Advancing Research on Neurological Diseases Broadly Related to Dementia
Application deadline: December 15, 2026
Maximum funding request: $50,000 per project
Project duration: One year
Proposal narrative limit: Five pages
Purpose
The Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute invites proposals for innovative neuroscience research addressing neurological diseases, including—but not limited to—Batten disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other forms of dementia.
This funding opportunity seeks to support promising research that generates new knowledge, advances prevention, diagnosis, or treatment, and delivers meaningful benefits to people affected by dementia-related neurological diseases, as well as their families, caregivers, and communities.
The funding is intended to serve as a catalyst for larger-scale research. Successful projects should ideally generate the preliminary findings, interdisciplinary partnerships, and proof-of-concept evidence needed to compete for national and state research awards and especially prepare teams for potential future funding opportunities through the Dementia Prevention Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT).
Funding Support
Awards are made possible through the Rider Family Endowed Fund. The fund was established to support neuroscience research in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences that will have an impact on neurological diseases, including but not limited to Batten, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases.
Applicants may request up to $50,000 per project. Each funded project must be completed within a one-year project period. The proposed budget should be appropriate to the project’s scope and supported by a clear and compelling justification.
Eligibility
The primary applicant MUST be a full-time faculty member in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. Interdisciplinary teams within SMU, across the Dallas–Fort Worth area, and throughout the State of Texas are encouraged.
Research Priorities
Proposals may address neuroscience questions relevant to neurological health and disease as it pertains to Dementia, broadly defined. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to:
- Batten disease and other inherited neurological disorders
- Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
- Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
- Biological, neurological, and genetic mechanisms of disease
- Risk reduction and prevention
- Biomarkers, screening methods, and early diagnosis
- Innovative therapeutic targets, treatments, and interventions
- Brain–machine interfaces and related neuro-engineering technologies
- Neurotechnology, digital health tools, and large data-driven approaches
- Anthropological research on neurological health and disease, including cultural, social, behavioral, and community perspectives
- Clinical, translational, behavioral, or population-based research
- Health disparities related access to diagnosis, treatment, and care
- Models of care and support for people living with neurological diseases
- Research addressing the needs of families and caregivers
- Commercialization pathways for discoveries with clinical or societal potential
- The use of cutting-edge AI research to tackle neurological disorders
Early-stage, high-risk, and high-reward projects with the potential to establish new research directions are especially encouraged.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged to apply. Competitive proposals may bring together expertise in pertinent fields such as neuroscience, anthropology, biology, chemistry, physics, neurology, geriatrics, psychiatry, psychology, biomedical engineering, genetics, public health, behavioral science, data science, artificial intelligence, health economics, social work, and caregiving research.
Partnerships within SMU and with collaborators across the Dallas–Fort Worth area and the State of Texas are especially encouraged when they strengthen the scientific approach, improve the project’s potential for translation, or position the team for competitive external funding.
Use of Funds
Applicants should explain, where applicable, how the requested funding will:
- Advance the proposed neuroscience research
- Enable meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration
- Generate preliminary data or proof-of-concept findings
- Support clinical or translational development
- Advance technologies or interventions toward broader use
- Strengthen a future grant application for competitive national or state funding (especially prepare the research team for potential DPRIT funding, where relevant)
Allowable Expenses
Faculty may request support for research expenses, including but not limited to:
- Conference and collaboration travel
- Research staff/assistant funding
- Research supplies
- Equipment, software, books and other research materials
- Salaries and stipends for the principal investigator (may not exceed 10K)
Application Guidelines
Applications must be written in clear, accessible, language that can be understood by faculty from a wide variety of disciplines. Applicants should define specialized terminology and explain the broader significance of the proposed research.
The proposal narrative may not exceed five pages. The narrative should include:
- Project title and abstract
- Research aim(s) and methodology.
- Innovation and significance
- Expected outcomes and potential impact
- Translation or commercialization potential (where applicable)
- One-year project timeline (and milestones, if any)
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A brief Budget with justification (1/2 page maximum)
The proposal should include an appendix (not to exceed 2 pages) that includes the following:
Prior and current funding efforts, if any, including previous or pending attempts to support the research through grants or other funding
External funding plan, identifying prospective national or state sponsors and explaining how the proposed work will strengthen a future application, including potential DPRIT funding where appropriate
Description of the interdisciplinary team, including each member’s role, expertise, and institutional affiliation.
Additional Application Materials
In addition to the five-page proposal narrative and two-page appendix, applicants must submit:
- A current NSF- or NIH-style biosketch for the primary applicant
- Biosketches for key collaborators are not mandatory but the application should explain (in the appendix section) how the inclusion of collaborators leads to synergy.
Review Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated according to:
- Relevance to addressing dementia related neuroscience and neurological diseases
- Scientific merit, significance, and innovation
- Strength and complementarity of the interdisciplinary team
- Feasibility within the one-year project period
- Appropriateness and justification of the requested budget
- Potential clinical, scientific, public health, commercial, or societal impact
- Potential to strengthen interdisciplinary research related to neurological diseases
- Likelihood of generating strong preliminary results for competitive national or state awards (especially DPRIT funding)
Deadline
Complete proposals must be submitted as a single pdf file by December 15, 2026. Late or incomplete applications may not be considered. Applications should be submitted via email to the following address (DCInterdisciplinaryInstitute@smu.edu) and cc (eruss@smu.edu).