Translational Therapeutics Core (TTC) Scholar Award

Request For Applications: 2024 TTC Scholar Award

Up to $75,000 for 1 year

Application Due: TBD in 2024

The Cleveland Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (CADRC) is a collaborative effort of physicians and investigators from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF), MetroHealth System (MHS), University Hospitals (UH), and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (LSCVAMC), with a mission to foster excellence in research and facilitate discovery in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

The Translational Therapeutics Core (TTC) of the CADRC aims to accelerate preclinical development of new therapeutics or diagnostics for AD and AD-related dementias (ADRD).

The TTC scholar award is designed to support established investigators in their efforts to develop new treatments for AD / ADRD. The award recipient must work full time at one of the CADRC component institutions, and be directing their own research program.

To increase diversity in the field, the following factors are considered:

  1. Evidence of unique and accomplished research skills and competencies in scientific and medical domains outside of AD / ADRD are highly encouraged.
  2. Within the scope of well-qualified proposals, preference is given to supporting junior full time faculty operating their own independent laboratory (i.e. non-tenured assistant professor), especially those who identify as being from an under-represented ethnic / racial or LBGTQ+ group in science.

Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with TTC Leader Dr. Andrew Pieper (aap143@case.edu) in advance of submission.

Required application materials should be combined into one PDF in the following order, using NIH guidelines on margin and font type and size, and emailed to TTC coordinator Coral Cintrón-Pérez (ttc@clevelandadrc.org).

  1. Cover Page containing title of project, name of PI, names of any collaborators, scientific abstract of proposal (no more than 250 words), and graphical abstract of proposal (no more than ½ page).
  2. NIH style Biosketches of PI and any collaborators.
  3. NIH style Other Support page of PI and any collaborators.
  4. Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Data, and Research Approach, and Timeline (not to exceed 3 pages of written text with NIH guidelines on margin and font type and size; up to 3 pages of additional preliminary data figures are also welcomed).
  5. Statement on what the expected impact of the research will be on the AD/ADRD field (not to exceed ½ page with NIH guidelines on margin and font type and size).
  6. Statement of how favorable results of the proposed research will strategically position the PI for successful next steps in therapeutic or diagnostic development, or in competing for subsequent NIH, DOD, or VA style grant support.
  7. Letters of support
  8. Budget
  9. Evidence of IACUC or IRC approval (or pending approval)

Projects that utilize data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC; https://www.alz.washington.edu/) or biospecimens from the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD; https://ncrad.iu.edu/) also are encouraged.

All applications will be reviewed by the TTC Directors Committee with the assistance of appropriate experts in the field. One TTC scholar is selected per year.

Selected scholars will be expected to present their work at CADRC meetings and submit a progress report near the end of Year One. If needed, a no-cost extension of funds at that time will be considered.