LOI Deadline: October 9, 2020
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation welcomes Letters of Intent for its Neuroimaging and CSF Biomarker Development Program.
According to ADDF, the RFP is focused on developing novel PET ligands for clinical use; supporting novel CSF biomarkers; and validating established MRI approaches in larger cohorts. Novel biomarkers of neuroinflammation and synaptic integrity are considered a high priority. Other target areas of interest include neuronal loss, vascular injury and blood-brain barrier integrity, mitochondria and metabolic function, protein misfolding/proteostasis, oxidative stress, white matter changes, and other novel targets supported by compelling biological rationale and connection to disease. ADDF has limited interest in CSF measures of amyloid and tau.
Grants of up to $600,000 will be awarded in support of the advancement of neuroimaging and CSF biomarkers that can do one or more of the following:
Demonstrate Target Engagement for Novel Therapeutics — Biomarkers that can serve as direct measures of target engagement for novel drugs in clinical development. Priority will be given to projects advancing biomarkers that can be used as specific companion biomarkers for therapies currently in the development pipeline; identification of such therapies will strengthen an application.
Detect Signs of Disease Earlier and Monitor Progression — Programs aimed at developing sensitive biomarkers that can detect disease earlier than currently available biomarkers. This includes biomarkers that can predict and monitor conversion from cognitively healthy to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or MCI to Alzheimer’s disease. ADDF also seeks prognostic markers that can predict rates of cognitive decline.
More Accurately Diagnose and Distinguish Between Dementia Subtypes — Many types of dementia can present with similar clinical features, and patients often show overlapping pathologies. At present, it is challenging to distinguish between dementia subtypes and proteinopathies. Biomarkers that can distinguish between subtypes and stratify patients in clinical trials are a high priority.
Eligible applicants include researchers and clinicians at academic medical centers, universities, nonprofits, and biotechnology companies worldwide. Existing companies and new spinouts also are eligible, and industry partnerships are strongly encouraged.
Letters of Intent are due October 9. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by November 6, 2020.
See the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation website for complete program details, eligibility criteria, and a link to the application portal.Link to complete RFP