The 2009 AFAR Research Grants The Program The major goal of this program is to assist in the development of the careers of junior investigators committed to pursuing careers in the field of aging research. AFAR supports research projects concerned with understanding the basic mechanisms of aging. Projects investigating age-related diseases are also supported, especially if approached from the point of view of how basic aging processes may lead to these outcomes. Projects concerning mechanisms underlying common geriatric functional disorders are also encouraged, as long as these include connections to fundamental problems in the biology of aging. Projects that deal strictly with clinical problems such as the diagnosis and treatment of disease, health outcomes, or the social context of aging are not eligible. Examples of promising areas of research include: Aging and immune function Genetic Control of longevity Neurobiology and neuropathology of aging* Invertebrate or vertebrate animal models Cardiovascular aging Aging and cellular stress resistance Metabolic and endocrine changes Age-related changes in cell proliferation Caloric restriction and aging DNA repair and control of gene expression Biology of the menopause Aging and apoptosis Biodemographic analysis of aging Comparative gerontology Evolutionary biological aspects of the biology of aging *Applicants proposing a project in Alzheimer's Disease research, should apply for the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Alzheimer's Disease. (This program is currently under review for renewal in 2009.) It is anticipated that approximately 15 grants of up to $75,000 each will be awarded in 2009. Applicants may propose to use the award over the course of one or two years as justified by the proposed research. Funds may not be requested for overhead or indirect costs. Funding will begin July 1, 2009. Recipients of this award are expected to attend the AFAR Grantee Conference. The purpose of the meeting is to promote scientific and personal exchanges among recent AFAR grantees and experts in aging research. Eligibility The applicant must be an independent investigator with assigned independent space and must be within the first four years of a junior faculty appointment (instructor, assistant professor or equivalent) by July 1, 2009. The AFAR Research Grant Program does not provide support for: Postdoctoral fellows in the laboratory of a senior investigator Investigators who have already received major extramural funding for research on aging (such as an R01 grant) Senior faculty, i.e. at the rank of Associate Professor level or higher Former AFAR Research Grant recipients NIH Intramural program employees Applicants for the 2009 Glenn/AFAR Breakthrough in Gerontology (BIG) award Application Guidelines
Four criteria are used to determine the merit of an application: Qualifications of the applicant; Quality of the proposed research; Excellence of the research environment; Likelihood that the project will advance the applicant's career in aging research. If you are using animals in your research, please review Principles of Animal Use for Gerontological Research. Application Procedures All candidates must submit applications endorsed by their institution (only not-for-profit settings in the United States.) The deadline for receipt of all applications and supporting materials is December 16, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Please refer to the AFAR instruction sheet and application for complete application procedures. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Applications are reviewed in two stages: The initial screening takes place in mid-April, after which candidates are advised of the status of their applications via email. A final decision about grant awards is made in early June. The award start date is July 1, 2009. AFAR can provide critiques only for those applications that are reviewed, at the second stage, by their Review Committee. Reporting Requirements Investigators will be required to submit a brief narrative report on the progress of their research five months after the start date of the award. Final narrative and financial reports are required within three months following the end date of the award. American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) | 55 West 39th Street, 16th Floor | New York, NY 10018 Phone: (212) 703-9977 | Toll-free: (888) 582-2327 | Fax: (212) 997-0330 E-mail: grants@afar.org or info@afar.org
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