The University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded ADCC in the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center (CNDR) and the Institute for Medicine and Engineering (IME) will join together in funding three pilot projects on biomedical, epidemiological or behavioral research in basic science or clinical areas each at a level of up to $20,000/year (for personnel and supplies costs, but not equipment). These one-year, non-renewable grants support pilot research projects on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis or management of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type or related conditions. The purpose is to assist faculty in obtaining preliminary data to serve as the basis of a grant application to the NIH or other public or private agencies concerned with this important medical and social problem. The previous year’s awards and application instructions may be found on the CNDR website www.uphs.upenn.edu/cndr/.

A committee representing both the Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the Institute for Medicine and Engineering will review all proposals and funding, depending not only on scientific merit, but also on the likelihood that the pilots will lead to independent investigator-initiated proposals. Priority will be given to:

• faculty in the early stages of their career who seek to enter the Alzheimer’s Disease research arena

• Senior faculty who intend to shift their research emphasis towards neurodegenerative diseases

Applications should utilize the basic NIH PHS 398 form with a limit of five pages (exclusive of literature cited). The application submission deadline is April 30, 2005 and questions may be directed to Gayle Joseph, administrator, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), phone (215) 662-4708 or e-mail: viale@mail.med.upenn.edu.