Program Overview

The Zenith Fellows Award provides funding for established investigators who have contributed significantly to AD/ADRD research and to neuroscience advances that inform the understanding of AD/ADRD, and who are likely to make substantial contributions with their proposed work. Awards are made possible by members of the Alzheimer's Association Zenith Society, who have each committed $1 million in support of the program.

Proposed research should address fundamental problems in the early detection, etiology, pathogenesis, treatment, or prevention of AD/ADRD, through basic biology or clinical investigations. Clinical trials are not considered. The program welcomes proposals that may challenge prevailing approaches or fall outside traditional funding mechanisms. Only investigators at the level of Associate Professor or above are eligible.

Key dates and deadlines

Letter of intent due: Dec. 1, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET (ISTAART members: Dec. 3, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET)
Full application due: March 30, 2027, at 5 p.m. ET (ISTAART members: April 1, 2027, at 5 p.m. ET)
Award notifications: By Aug. 15, 2027

Funding overview

Up to three awards; each award is limited to $450,000 total (direct and indirect costs)
Project duration of two to three years; requests may not exceed $250,000 in any given year
Indirect costs may not exceed 10% of the total award, inclusive of indirect costs for the implementing institution and any subcontracts

AI Based Application Success Predictor

Organization	Alzheimer's Association
Organization type	Private, non-profit organization
Government/Federal or Non-Profit/Corporate	Non-profit; non-governmental funder. Alzheimer's Association
Primary research areas	Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, brain health, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and dementia care.
Major grant programs	International Research Grant Program, Research Fellowship for All, Research Grant for All, and Part the Cloud Translational Research Program. Alzheimer's Association
Previous success predictors	1. Scientific significance and clear research rationale. 2. Innovation and originality. 3. Alignment with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia priorities. 4. Strong experimental design and methodological rigor. 5. Investigator expertise and research team capability. 6. Preliminary data supporting feasibility, where appropriate. 7. Potential for clinical translation or improved dementia care. 8. Clear objectives and measurable outcomes. 9. Appropriate budget and timeline. 10. Eligibility compliance and a complete application. Alzheimer’s Association +1
Additional predictors for early-career awards	Career stage eligibility, research independence potential, mentoring support, and ability to generate preliminary data for future funding. Alzheimer's Association
Historical success rate	The Association reported that approximately 10–15% of full applications were awarded in recent cycles in a historical program announcement. This is not a verified current rate for every grant program. AASM Foundation

Excel-ready entry — Previous Success Predictors

Scientific significance; innovation; Alzheimer's disease and dementia relevance; methodological rigor; investigator track record; preliminary data; translational potential; clinical or care impact; clear objectives; feasibility; career stage; mentorship; budget justification; and eligibility compliance.

Specialties

Geriatrics & Gerontology

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be an Associate Professor or above at the time of application, with major, peer-reviewed, multi-year external grant support as principal investigator, an independent laboratory, and an independent publication record.
Previous recipients of Zenith Fellows Awards are ineligible.
State and federal government-appropriated laboratories (Veteran's Administration hospitals excepted) and for-profit organizations cannot serve as the applicant institution.
Full eligibility criteria are detailed in the RFA.

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Alzheimer's Association

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 800.272.3900

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