJFF encourages multi-investigator collaborations, particularly where one research group does not have all the expertise needed for a project.

Strong teams may combine:

Neurologists
Neuroscientists
Geneticists
Computational scientists
Biomarker experts
Clinical researchers
Drug-development specialists
Biotechnology companies

This can strengthen feasibility and accelerate translation.

10. Clear, logical, and responsive application ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

MJFF emphasizes applications that are:

Clear
Logical
Well crafted
Complete
Responsive to the funding announcement
Detailed enough for reviewers to understand the methods

Applications undergo administrative and scientific review, generally with at least two independent reviewers.

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

Investigators meeting the ESI career stage eligibility (see above) and have been impacted by at least one of the following challenges may apply:

Delayed Review: Projects stalled due to study review process delays related to operational changes at the NIH and/or other U.S. Federal Funding agency.

Termination: Laboratories whose federal grants have been terminated and/or cut significantly due to changes in funding priorities and/or area of interest and are seeking other permanent funding.

Gaps: Previously funded projects awaiting reapproval under new criteria.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: P.O. Box 4777 New York, NY 10163-4777

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