Accelerating Drug Discovery for FTD RFP

About this funding opportunity

There are currently no FDA approved disease-modifying treatments available for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and symptomatic treatments only provide limited benefit for patients. Recent scientific advances have provided an increased understanding of pathogenic mechanisms underlying FTD and are driving the development of potential disease-modifying therapies. The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) seek to accelerate this progress by supporting innovative small molecule and biologic (antibodies, oligonucleotides, peptides, gene therapy etc.) drug development programs for FTD through this request for proposals (RFP).

ADDF FUNDING PORTAL

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_Must be received by 5:00 pm ET on the deadline date._

Letter of Intent: Date has Passed

Invited Full Proposal: July 20, 2026 Average Duration

One year with potential for follow-on funding. Average Award

$300,000 based on stage and scope of research. Eligibility

Funding is open to researchers and clinicians in the U.S. and worldwide working in: Academic medical centers and universities or nonprofits. Industry partnerships are encouraged. Biotechnology companies that demonstrate a clear need for nonprofit funding. Existing companies and new spinouts are both eligible.

_Because of our Venture Philanthropy model, all funding provided by the ADDF is through mission-related investments (MRIs) that require return on investment based upon scientific and/or business milestones. Return on investment can include equity, convertible notes or royalties and are determined on a case-by-case basis._

Please review our Funding Policies before applying. Funding Priorities

The RFP supports: Lead optimization of novel disease-modifying compounds, including medicinal chemistry refinement and in vitro ADME. _In vivo_ testing of novel lead compounds, biologics, vaccines or repurposed drug candidates in relevant animal models for pharmacokinetics, dose-range finding, target engagement, in vivo efficacy, and/or preliminary rodent tolerability studies.

_This RFP does NOT support target identification, target validation, assay development, high-throughput and high-content screening. IND-enabling work is supported through ADDF’s Drug Development RFP._ Drug Targets

Current target areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Autophagy Epigenetics Genetic Causes of Disease ( _C9ORF72, MAPT, GRN, etc._) Inflammation Misfolded proteins (TDP-43, tau, FUS etc.) Mitochondria & Metabolic Function Neuroprotection Proteostasis RNA metabolism and splicing Stress granule formation and liquid-liquid phase separation Synaptic Activity & Neurotransmitters

Other novel targets or pathways that are supported by compelling evidence that demonstrate a rational biological connection to FTD are encouraged. Expectations Novel Drugs

The strongest applications will test a compound that has met many or all of the following criteria: Chemical structures of hits and leads have been assessed for structural liabilities Novel composition of matter patents have been filed or plans to generate novel composition of matter intellectual property (IP) have been developed Repurposed/Repositioned Drugs

The strongest applications will test a repurposed or repositioned drug that has met many or all of the following criteria: The known side effects of the drug and how well they would be tolerated by the intended FTD population have been evaluated A supplier has been identified that will provide sufficient quantities of the drug or compound to complete the study aims Plans to develop novel IP around the repurposing/repositioning strategy have been considered Preclinical Efficacy Studies

Applications that include preclinical efficacy studies should: Provide data demonstrating blood-brain barrier penetration (if the intended target is in the CNS) Justify dose, route of administration, and regimen with in vivo PK/PD data. If this data is…

Topic areas: Life Sciences and Health.

Funding amount

This grant provides Varies in funding.

Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; there is no single fixed deadline.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Not specified by the program.

Eligibility

The program did not publish a separate eligibility statement. See the official opportunity page for the full eligibility criteria.

Agency

Accelerating Drug Discovery for FTD RFP is administered by Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), listed via Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation.