Accelerating Drug Discovery for Frontotemporal Degeneration

Eligibility

Eligibility

Funding is open to researchers and clinicians in the U.S. and worldwide working in:

• Academic medical centers and universities or nonprofits. Industry partnerships are encouraged.
• Biotechnology companies that demonstrate a clear need for nonprofit funding. Existing companies and new spinouts are both eligible.

Because of our Venture Philanthropy model, all funding provided by the ADDF is through mission-related investments (MRIs) that require return on investment based upon scientific and/or business milestones. Return on investment can include equity, convertible notes or royalties and are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Please review our Funding Policies before applying.

Summary

There are currently no FDA approved disease-modifying treatments available for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and symptomatic treatments only provide limited benefit for patients. Recent scientific advances have provided an increased understanding of pathogenic mechanisms underlying FTD and are driving the development of potential disease-modifying therapies. The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) seek to accelerate this progress by supporting innovative small molecule and biologic (antibodies, oligonucleotides, peptides, gene therapy etc.) drug development programs for FTD through this request for proposals (RFP).

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

Review the Application Instructions* for steps on applying.

The ADDF considers its application process an iterative one and would be happy to discuss your program.

*Please note that you will be following the same application instructions as the Therapeutics RFPs.

Overhead

Indirect costs are not supported for this grant.

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

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.

Deadlines

Must be received by 5:00 pm ET on the deadline date.

Letter of Intent: May 12th, 2025
Invited Full Proposal: July 21st, 2025
 

Funding Priorities

The RFP supports:

• Lead optimization of novel disease-modifying compounds, including medicinal chemistry refinement and in vitro ADME.
• In vivo testing of novel lead compounds, biologics, vaccines or repurposed drug candidates in relevant animal models for pharmacokinetics, dose-range finding, target engagement, in vivo efficacy, and/or preliminary rodent tolerability studies.

This RFP does NOT support target identification, target validation, assay development, high-throughput and high-content screening. IND-enabling work is supported through ADDF’s Drug Development RFP.

Drug Targets

Current target areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Autophagy
• Epigenetics
• Genetic Causes of Disease (C9ORF72, MAPT, GRN, etc.)
• Inflammation
• Misfolded proteins (TDP-43, tau, FUS etc.)
• Mitochondria & Metabolic Function
• Neuroprotection
• Proteostasis
• RNA metabolism and splicing
• Stress granule formation and liquid-liquid phase separation
• Synaptic Activity & Neurotransmitters

Other novel targets or pathways that are supported by compelling evidence that demonstrate a rational biological connection to FTD are encouraged.

Additional Resources

Using RMS:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

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 to Impact Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KTI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KTI 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.