The Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Developmental Project Award offers up to $120,000 to support a feasibility study targeting Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) research. Proposals may range from basic or biomedical to translational, epidemiological, caregiving, or social behavioral research. Clinical trials are excluded.
Funding is available to all researchers within the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with priority given to early-stage faculty and postdoctoral trainees. Established researchers new to ADRD research and those with a new hypothesis that is not an extension of already ongoing research are also welcome to apply. Applications from underrepresented groups are encouraged. The applicant must have PI status at the time of the award.
Developmental projects should align with the aims of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. Priority will be given to investigators who leverage the use of Wisconsin ADRC or National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) data or biological samples from the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD) as part of their research plan.
Details
The Wisconsin ADRC supports one award of up to $60,000 annually in direct costs per project with a duration of one year. If there is sufficient progress, the second year may be awarded up to $60,000 (up to $120,000 max over two years).
- No indirect costs will be supported
- PI must have a doctoral degree and a UW or VA appointment
- Clinical trials are excluded
Reporting Requirements
Each awardee will be asked to present their project at the Wisconsin ADRC Executive Committee meeting at the onset and upon completion. Participation in additional meetings to update Wisconsin ADRC key leadership on progress to date is required, as requested. Annual progress reports are required in January of each year of funding. Additional reporting requests may be made during the grant cycle.
Please email Nicole Smialek with any questions regarding Developmental Projects.
Updated 1/24/25
Funded Awardees and Projects
2025–2027
Jeffrey Nirschl, MD, PhD
“Developing Robust, Fair, and Scalable AI for Deep Neuropathology Phenotyping in ADRC”
2023–2025
Starr Cameron, MS, BVetMed, DACVIM and LaTasha Crawford, VMD, PhD, DACVP
“Defining pathologic and molecular correlates of a spontaneous feline model of dementia”
Melissa Rosenkranz, PhD
"Validation and Optimization of a Novel Brain Imaging Approach to Measuring Glial Activation”
Nader Sheibani, PhD
“Ocular Vascular Changes as Potential Early Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers”
Read more about the 2023-2025 Developmental Projects.
2021–2023
Laura Eisenmenger, MD
"Eliciting the Role of Vascular Wall Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s"
Kevin Eliceiri, PhD and Tyler Ulland, PhD
"Label free quantitative imaging of the amyloid plaque cellular microenvironment in Alzheimer’s"
Adrienne L. Johnson, PhD
"ADRD Prevention Messaging to Increase Smoking Cessation Attempts in Older Adults"
Read more about the 2021-2023 Developmental Projects.
2019–2021
Kimberly D. Mueller, PhD
"Connected Speech and Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers: Investigating an Ecologically Valid Measure of Language and Cognition"
Joshua J. Coon, PhD
"Learning Cures for Alzheimer's Disease with Multiomics and Artificial Intelligence"
