ADRC Research

The Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) supports internal research in the form of developmental projects. These are usually conducted over a two year period and are funded for up to $250,000 each. The Stanford ADRC selected two projects in 2020, and we anticipate new projects in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Developmental project grants are intended for junior faculty level investigators and for more senior investigators whose research lies in other areas and who now want to work in the field of Alzheimer disease and related disorders.

The Stanford ADRC contributes de-identified data and biological resources to registries and repositories supported by the National Institute on Aging. It supports other research at Stanford University and at other institutions. Center support can include de-identified data (clinical, neuropsychological, structural and molecular brain imaging, genetic, ‘omics, microbiome, and neuropathological), fluid biospecimens obtained from ADRC volunteers (plasma, CSF), fibroblast cell lines, autopsy tissues, biostatistical consultation, and research guidance.

The Stanford ADRC supports research training and education in a variety of ways. The ADRC Research Fellowship Program is described more fully in the Research Education Component. This program provides integrated clinical and basic science training opportunities and mentored research experiences. It is designed to prepare the next generation of researchers for careers in brain aging and in Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

ADRC Developmental Projects request for applications

Due date November 15, 2021

Instructions for applications

Asad Jamal and Iqbal Farrukh Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC)
Developmental Projects for Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease related disorders (AD/ADRD) ($250,000)

The Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers are a nationwide network of congressionally mandated Centers of Excellence supported by the National Institutes of Health

Deadline: November 15, 2021

This RFP is also available on this webpage: https://seedfunding.stanford.edu/apply/F7A2

Amount of funding and budget information:

Applicants may request up to $250K in direct costs for two years (range, one-to-three years) under this program. The Stanford ADRC plans to fund two developmental projects this year. The budget period is anticipated to begin 04/01/2022 (however may be later, pending NIA approval).

Eligibility:

All Stanford faculty (UTL, UML, NTL-Research, CE). Awards are intended primarily for junior faculty investigators, but senior faculty investigators whose research is primarily in areas other than AD/ADRD are eligible, as are senior postdoctoral fellows or instructors transitioning to an academic position (or the equivalent). The expectation is that proposed research will allow the investigator to develop preliminary data sufficient for the basis of an application for independent support. An investigator is eligible only once for development project support. You do not have to submit your applications through your RPM.

Senior ADRC faculty are not eligible to submit applications but may be included as unfunded collaborators.

Note: a PI waiver will be required for non-faculty successful applicants. PI waivers would need to be approved by the appropriate schools or Dean of Research. For School of Medicine PIs, requests must be made to the Research Management Group (RMG). For PIs outside of the school of Medicine, the individual must work with their school dean’s office. Postdoctoral fellows in senior, academic trajectory can apply as PI if Co-PI is faculty advisor/mentor who is UTL, UML, NTL-Research, CE) who will in turn be responsible for all oversight, budget and reporting requirements of the project.

Purpose:

The Stanford ADRC focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body disease, and healthy aging. Proposals should describe innovative basic, clinical, behavioral, translational, epidemiologic, caregiving, or educational research likely to advance the understanding of the basic and clinical underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive disorders (including Lewy body neurocognitive disorders); aid in prevention or treatment; or enhance caregiving, community outreach and education. Preference is given to proposals that use data and resources from the Stanford ADRC, including clinical data; biological specimens (e.g., blood, DNA, CSF, stool microbiome, skin fibroblasts, autopsy tissues), imaging data (including structural MR and amyloid-PET), and biostatistical resources; or that use data and resources of the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center (https://www.alz.washington.edu/), National Centralized Repository for AD (NCRAD) (https://ncrad.iu.edu/), and the National Institute on Aging Genetics of AD Data Storage (NIAGADS), (https://www.niagads.org/). *Please be sure to address type of ADRC resources and how such resources will be used in your proposal.

This funding mechanism is intended to allow an investigator the opportunity to develop robust preliminary data sufficient to provide the basis for an application for independent research support from the NIH or other agency. Developmental project grants are designed for 1) junior faculty level investigators and 2) for more senior investigators who have experience in areas other than Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy body research, and who want to work in the Alzheimer research field broadly defined or want to try a new hypothesis, method, or approach that is not an extension of ongoing Alzheimer or Lewy body research.

Contact/Questions:

Programmatic questions should be directed to Dr. Katrin Andreasson, chair of the Developmental Project Review Committee (kandreas@stanford.edu), administrative questions to Nusha Askari (askarin@stanford.edu), Senior Administrator of the ADRC.

If selected and funded:

Funding is contingent upon receipt of all required documents and protocols, and verification of approved protocols should be submitted to Nusha Askari at the ADRC. An annual report and final progress report in NIH format will also be due to Nusha Askari. A presentation to the ADRC team and presentation of progress is required, usually at the time of the annual site visit of the ADRC External Advisory Board.

To submit an application:

By November 15, 2021, please submit one PDF file containing the following in the order listed below via email to: Nusha Askari, Stanford ARDC, askarin@stanford.edu.

1) Title page

Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Developmental Projects 2022 (Year 3)

Project Title:

Project Leader Name, Title, department, address, phone number, email

Co-Investigator(s): Name, Title, department, address, phone number, email

2) Project summary or abstract

Include project title (up to 30 lines)

3) Research proposal

Specific Aims and Research Strategy (consisting of Significance, Innovation, and Approach), together limited to 3 pages, including any tables and figures. Bibliography/References (does not count against the 3-page limit). Use standard NIH page formatting. See above regarding citing how and what ADRC resources will be used.

4) Detailed budget

Up to $250,000 direct costs (usually split evenly across the years; pending satisfactory progress in year 1)

Budget period: 04/01/22 to 03/31/24 (or other one to three-year period, as appropriate).

Please note: you do not have to have your RPM prepare your budget now, but if approved we will need to submit an official budget to the NIH in January 2022 (the ADRC will do that).

5) Budget justification (1 page, NIH format)

6) NIH-format biosketch for the project leader and co-investigators

For a template and sample biosketch see this NIH webpage: (see new changes in effect for January 2022)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.html

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-073.html

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-110.html

7) Other support (NIH format) for project leader and co-investigators

Please include both active and pending support – follow new NIH guidelines:

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/othersupport.html

Selection process:

The ADRC Developmental Project Review Committee will review and recommend action on all Developmental Project applications. You will receive a notification of selection by early January 2022.

The goal is to bring in junior faculty and senior faculty not currently working in AD/ADRD research, and our review process prioritizes these groups. We will consider other applicants as well, depending on the number of quality applications we receive.

Note: the release of funds after selection is contingent upon formal approval of the National Institute on Aging and verification by ADRC of the recipient's human subject, SCRO, and animal subject approvals and compliance with other administrative issues.

For any non-faculty awardees, before funding can be released, as per Stanford policy, we will require a letter of support from the faculty mentor or department chair who will have oversight of expenditures via Stanford's system.