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Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Discovery Award

American Federation for Aging Research

The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) in collaboration with the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), has established the Glenn Foundation Discovery Award. This Award was created to support research projects with strong potential to develop pioneering discoveries for understanding the underlying biological mechanisms that govern normal human aging and its related physiological decline. Relevant proposals from any branch of biology are eligible. This funding program specifically seeks to include principal investigators who may not have previously worked in the area of aging, but whose research and expertise are applicable to understanding the biological mechanisms of normal aging and its relevance to age-associated health decline.

Projects that characterize aging as a disease, or that focus on specific diseases are discouraged unless the research plan provides direct connections to the biology of aging and/or the prospect of a translational discovery relevant to improving human healthspan.

Up to two three-year awards will be made in 2026. Each award is for $555,000 payable in annual installments of $185,000 per year, of which a maximum of 8% may be used for indirect expenses or institutional overhead (not to exceed $13,704 per year).

Recipients of this award are expected to attend the combined AFAR Grantee Conference and Glenn Foundation Workshop on Biology of Aging in the second and third year of the award. The purpose of the meetings is to promote scientific and personal exchanges among recent AFAR and GFMR grantees and other invited scientists in aging research.

Application Procedures

The Letter of Intent (“LOI”) deadline is February 18, 2026. Please refer to the GFMR Discovery Award LOI for instructions. Incomplete or improperly completed LOIs cannot be considered. All LOIs should be submitted as PDFs here. The Letters of Intent will be reviewed by a committee. All LOI candidates who are invited to submit applications must have it endorsed by their institution. Neither the GFMR nor AFAR will provide reviewer critiques to any applicants at any review level.

Timeline:

LOI Deadline: February 18, 2026
Results LOI review: Early May 2026
Deadline to submit full application: Mid-June 2026
Award Start Date: July 1, 2026

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong Alignment with Aging Biology or Geroscience

AFAR prioritizes research that directly addresses mechanisms of aging, rather than only disease-specific work.
Predictors:

Research focused on cellular/molecular aging processes.

Ideas integrating geroscience (e.g., how aging biology drives multiple diseases).
Projects that only examine a single disease without explicit aging mechanisms are less competitive.

2. Innovation and Conceptual Significance

AFAR favors novel, transformative ideas that push aging science forward.
Predictors:

A clear, compelling hypothesis.

Innovative approaches or technologies (e.g., omics, CRISPR, biomarkers).

Potential to change paradigms in aging research.

Incremental or purely descriptive studies score poorly.

3. Feasibility and Scientific Rigor

Reviewers look for:

A precise experimental plan with clear aims.

Appropriate methods and analysis strategies.

Realistic timelines and milestones.

Projects must be doable within funding limits, often serving as pilots for future federal grant proposals.

4. Career-Stage Appropriateness

AFAR’s hallmark is career development support.
Different award mechanisms favor distinct applicant profiles:

Glenn Foundation/AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty → early-career investigators showing potential.

Beeson Scholar Awards → mid-career clinician-scientists in aging.

MSTAR → medical students exploring geriatrics research.

Competitive applicants clearly match the program’s career target and show institutional support.

5. Track Record and Potential for Research Independence

AFAR invests in researchers likely to become leaders in geriatrics or geroscience.
Predictors:

Publications appropriate to career stage.

Evidence of creativity, productivity, or mentor-supported trajectory.

Clear path toward future extramural funding (NIH, etc.).

6. Mentorship and Environment Quality

Especially for trainee and early-career grants, reviewers consider:

Mentor expertise in aging biology/clinical geriatrics.

Track record of prior trainee success.

Resources and environment that facilitate aging research.

Strong mentorship is one of the strongest predictors of success.

7. Translational or Clinical Relevance (When Applicable)

AFAR increasingly supports translational geroscience:

Mechanisms linking aging to multiple diseases

Interventions to improve function, resilience, and healthspan

Implementation of aging science into clinical geriatrics

Proposals showing a convincing bridge from basic insights to patient or population benefit are especially competitive.

8. High-Quality Writing and Logical Narrative

AFAR reviewers expect clarity, thoroughness, and strong justification.
Predictors:

Clear articulation of research significance in aging science.

Logical flow from hypothesis to aims to methods.

Accessible writing—AFAR panels include interdisciplinary reviewers.

🧠 Common Mistakes That Lower Success Rates

❌ Proposals addressing only disease without explicit aging biology
❌ Overly ambitious scope for budget/timeline
❌ Weak mentoring environment or unclear career plan
❌ Poorly justified hypotheses or methods
❌ No clear path to future funding

📊 Summary: Key Predictors of Success

Predictor	Why It Matters
Aging-biology focus	Central to AFAR mission
Innovation & impact	Advances geroscience
Scientific rigor & feasibility	Ensures credible results
Career-stage fit	Aligns with reviewer expectations
Strong mentorship	Core to AFAR’s training goals
Evidence of productivity	Indicates future potential
Translational relevance	Aligns with evolving priorities
Clear narrative & design	Improves reviewer confidence

Specialties

General Medicine

Public Health

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, the applicant:

Must be a full-time faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher at the time of the LOI deadline. A candidate at the Assistant Professor level must have established R01 or equivalent funding such as an NIH DP1, DP2, DP5, R37, R56, RF1, RL1, U01 and R35 or a VA Merit Award. Please contact grants@afar.org if you are unsure. The Glenn Foundation Discovery Award does not substitute for the R01 funding mechanism, but supports new, rather than incremental, research projects in established laboratories.
Must have a strong record of independent publication beyond the postdoctoral level
Cannot be a Principal Investigator supported through the Paul F. Glenn Centers for Biology of Aging Research.
Must conduct the proposed research at qualified not-for-profit setting in the United States.

Investigators who may not have previously worked in the area of aging, but whose research interests and expertise are relevant and could lead to discoveries in understanding the biology of normal aging are encouraged to apply.

Former AFAR Research Grant for Junior Faculty awardees may apply; former Glenn Foundation Breakthrough In Gerontology (BIG) awardees may NOT apply. If you are applying for an AFAR Grant for Junior Faculty and Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Grants for Junior Faculty, you may NOT also apply for the 2026 Glenn Foundation Discovery Award.

Questions about eligibility and suitability of research project can be addressed to grants@afar.org.

Selection Criteria

Applications are reviewed based on the following criteria:

Potential of the proposed research to (i) yield new discoveries in biology applicable to human aging and healthspan, or (ii) establish new approaches for clinically relevant strategies, treatments, and therapeutics that address human aging and health span.
Qualifications and research record of the applicant.
Excellence of the research environment.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Federation for Aging Research

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 55 West 39th Street, 16th Floor New York, NY 10018

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