Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration Invite Scientists to Apply for FTD Biomarkers Grants

News provided by

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Jun 15, 2011, 10:00 ET

NEW YORK, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) invite scientists from academia and the biotechnology industry worldwide to apply for research grants to develop Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)-specific biomarkers that reflect pathological and clinical differences so that appropriate patients can be selected for clinical trials and responses to investigational treatments can be monitored.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090805/DC57332LOGO)

The ADDF and AFTD are particularly interested in defining and validating clinical outcomes for FTD subpopulations for use in clinical trials; FTD-relevant imaging agents; CSF- and plasma-based assays; and TDP-43 and tau-focused biomarkers specifically relevant to FTD populations

The ADDF/AFTD Biomarker Program will provide funding for up to $150,000 each with the possibility of follow-on funding. Applications may be submitted by non-profit academic institutions and for-profit biotechnology companies, both public and private, worldwide. Please note that funding to biotechnology companies is typically made as a program-related investment.

Applications are available at www.alzdiscovery.org. Interested parties should submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by August 25, 2011. The application submission deadline date is September 8, 2011.

Applications will be reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee convened by ADDF/AFTD and comprised of leading experts in the neurodegenerative disease drug discovery and development research field and biotechnology investment community. Selections will be made in Spring 2012.

About the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is the only public charity whose sole mission is to accelerate the discovery and development of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease, related dementias and cognitive aging. Since 1998, the ADDF has granted more than $50 million to fund over 325 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs in academic centers and biotechnology companies in 19 countries. For more information about the ADDF, please visit www.alzdiscovery.org.

About the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and fund research into finding the cause and cure for the frontotemporal degeneration; to provide information, education, and support to persons diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and their families and caregivers; and to educate physicians and allied health professionals about FTD. In addition to providing funding for this drug discovery program, AFTD continues to fund basic and clinical research that is essential to improving our understanding of this relatively rare, but significant disease. For more information about AFTD, visit www.theaftd.org.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation