Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is a non-profit foundation created in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder to accelerate the development of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s disease. As the only charity solely focused on finding drugs for Alzheimer’s, it plays a dedicated role in advancing therapeutic and diagnostic innovation worldwide.

The ADDF follows a venture philanthropy model: it makes mission-driven investments rather than traditional grants, and any financial returns are recycled back into its scientific programs. According to its own figures, the foundation has awarded nearly $394 million to support 792 Alzheimer’s drug development, biomarker and prevention programs in 21 countries, building one of the largest and most diverse clinical development portfolios in the field.

The foundation targets projects across academia and the biotech industry that are often too early or too risky to attract conventional pharmaceutical or government funding. A core focus is on the “biology of aging” and non-amyloid mechanisms, including neuroinflammation, vascular dysfunction, synapse loss and other age-related pathways. Its portfolio spans small molecules, biologics, diagnostics such as PET tracers and blood tests, and digital biomarkers.

Through dedicated funding opportunities and co-branded programs such as therapeutics funding streams and scholar programs with partners, the ADDF supports discovery, preclinical and clinical-stage projects. Many ADDF-backed concepts have progressed into phase 2 trials, and notable investments include early support for Amyvid™ PET imaging, PrecivityAD™ blood testing and the Diagnostics Accelerator companies like Altoida.

The ADDF emphasizes rigorous scientific review and strategic risk-taking. By assuming early-stage risk, it aims to de-risk promising ideas so they can attract substantial follow-on capital. The foundation reports that investigators supported by ADDF have subsequently secured more than $3 billion in commitments from government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms, underscoring the catalytic nature of its funding.

As a GuideStar-rated 501(c)(3) charity based in New York, the ADDF publishes detailed annual reports, IRS Form 990 filings and audited financial statements. These documents describe its research portfolio, funding allocations and impact metrics. This transparency, combined with clear funding deadlines and program descriptions, positions the ADDF as a key, accountable funder within the global Alzheimer’s research ecosystem.