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About the PTC research grant
The PTC grant program aims to increase the research efforts in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials directed towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias internationally.
This grant is open to U.S. and international researchers.
Competition objectives
The Alzheimer's Association is pleased to announce the Part the Cloud Translational Research Funding initiative to increase the research efforts in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials directed towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias internationally.
Background
There is no greater healthcare need than slowing or preventing Alzheimer’s disease. The vast increase in understanding of the neurobiology of AD in recent decades, from genetic factors to amyloid accumulation, tangle formation, cellular dysfunction and synaptic failure, has led to the identification of highly promising targets for new therapies. The process of developing candidate therapies is long and complex leading to the failure of many drug development programs. The steps from target identification to the clinic includes high-throughput screening, lead optimization, establishing target engagement in vitro and in vivo, assuring central nervous system penetration, animal toxicology and finally the three phases of human testing. The full process takes many years and substantial resources, and typically involves different groups of investigators at different stages.
While many academic investigators and companies have successfully discovered candidate therapeutics, and have succeeded in the preclinical stages of development, moving into human testing can be a major stumbling block. Most government and non- government grant mechanisms support preclinical development or mid to latter clinical trials testing drug efficacy in humans, but there are few mechanisms for supporting the critical earlier human phase studies. At present, the National Institute on Aging supports AD drug development research, including basic research on target identification, animal model testing of candidate therapeutics, toxicology and proof-of-concept studies in humans. These latter human studies must be preceded by smaller, early phase studies but there are few appropriate funding mechanisms to fund the next step, Phase I trials in humans.
Potential themes
This new grant mechanism aims to fill the gap in Alzheimer’s early phase clinical trials by providing support for Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of potential Alzheimer’s and related dementia therapeutics.
General considerations and eligibility
Applications will be accepted from academic investigators and small companies with lead candidate therapeutic agents that require early stage testing (Phase 1 or Phase 2) prior to the larger Phase 2b or 3 efficacy studies, or with lead therapeutic agents that have already established human safety data and require a small-scale pilot Proof of Mechanism (POM) study in humans to begin proving the scientific concept in humans. This award will support Phase 1 studies or pilot small- scale Phase 2a studies for novel or repurposed potential compounds in cognitively unimpaired, mild cognitive impairment or later stages of disease, including single and multiple dose studies to establish safety, brain penetration and/or target engagement and POM in preparation for larger proof of concept trials. In addition, proposals may be considered that are POC to validate biological marker(s) of disease progression in a clinical trial environment. Any proposal must have a clear focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorder and be translational in nature. All proposals should clearly and explicitly outline the measure to be investigated, the methods for study, and outcomes. Researchers from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility
Both non-profit and small for-profit agencies are eligible. Open to International Applicants. Small for-profit agencies must submit documentation of net assets and annual earnings during the letter of intent process as a part of the review process. Not-for-profit organizations must submit documentation verifying status during the letter of intent process.
Applications will be accepted from organizations conducting studies around the world. Researchers with full-time staff or faculty appointments are encouraged to apply. Applications from post- doctoral candidates will not be accepted. For questions as to whether an investigator or organization is eligible, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association at [email protected].
Funding and award period
We anticipate funding up to six Part the Cloud Research Awards. Each grant is limited to $800,000 (direct and indirect costs) over two or three years. Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent (rent for laboratory/office space is expected to be covered by indirect costs paid to the institution). Please note: This is for Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 human studies and must be at least 90% of the budget for costs related to conducting the clinical trial. Related studies and preliminary study, while important, do not fall under this request for applications (RFA).
Letter of Intent (LOI) review procedures
Please note: Letters of Intent are not required for this round of Part the Cloud funding opportunity. New submissions are welcome to send a paragraph to the Alzheimer’s Association for review and feedback at [email protected] to confirm that their proposal will meet program requirements and be responsive to this RFA. Grants identified as non-responsive will not be reviewed. While THIS IS NOT REQUIRED, it is recommended.
Re-submissions can proceed to submit a full application.
Deadlines and award dates
All applications must be completed and submitted online through our interactive system Proposal Central at http://proposalcentral.com. (No hardcopies or emails will be accepted.)
Full applications, must be received by 5:00pm EST, March 23, 2022. Please note: There are new components of the application that are required; for anyone providing a resubmission, you are also required to complete these materials.
The full grant application consists of the following:
- Problem Statement – 1 page
- Work Plan – 5 pages
- Available Resources & Budget Justification – 2 pages
- Plan for Data Sharing -1 page
- Recruitment Plan - 1 page, If applicable
- Reference and Citations – 1 page
- Resubmissions – FOR resubmissions only – 1 page
- Therapeutic Rationale – 1 page
- Gannt Chart – 1 page (Required)
- Biosketch (PI/Co-PI) – 5 pages max for each
Applications will be reviewed with special attention to:
- Significance of the question being studied & rationale of the target being pursued
- Applicant information
- Quality of the proposed trial design
- Quality and adequacy of available resources and budget
- Impact-Risk
There are additional fields that will be required through the online application portal that ask for details on dose selection and other related questions. Scientific and technical review will be conducted from March – April 2022. The second- level review by the Alzheimer’s Association and subject-matter experts in April 2022 and funding is anticipated to be awarded by May 15, 2022.
Reporting requirements
Awardees will be required to provide sixth month milestones, and have bi-annual discussions with the Alzheimer’s Association. Annual scientific progress and financial reports are required. Continuation of the grant over the awarded duration is contingent upon meeting the scientific milestones, and upon timely receipt of scientific and financial reports.
Budget
A budget summary for the proposed research project is required and must be submitted with the application and within the allowable page limits. However, if the application is to be awarded, a more detailed budget will be required and must be approved before the disbursement of funds. Your budget must not exceed the maximum amount of the award, $800,000 over two or three years.
Costs not allowed under this award include:
- Tuition
- Computer hardware or software for investigators
- Rent for laboratory/office spaces
- Construction or renovation costs
For more information
Contact [email protected].
Made possible through the generous funding from Part the Cloud, benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association.