McKnight Clinical Translational Research Scholarship in Cognitive Aging and Age-Related Memory Loss

Funded by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation through the American Brain Foundation, and the American Academy of Neurology.

The 2025 application period is now closed. Recipients will be notified in January 2025.

This award aims to support young investigators in clinical studies relevant to age-related cognitive decline and memory loss. The award also recognizes the importance of rigorous training in clinical research and encourages young investigators to seek opportunities to establish future careers in the area of human cognitive aging.

Please note: the focus should NOT be on a neurodegenerative dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease); however, proposals that focus on a combined study of cognitive aging and neurodegenerative cognitive changes may be considered.

This award will consist of a commitment of $65,000 per year for two years, plus a $10,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs for a total of $150,000. Supplementation of the award with other grants is permissible, but to be eligible to apply for this award, the other grant source(s) cannot exceed $75,000 annually.

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The American Academy of Neurology is firmly committed to embracing the diversity among our members, applicants, and reviewers and affirms the importance of equity and inclusiveness within the AAN research program.

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Important Dates

• September 10, 2024: Application deadline: Note that this is the deadline for all documents, including those from the mentor and chair. Applications will be declined if this information is not submitted by September 10.
• January 2025: Notification of recipients
• July 1, 2025: Funding begins

Eligibility

1. For the purpose of this scholarship, research is defined as patient-oriented research conducted with human participants, or translational research specifically designed to develop treatments or enhance identification of age-related cognitive decline and memory changes. These may include epidemiologic or behavioral studies, clinical trials, studies of disease mechanisms, the development of new technologies, and health outcomes research. Disease-related studies not directly involving humans are also encouraged if the primary goal is the development of therapies, diagnostic tests, or tools to mitigate age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.
2. Recipient is interested in an academic career in neurological research who has completed residency or a PhD no more than 5 years prior to the beginning of this award (July 1, 2025). If you have completed both residency and a PhD, your eligibility is based on when you completed residency. If you completed a fellowship of any kind after residency, your eligibility is still based on the date you finished residency. The applicant must hold a post-baccalaureate PhD degree or equivalent, or a doctoral-level clinical degree such as MD, DO, DVM, PharmD, DDS, DrPH, or PhD in nursing, public health or other clinical health science.
3. The proposed program of training and research must be performed entirely within an institution in the United States accredited by the relevant accrediting authority.
4. Research studies at the intersection of age-associated cognitive changes and disease-related cognitive impairment may be considered if a strong case can be made for their relevance to cognitive aging and age-related memory loss. However, research that is primarily focused on neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) will not be supported. Applicants are encouraged to reference the Opportunities for Action section of the National Academies 2015 Cognitive Aging report for areas of research need.

Evaluation and Selection

Applications are evaluated by reviewers based on the following criteria:

• Quality and originality of the research plan
• Applicant’s ability and promise as a clinician-scientist based on prior record of achievement and career plan and NIH Biosketch
• Quality and nature of the training to be provided and the mentor-specific, departmental, and institutional training environment
• Innovation of the research plan approach
• Project significance: the ability to progress the field or solve an important problem

A successful application should include the following:

• Well-developed hypothesis: The hypothesis is testable and presented in clear language.
• Detailed statistical plan: Statistical methods are well-designed and detailed.
• Strong mentorship: There is clear demonstration of strong mentorship to support the project.
• Feasible primary outcomes: Each aim is feasible, focused, and logical.
• Innovation: Project concept is original, novel, and will advance the applicant’s long-term career goals.
• Well-defined training plan: There is a clear and gap-based career development plan.

Annual and Final Progress Reports

An annual progress report is due in May of the first year. Renewal of the award in year two is contingent upon presentation of a satisfactory progress report. Additionally, a final research report and a final expenditure report are due within 60 days following the close of the grant term. The final expenditure report must be prepared by the institution’s financial office.

Required Attachments for Application

1. PDF of Three-page Research Plan, including brief statements of aims, background, contemplated approaches to methodology and any supporting preliminary data/figures. References do not count toward the page limit. The research plan should be written by the applicant and should represent their original work. However, the applicant is expected and encouraged to develop this plan based on discussion with the proposed mentor.
2. PDF of applicant’s NIH Biosketch. See the most recent NIH Biosketch template. 
   
   Once the above information is fully completed and submitted by the applicant:
3. The chair will receive an email with a link asking them to check a box confirming that the applicant’s clinical service responsibilities will be restricted to no more than 30 percent of the applicant’s time and include a list of applicant’s non-research-related service. The chair will NOT be asked to submit a letter.
4. The mentor will receive an email with a link to submit a letter of reference detailing their support of and commitment to the applicant’s proposed research and training plan. The letter should be 1,000 words or less and specifically indicate the mentor’s role in the development and preparation of the applicant’s research plan including:
   1. How the proposed research fits into the mentor’s research program
   2. Expertise and experience in the area of research proposed and the nature of the mentor’s proposed time commitment to the applicant's supervision and training
   3. Mentor’s prior experience in the supervision, training, and successful mentoring of clinician scientists
   4. Potential for applicant’s future research career and comparison of applicant to other trainees
   5. Institution's commitment to 70 percent protected research time
5. The mentor will also be required to upload an NIH Biosketch.

Questions?

For more information or questions, please contact Michelle Maxwell at research@aan.com or (612) 928-6001.