+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Verified

Drug Development RFP

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

The Drug Development RFP supports investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies (or the international equivalent) and early-phase clinical trials that test promising pharmacological interventions and devices for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. This funding opportunity concentrates on diverse drug mechanisms and modes of action related to the biology of aging and other emerging therapeutic areas for dementia.

ADDF strategic priorities include:

Combination therapies of two or more drugs to be administered together or development of combination products. This may include:
- co-development of two or more new investigational drugs
- a single new investigational drug in combination with a previously approved anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody
- fixed combinations of two previously approved drugs
Disease-modifying and symptomatic agents

Stage of development:

1. Early-stage human clinical trials including:

Phase 0 micro- or sub-therapeutic-dosing studies
Phase 1 trials in healthy subjects or patients
Biomarker-based proof-of-concept studies (generally phase 1b or phase 2a trials) designed to assess target engagement and downstream pharmacologic effects

2. IND (or international equivalent) – enabling studies including:

Non-GLP and GLP pharmacology and toxicology studies, pre-formulation, and GMP manufacture of API and/or drug product required for regulatory packages. Funding is available for preparation of traditional and exploratory IND (or international equivalent) applications
Long-term toxicology studies to enable longer-term dosing in phase 2 trials
GMP manufacturing and testing of API and/or drug product required to move into phase 2 or phase 3 trials

For clinical trial applications, if IND-enabling work is in progress, funding for clinical studies would be contingent upon an IND (or equivalent) successfully going into effect.

Type of therapy: Novel, repurposed and repositioned drugs, as well as natural products and devices will be considered. Therapeutic modalities of interest include small molecules, peptides, antibodies, gene therapies, antisense oligonucleotides, and stem cells. Other non-pharmacologic interventions, such as diet, meditation, and exercise, will not be considered. A detailed landscape analysis to compare competition related to the mode or mechanism of action is strongly encouraged.

Drug mechanisms or modes of action: Novel drug mechanisms and modes of action related to the biology of aging and other emerging therapeutic areas for dementia are considered high priority. These include, but are not limited to:

Epigenetics
Inflammation
Mitochondrial & metabolic function
Neuroprotection
Proteostasis
Synaptic activity and neurotransmitters
Vascular function
Other mechanisms and modes of action related to the biology of aging (e.g. senescent cells)
Other novel mechanisms or modes of action that are supported by compelling evidence demonstrating a rational biological connection to the disease process

AI Based Application Success Predictor

Predictor	Why It Matters	Supporting Evidence / ADDF Criteria
Therapeutic translation — clear drug discovery or development pathway	ADDF only funds research that could plausibly lead to a treatment or prevention therapy. Projects that identify targets but have no development plan are rejected.	ADDF RFPs, 2024 guidance: “Proposals must include a defined path to clinical development.”
Focus on Alzheimer’s and related dementias	Projects must show how the mechanism, target, or intervention links directly to AD/ADRD pathology (Aβ, tau, neuroinflammation, neuroprotection, synaptic loss, etc.).	ADDF Mission and Review Criteria.
Strong preliminary data	The ADDF prefers to “de-risk” translational assets; applications must show robust in vitro/in vivo or early human data supporting the target or compound.	Review feedback from 2020–2024 awardees.
Experienced, translationally focused team	Teams with pharma/biotech or industry experience score highest; ADDF values multidisciplinary consortia.	Funded projects typically list medicinal chemists, clinicians, and regulatory advisors.
Clear development milestones and go/no-go decision points	Applicants must define measurable milestones (e.g., IND-enabling, lead optimization, Phase 1 readiness).	ADDF Application Template: “Milestones and deliverables must be clearly defined.”
Feasibility within funding period	ADDF avoids speculative, long-horizon projects. Funded studies are 1–3 years with achievable endpoints.	Grant guidelines.
Strong intellectual property (IP) and commercialization plan	ADDF seeks projects that can attract co-investment or licensing. Clear IP protection and commercialization potential strongly predict success.	ADDF Venture Philanthropy model and review notes.
Fit with specific ADDF program	Matching your project to the correct mechanism (Drug Development, Biomarkers, Prevention, Diagnostics Accelerator) is crucial.	Misalignment is a top reason for rejection.
Collaborations with industry or CROs	Reviewers reward projects leveraging contract research or biotech collaborations to accelerate development.	Funded project analysis (2022–2024).
Scientific novelty combined with translational practicality	High innovation value (new mechanism, new delivery method, or repurposed drugs with mechanistic rationale) boosts scores — but feasibility must be clear.	Scoring criteria emphasize both innovation and tractability.

⚠️ Common Weaknesses in Unsuccessful Applications

Too basic or exploratory (e.g., mechanistic cell biology with no clear therapeutic angle).

Weak or unconvincing preclinical evidence.

No defined milestones or poor go/no-go plan.

Unprotected IP or uncertain freedom-to-operate.

Overly ambitious (Phase 2 trial readiness claimed without sufficient preclinical data).

Unclear link to Alzheimer’s pathology.

📊 Patterns in Funded Projects (2016–2024)

Trend	Observation
Therapeutic areas most funded:	Neuroinflammation, proteostasis (Aβ/tau), neuroprotection, mitochondrial health, synaptic resilience, vascular contributions.
Repurposed drugs	~35% of funded projects involve repurposing existing drugs with AD-relevant mechanisms.
Diagnostics Accelerator	Since 2018, major growth area — funding for blood-based and digital biomarkers.
Average success rate	Estimated 10–15% overall, slightly higher for biomarker and prevention calls.
Geographic spread	~60% U.S., ~25% EU/UK, ~15% others (Canada, Israel, Asia-Pacific).
Typical award size	$150K–$1.5M (average ~$500K).
Typical PI profile	Senior translational scientist with dual academic–industry experience, or biotech startup founder.

💡 Top Predictors Summarized

Therapeutic translation focus (drug discovery to early clinical)

Strong and relevant preclinical data

Clear Alzheimer’s/ADRD mechanistic link

Defined milestones and timelines

Solid IP position and commercialization pathway

Experienced, translationally balanced team

Fit with ADDF program scope

Collaborative, cross-disciplinary partnerships

📈 Example Funded Projects

Yale University: small molecule targeting neuroinflammation pathway for AD — strong animal data, IND-ready plan.

Cognito Therapeutics: noninvasive neuromodulation therapy; robust translational path, AD relevance clear.

Oryzon Genomics: repurposed LSD1 inhibitor for cognitive decline.

NeuroDex: exosome-based diagnostic for AD — fit under Diagnostics Accelerator.

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Neurosciences

Drug Development

Pharmacology

Eligibility Requirements

Funding is open to researchers and clinicians worldwide at:

Academic medical centers and universities or nonprofits. Industry partnerships are strongly encouraged.
Biotechnology companies. Existing companies and new startups are both eligible.
NOTE: Funding is provided through mission-related investments that require return on investment based upon scientific and/or business milestones

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 57 West 57th Street, Suite 904 New York, NY 10019

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity