AIRMA seeks to fund Alzheimer's research projects

Association Internationale pour la Recherche sur la Maladie d'Alzheimer (AIRMA) now is taking applications for funding from French-based scientific teams studying Alzheimer's disease, announced Janet R. Michaels, the organization’s chairwoman.

“Association Internationale pour la Recherche sur la Maladie d’Alzheimer is looking forward to providing funding for French-based scientific teams conducting research on Alzheimer’s disease,” Michaels said. “We are committed to funding research to assist with the treatment and can only hope that this research will lead to finding a cure for this devastating disease that affects more than 850,000 people in France each year.”

AIRMA is offering grants to scientific teams conducting biomedical research and fundamental research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Grants will be awarded for a maximum of 40,000 euros a year for a two-year period. The grant can be used for staff, equipment or supplies and will be available as soon as November 2007.

The deadline for 2006-2007 grant applications is June 8, 2007. Interested research teams are encouraged to send inquiries via e-mail to [email protected].

Eligible candidates must have previous experience with Alzheimer’s disease research and must be working currently on this subject matter at a French institution. Different candidates from the same laboratory may apply; however, the scientific projects must concern different approaches. Innovative approaches and younger researchers are encouraged to apply.

The grants will be awarded based upon their scientific merit and relevance to improving the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. An independent international scientific committee will review all applications.

Early 2007, AIRMA awarded grants to Pr. Pascale Barberger-Gateau, M.D., Ph.D. of Inserm U593 (Bordeaux, France), and Dr. Bernadette Allinquant, Ph.D. of centre Paul Broca (Paris, France). The Bordeaux research team will receive 40,000 euros for one year and the Paris group has been awarded a one-year grant for 40,000 euros.

Furthermore, in 2007 AIRMA awarded a special fund to Dr. André Delacourte’s Brain Bank of INSERM U 815 (Lille, France). The 25,000 euros will be used for material maintenance and perform specific tests on Alzheimer’s disease brain samples.

Since its inception in May 2003, AIRMA has awarded more than 450,000 euros to research teams in France. Among the institutions awarded in the past are INSERM U422 (Lille, France), INSERM U573 (Paris, France), INSERM U593 (Bordeaux, France), Institut Pasteur (Lille, France), Inserm U661 (Montpellier, France) and University of Poitiers, medical school (Poitiers, France).