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. We encourage researchers from a wide range of backgrounds to apply, and welcome projects focused on groups at increased risk of dementia. Applicant must have PI status at the time of award (April 2026).
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.
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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 each (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
Application
- Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline is 11:59 p.m. CT on February 27, 2026
- Individuals who are invited to submit a full Developmental Project Award application, including a budget, will be provided details and must apply by 11:59 p.m. CT on March 13, 2026
- Applications will be peer-reviewed for feasibility and scientific merit. Summarized reviews will be provided to applicants
- Award decisions will be communicated to applicants by March 31, 2026
- Funding will be available starting in April 2026
Letter of Intent Process
- Applicants will submit LOI in the submission portal (REDCap)
- Data entry in the portal includes the following:
- Project title
- Applicant name, credentials, title, department (and school or identify the VA if outside SMPH)
- Scientific abstract, including aims
- In addition, upload a single-page letter or more information in the portal. The letter or data entry must address the following:
- How your aims align with the aims and objectives of the ADRC
- Which ADRC resources you are requesting
- ADRC faculty collaborators and/or collaborations with ADRC cores and/or REC
- How this funding may lead to future funding
- LOIs will be reviewed and select applicants will be invited to submit a complete application. The full application will be due by 11:59 p.m. CT on March 13, 2026.
Application Process
- If invited to apply, the full application will be submitted through the portal (REDCap)
- The following information will need to be uploaded in the portal:
- Budget including justification (budget can be for one or two years, but the award will only be for the first year)
- Biosketch
- Research plan (max four pages)
Reporting Requirements
Awardee will be asked to present their project at the ADRC Executive Committee meeting at the onset and upon completion. Participation in additional meetings to update 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.
Important Deadlines and Timeline
Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline is February 27, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. CT
March 13, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. CT: Full application due from individuals invited to submit
March 2026: Award notifications to applicants
April 2026: Funding cycle begins
January 2027: Year one progress report due (year two funding decisions made)
Please email Nicole Smialek with any questions regarding Developmental Projects.
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"
