The Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART) Fund

The Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART) Fund was established in 1995 by Rotary clubs in the southeastern United States with the support of the American Federation for Aging Research. Since 1999, CART has awarded over $14 million in funding to research centers across the United States, supporting early-stage, high-potential research into Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The primary mission of CART is to foster innovative and exploratory biomedical research that may not yet be supported by extensive preliminary data but shows promise for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of AD. The CART Fund encourages investigators to submit proposals for novel research projects that move beyond well-established scientific directions unless clearly aimed at extending previous findings into new applications. Proposals should emphasize innovative hypotheses, well-defined specific aims, and robust experimental designs. CART supports only new projects and excludes those already receiving funding from other regular or program grants. It also disqualifies applicants from for-profit entities or from institutions outside the United States. Eligibility for the program is restricted to full-time faculty or those with equivalent status at U.S.-based public and private institutions, including universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories. Awards may span up to two years and provide direct costs up to $500,000, with no provision for indirect costs. Beginning in 2026, each applicant is limited to submitting one Letter-of-Intent (LOI) per grant cycle. The LOI must clearly communicate the study's importance and feasibility and adhere to specific page and content guidelines. The 2025–2026 application cycle begins with the LOI submission deadline on December 5, 2025. Finalists will be notified by January 9, 2026, and will then be invited to submit full grant applications by February 13, 2026. Award notifications will be issued by March 31, 2026. The scientific review group will triage LOIs and select up to 15 finalists. These finalists will be reviewed in detail, and the final awards will be determined by the CART Fund Grant Selection Committee. Historically, CART awards 3 to 5 grants annually, including at least one top award of $500,000. Applicants must submit their LOI as a PDF via email to Dr. Sarah K. Goforth at skgoforth@gmail.com. The LOI should include contact information, project hypothesis and specific aims, experimental design, potential future directions, a biographical statement, a publication list, and references. Additional inquiries should be directed to Dr. Goforth via email. A more detailed description of the 2026 process is available for download through the provided announcement document.

Submit only one LOI; best science only; clarity in design and feasibility will be reviewed