Funding Announcements

The REC Core of the BU ADRC is excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2025–2026 cohort of the REC Scholars Program! This prestigious opportunity offers early-career investigators in Alzheimer’s and dementia research $10,000 in grant funding, along with a structured platform for educational and professional development.

If you or someone you know is interested, please review the eligibility criteria and submission instructions below.

ELIGIBILITY: Early career researchers, junior faculty, and advanced postdoctoral fellows including those new to Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) are encouraged to submit Letters of Interest. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for funding. Selected applicants will undergo mentored research experiences that develop state-of-the-art research skills related to ADRD. Individuals from underrepresented groups and fields outside of ADRD are encouraged to apply.

FUNDING: Applicants will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 per year. Funds may be used for salary, fringe benefits, coursework, travel, and research project-related expenses.

SELECTION CRITERIA: An overview of all applicants’ proposed research will be reviewed by the committee briefly outlining the following:

• Specific Aims
• Significance
• Relevance to Boston University ADRC Mission

Any literature cited may be appended. The proposed research plan plus an NIH-style Biosketch of the candidate will be reviewed by a committee for final selection.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES: Please submit your application through this application form by July 1, 2025.

For questions or to connect with a current REC Scholar, contact Ritushree Dutta at rdutta@bu.edu.

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The Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) has invited BU to participate in their MRL Scientific Engagement and Emerging Discovery Science (SEEDS) Program as one of a select group of eight institutions. The program will provide BU faculty investigators with funding up to $200,000 (direct plus F&A) and access to MRL scientists to advance the most innovative discoveries for therapeutic targets, pathways and technologies. This opportunity is open to only BU faculty who submit grants through BU. Consult the BUMC Home Institution Finder if you are uncertain whether to submit through BU or BMC.

Initial, non-confidential pre-proposals must be submitted to Industry Engagement at engagebu@bu.edu for review by Wednesday, July 16, 2025 to allow for internal review prior to formal submission to MRL by Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Pre-proposals should be in the format required by MRL using this linked template. Please also include a budget using the BU internal budget template for non-federal sponsors.

The strongest proposals with the most compelling cases to experimentally address areas relevant for the discovery and development of protein and antibody therapeutics will be considered for funding including but not limited to the following biologics domains of strategic intent that are of most interest to MRL:

• Engineered antibody frameworks/constructs multi-specifics (geometry, avidity, robustness of assembly); reusable design modules or mutations (e.g., cell/tissue/organ targeting); cellular barrier translocation or penetration (including oral bio availability/blood brain barrier/intracellular delivery); half-life extension, effector function modulation; diversity of hits/starting points.
• Protein expression technologies; vectors, cell lines, in-vitro transcription and translation; incorporation of non-natural amino acids: platforms and technologies to reach the top candidates faster and better.
• Platforms for antibody screening utilizing miniaturization, microfluidics, multiplexing readouts High throughput measurements to select antibody winners and rapidly eliminate hits with poor properties.
• Antibody in silico design/prediction Artificial intelligence/Machine Learning; advanced physics or structure-based methods to predict properties for leads with drug development characteristics.
• Protein engineering approaches for conditionally activated biologic therapeutics.
• Bioconjugate strategies addressing acquired resistance, treatment-related adverse effects including noncytotoxic payloads.

MRL will invite and work with a selection of pre-proposals to develop and submit a full proposal in early Aug.

Please reach out to Industry Engagement at engagebu@bu.edu for questions and materials required for proposal submission.

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