Cognitive Decline Prevention

Eligibility

Funding is open to researchers and clinicians worldwide at:

• Academic medical centers and universities or nonprofits. Industry partnerships are 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 (see Our Research Strategy for more information).

Summary

The ADDF seeks to support studies of cognitive symptoms due to health conditions, comparative effectiveness research, and epidemiological studies that probe whether the use or choice of drugs alters the risk for dementia or cognitive decline. Supports multi-year studies.

Note:
- For studies requiring additional support, co-funding from other funding agencies or investors is encouraged
- Payment structure will be negotiated and based on milestone achievements and recruitment

The Prevention RFP supports:

1. Studies of Cognitive Decline and Risk Reduction: Cognitive decline through aging and medical comorbidities has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. The ADDF will consider funding programs to prevent and treat these conditions, including menopause-related cognitive symptoms, postoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive decline, mild and/or repetitive traumatic brain injury, and chemotherapy-induced decline. Methods may include epidemiology or clinical trials. For clinical trial proposals, please see below detailed instructions and priorities under “Expectations and Evaluation”.
2. Comparative Effectiveness Research: For many health conditions, physicians have a choice of clinically equivalent drugs. Some of these drugs are being investigated for repurposing to treat Alzheimer's or related dementias, due to potential disease-modifying properties that go beyond the treatment of their approved disease indication. The ADDF will consider funding research to generate an evidence base on whether choices in the routine clinical care of pre-existing conditions could protect from dementia. Priority will be given to the comparison of drugs that are otherwise clinically equivalent for the pre-existing condition (see Box 1 in the ADDF 2016 position paper). Methods may include randomized trials or epidemiology.
3. Studies Leveraging the Consortium of Cohorts for Alzheimer's Prevention Action (CAPA): Epidemiological studies contribute unmatched information on whether the risk of dementia or cognitive decline may be influenced by long-term exposure to supplements or medications. However, high-powered studies are needed, ideally with dose, duration, and responder profiles, in order to translate epidemiological research into actionable interventions for testing. Through the CAPA Consortium, the ADDF funds collaborative analyses on dementia prevention using a minimum of five longitudinal cohorts, either harmonized or analyzed through parallel analysis of cohorts using a shared analysis script. More information here.

Clinical populations of interest:

• Primary Prevention: these studies will include a middle aged (“mid-life”) group without cognitive impairment or biomarker pathology.
• Secondary Prevention: these studies will include a group with preclinical biomarker evidence of Alzheimer’s disease and without symptoms.
• Tertiary Prevention: these studies will include patients with either subjective cognitive decline and/or patients with mild cognitive impairment, with a goal of preventing these clinical stages of Alzheimer’s disease from progressing to dementia.

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. Studies of adding medications and supplements to lifestyle interventions will be considered. Lifestyle interventions (ex: non-pharmacologic interventions, such as diet, meditation, and exercise), without tandem evaluation of study drugs will not be considered.

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
• Please note: Anti-amyloid approaches (e.g., anti-amyloid aggregation, beta-amyloid vaccines, beta- or gamma-secretase inhibitors) and cholinesterase inhibitor proposals will not be considered

Overhead

Only direct costs are allowed. Please review Funding Policies for more information. 

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

Review the Application Instructions for steps on applying.

ADDF encourages potential applicants to contact them if you would like to discuss your proposed project and receive initial feedback.

For scientific inquiries, please contact:
Yuko Hara, PhD, Director, Aging & Alzheimer's Prevention
yhara@alzdiscovery.org

For inquiries related to contracting and the online funding portal, please contact:
Mission Related Investments Team
grants@alzdiscovery.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application