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CART Grants Program

Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust Fund (CART)

The goal of CART is to encourage exploratory and developmental AD research projects within the United States by providing support for the early and conceptual plans of those projects that may not yet be supported by extensive preliminary data, but have the potential to substantially advance biomedical research. Since 1999, the fund has awarded over $15 million to research centers from throughout the U.S.A.

The CART Fund invites interested applicants from within the United States only to submit a Letter-of-Intent (LOI) that includes sufficient detail to communicate the importance of your study as well as information on its feasibility. Proposals should be distinct from those projects designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area unless it is intended to extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications.

Applications may encompass a project period of up to two years with a combined budget for direct costs up to $500,000. No indirect costs are allowed. Full-time faculty (or the equivalent status) at US-based public and private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals and laboratories are eligible. This is for NEW projects only. Applications will be deemed ineligible from for-profit and organizations outside of the United States, as well as those already supported by regular or program grants.

CART typically awards 4-6 grants per year, and will award at least one top grant of $500,000 in 2026.

CART Schedule for Grant Application Processing for 2025-2026:

December 5, 2025 – Deadline for applicants to submit letters of intent via e-mail

January 9, 2026 – Notification via e-mail of finalists selected for further review

February 13, 2026 – Deadline for finalists to submit full grant applications via e-mail

March 31, 2026 – Date of notification to finalists via e-mail

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Highly Innovative or “Outside-the-Box” Ideas (High Risk / High Reward)

Because CART often funds projects without extensive preliminary data, successful proposals tend to:

Challenge prevailing hypotheses (e.g., alternative pathways for neurodegeneration)

Explore under-investigated mechanisms or novel therapeutic modalities

Propose unconventional approaches that large or conservative funders might avoid

Why this matters: CART explicitly welcomes “high-impact research projects … that may not yet be supported by extensive preliminary data.”

2. Strong Scientific Rationale and Clear Hypothesis-driven Aims

Even if data are limited, the underlying hypothesis must be:

Biologically plausible, grounded in Alzheimer’s-relevant mechanisms (amyloid, tau, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, neuroprotection, etc.)

Clearly articulated with well-thought-out Specific Aims

Designed with rigor and feasible experimental plans

Why this matters: Reviewers need confidence that the idea, if successful, would meaningfully advance Alzheimer’s science. Weak or vaguely justified proposals are less competitive.

3. Feasible, Well-Structured Experimental Plan

Given that CART funds early-stage projects, realism is important:

Proposals should define clear milestones and deliverables for the grant period (1–2 years)

Include contingency plans or backup strategies if initial approaches fail

Realistic use of resources (personnel, budget, labs)

Why this matters: CART aims to seed promising ideas — but they must be realistically executable within the grant timeframe.

4. Potential for Translational or Paradigm-Shifting Impact

High-scoring proposals often show:

Clear trajectory toward a therapeutic or diagnostic advance, or

A paradigm-shifting scientific insight that changes how we understand Alzheimer’s disease

Why this matters: CART’s mission is to help find a cure or major breakthrough, so translational relevance or broad impact is heavily weighted.

5. Investigator Credibility, Experience & Commitment

Although CART funds risky ideas, the people behind them still matter:

A track record of prior relevant work (even if not in Alzheimer’s)

Evidence of technical competence, prior publications, or prior grant success

Commitment to Alzheimer’s research — not a side-project

Why this matters: Reviewers need confidence that the investigator can carry the project through despite its high risk.

6. Clear Description of How to Use the Funds — “What will the money buy?”

Because CART often funds early plans, they focus closely on how the funds will be used:

Specify exactly which experiments/data will result

Justify budget relative to scope and risk

Prefer direct research costs (CART generally does not support large overheads)

Why this matters: Funders want to see efficient, focused use of donor funds — especially when many donors contribute “loose change.”

7. Novelty and Diversification — Avoiding Overcrowded Areas Unless Unique Angle

Given that mainstream Alzheimer’s funding is huge, CART favors:

Novel angles in well-trodden areas (e.g., new tau modifications, novel neuroinflammation mechanisms)

Understudied pathways (metabolic, vascular, glymphatic, etc.)

Alternative approaches (model systems, biomarkers, gene therapy, repurposing) rather than incremental improvements

Why: To maximize value per dollar and avoid redundancy with larger funders.

8. Early-Stage / Seed-Appplicant Friendly Structure

Because many applicants may be junior or early career, CART reviews often take into account:

Mentorship or collaboration if needed

Realistic project scope and training / skill-building components

Potential to generate pilot data leading to larger NIH/federal/industry grants

Why: Many CART-funded ideas “mature” later into bigger grants. Their model supports building new investigator capacity.

🎯 Strategic Implications — What to Aim for If You Apply to CART

If your idea is bold, novel, and somewhat speculative — CART may be one of the few funders willing to back it.

Your proposal should be mission-driven toward Alzheimer’s cure or breakthrough, not incremental.

Write a tight, hypothesis-driven plan with clear benchmarks, even if preliminary data is limited.

Make clear translational potential or field-changing implications.

Be precise about budget use — CART expects efficient, direct funding use.

Emphasize feasibility and your ability to execute within 1–2 years.

Consider collaboration or mentorship if you are early career — that strengthens credibility.

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust Fund (CART)

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1985 Tate Blvd SE Ste 43 Hickory, NC 28602

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