Changes to US federal research funding have left many early career researchers with delayed awards, stalled projects and uncertain salaries. The Alzheimer’s Association set up its Bridge Funding for Disrupted Neurodegenerative Research (BFDN) programme to keep those careers and projects going while the funding picture settles.
The programme runs in quarterly rounds. The next letter of intent deadline is 5pm US Eastern time (10pm UK time) on 29 January 2027, with a further round closing on 30 April 2027. Late submissions are not accepted.
What it funds
BFDN pays for salary and other direct research costs, so a researcher can keep a project and team going through a gap in federal support. Bridge awards run for between three and 12 months, and budgets can be up to US$250,000, although the Association says it may waive that cap in very rare and extraordinary cases. Both US and international projects can apply, provided they have been hit by the changes in federal funding.
There is a catch for institutions. The applicant’s institution has to show its own commitment to the named principal investigator through up to 25% cost share. That can be money, protected time or other kinds of support, so bring your head of department and research office in early.
Who can apply
- You must be within seven years of your designation as an Early Stage Investigator (ESI), using the US National Institutes of Health definition.
- You must be able to show that your research has been disrupted by recent US federal funding challenges, and include the agency review, correspondence or summary statement that shows the delay.
- Projects that simply missed a payline cut-off are not eligible.
In practice, this is aimed at researchers who held, or were in line for, US federal funding. If you are based outside the US, it is most likely to apply if you lead or work on a federally funded project or collaboration that has been affected. The full eligibility rules are in the RFA, so check them before you start. As a US charity, the Association also cannot fund anyone covered by US sanctions.
How to apply
A letter of intent is required, submitted through ProposalCentral. If you are invited to the next stage, you will be given a full application deadline within four weeks of the invitation, and award decisions are made within three months of the letter of intent. Read the BFDN RFA and the conditions of award before submitting. Questions can go to grantsapp@alz.org.
Before you write anything, listen to our grant writing tips from awardees and reviewers. And if a funding gap is putting your contract at risk, our guide to career uncertainty in academia covers your rights, your money and your next steps.
Read the full details and apply
Visit funding web page
(https://www.alz.org/research/for_researchers/grants/types-of-grants/bfdn)