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McKnight Clinical Translational Research Scholarship in Cognitive Aging and Age-Related Memory Loss

American Academy of Neurology

This award aims to support young investigators in clinical studies relevant to age-related cognitive decline and memory loss. The award also recognizes the importance of rigorous training in clinical research and encourages young investigators to seek opportunities to establish future careers in the area of human cognitive aging.

Please note: the focus should NOT be on a neurodegenerative dementia (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease); however, proposals that focus on the combined study of cognitive aging and neurodegenerative cognitive changes may be considered.

The award will consist of a commitment of $65,000 per year for two years, plus a $10,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs for a total of $150,000. Supplementation of the award with other grants is permissible, but to be eligible to apply for this award, the other grant source(s) cannot meet or exceed $75,000 annually.

The American Academy of Neurology is firmly committed to embracing the diversity among our members, applicants, and reviewers and affirms the importance of equity and inclusiveness within the AAN research program.

Timeline

June 2, 2026: Applications open
September 10, 2026: Application deadline – Note that this is the deadline for all elements, including those from the mentor and chair.
January 2027: Notification of recipients
July 1, 2027: Funding begins

Evaluation and selection

Applications are evaluated by reviewers based on the following criteria:

Quality and originality of the research plan.
Applicant’s ability and promise as a clinician-scientist based on prior record of achievement and career plan, and NIH Biosketch.
Quality and nature of the training to be provided, and the mentor-specific, departmental, and institutional training environment.
Innovation of the research plan approach.
Project significance: The ability to advance the field of cognitive aging.

A successful application should include the following:

Well-developed hypothesis: The hypothesis is testable and presented in clear language.
Feasible primary outcomes: Each aim is feasible, focused, and logical.
Well-defined training plan: There is a training plan.
Strong mentorship: There is clear demonstration of strong mentorship to support the project.
Innovation: Project concept is original, novel, and will advance the applicant’s long-term career goals.
Detailed statistical plan: Statistical methods are well-designed and detailed.

Required attachments for application

PDF of three-page research plan, including brief statements of aims, background, contemplated approaches to methodology, and any supporting preliminary data/figures. References do not count toward the page limit. The research plan should be written by the applicant and should represent their original work. However, the applicant is expected and encouraged to develop this plan based on discussion with the proposed mentor.
PDF of applicant’s NIH Biosketch. See the most recent NIH Biosketch template.
Training plan, up to two pages, to include previous relevant educational/training experiences (if present) and proposed training, along with a brief timeline.
Once the above information is fully completed and submitted by the applicant:
The chair will receive an email with a link asking them to check a box confirming that the applicant’s clinical service responsibilities will be restricted to no more than 30 percent of the applicant’s time and include a list of applicant’s non-research-related service. The chair will NOT be asked to submit a letter.
The mentor will receive an email with a link to submit a letter of reference detailing their support of and commitment to the applicant’s proposed research and training plan. The letter should be 1,000 words or less and specifically indicate the mentor’s role in the development and preparation of the applicant’s research plan, including:
1. How the proposed research fits into the mentor’s research program.
2. Expertise and experience in the area of research proposed, and the nature of the mentor’s proposed time commitment to the applicant's supervision and training of the applicant.
3. Mentor’s prior experience in the supervision, training, and successful mentoring of clinician-scientists.
4. Potential for applicant’s future research career.
5. Plan for mentorship and other activities to support and guide the candidate's development.
6. Institution's commitment to 70 percent protected research time.
The mentor will also be required to upload an NIH Biosketch.

Annual and final progress reports

An annual progress report is due in May of the first year. Renewal of the award in year two is contingent upon presentation of a satisfactory progress report. Additionally, a final research report and a final expenditure report are due within 60 days following the close of the grant term. The final expenditure report must be prepared by the institution’s financial office.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong commitment to an academic career in neurology (highest predictor)

This is the most consistent predictor across AAN funding programs.

AAN specifically targets investigators pursuing careers in:

Clinical neurology research
Translational neuroscience
Basic neuroscience
Neurological disease research
Neurological health-services research

Most awards are designed as career-launching mechanisms for future academic leaders in neurology.

2. High-quality, hypothesis-driven neurological research (very high predictor)

Competitive applications typically include:

An important neurological research question
Strong scientific rationale
Rigorous methodology
Appropriate statistical design
Clear specific aims
Feasible timeline

AAN funds research across numerous neurological disorders, including:

Stroke
Epilepsy
Alzheimer's disease and dementias
Parkinson's disease
ALS
Multiple sclerosis
Neuromuscular disorders
Peripheral neuropathy
Rare neurological diseases

3. Strong potential for future NIH or major external funding

One of AAN's primary goals is to create a pipeline of successful independent investigators.

Reviewers strongly favor projects that can:

Generate preliminary data
Lead to NIH K awards
Support future R-series applications
Launch long-term neurological research programs

Past awardees frequently describe AAN funding as a critical stepping stone toward larger federal grants.

4. Strong mentorship and protected research time

A recurring theme across AAN awards is the importance of mentorship.

Successful applications usually demonstrate:

Experienced research mentor(s)
Strong research environment
Protected research effort
Career-development plan
Access to necessary resources and infrastructure

Award recipients frequently cite mentorship and protected time as key benefits of AAN funding.

5. Early-career investigator promise

Most AAN Research Program awards specifically target:

Residents
Fellows
Postdoctoral researchers
Junior faculty
Early-stage investigators

Reviewers often look for:

Emerging independence
Academic potential
Commitment to neurology research
Long-term research vision

Eligibility requirements for many awards are explicitly tied to years since residency or doctoral training.

6. Publication record and prior productivity

Strong applicants typically demonstrate:

First-author publications
Neurology-related research output
Scientific presentations
Abstracts at major neurology meetings
Evidence of scholarly momentum

Although extensive publication records are not always required, prior productivity substantially strengthens competitiveness.

7. Clinical and translational relevance

Projects with a realistic pathway to improving:

Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Patient outcomes
Quality of care
Neurological healthcare delivery

are particularly attractive to AAN reviewers. Practice-based and implementation-focused research is also supported through dedicated scholarship mechanisms.

8. Alignment with specific AAN award mechanisms

AAN uses multiple funding tracks, and strong applications clearly fit the intended mechanism:

Career Development Award (CDA) – independent junior investigators
Clinical Research Training Scholarship (CRTS) – mentored clinical investigators
Neuroscience Research Training Scholarship (NRTS) – laboratory/basic neuroscience researchers
Practice Research Training Scholarship (PRTS) – health services and implementation research
Clinician-Scientist Development Awards (CSDA) – disease-focused career development programs

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

For the purpose of this scholarship, research is defined as patient-oriented research conducted with human participants, or translational research specifically designed to develop treatments or enhance identification of age-related cognitive decline and memory changes. These may include epidemiologic or behavioral studies, clinical trials, studies of disease mechanisms, the development of new technologies, and health outcomes research. Disease-related studies not directly involving humans are also encouraged if the primary goal is the development of therapies, diagnostic tests, or tools to mitigate age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.
Recipient is interested in an academic career in neurological research and has completed residency or a PhD no more than 5 years prior to the beginning of this award (July 1, 2027). If you have completed both residency and a PhD, your eligibility is based on when you completed residency. If you completed a fellowship of any kind after residency, your eligibility is still based on the date you finished residency. The applicant must hold a post-baccalaureate PhD degree or equivalent, or a doctoral-level clinical degree such as MD, DO, DVM, PharmD, DDS, DrPH, or PhD in nursing, public health, or other clinical health science.
The proposed program of training and research must be performed entirely within an institution in the United States accredited by the relevant accrediting authority.
Research studies at the intersection of age-associated cognitive changes and disease-related cognitive impairment may be considered if a strong case can be made for their relevance to cognitive aging and age-related memory loss. However, research that is primarily focused on neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) will not be supported. Applicants are encouraged to reference the Opportunities for Action section of the National Academies 2015 Cognitive Aging report for areas of research need.

Eligible Countries:

Canada

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Academy of Neurology

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 25 Massachusetts Avenue Suite 500J Washington, DC 20001

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