The Kissick Family Foundation Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Grant Program will fund a second cohort of research to understand the fundamental biology of why and how sporadic forms of FTD develop. In partnership with the Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC), the program seeks to broaden the foundational knowledge of FTD to spur diagnostic and therapeutic advancements. SPARC is now accepting applications for two-year projects to conduct basic or early-stage translational research on this topic.
About the Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Kissick Family Foundation Frontotemporal Dementia Grant Program intends to award up to five two-year research grants led by doctoral-level investigators at qualifying research-based institutions worldwide. Projects will be eligible for up to $500,000 in funding over two years, inclusive of indirect costs.
Please download the RFP for further details.
To be eligible for this opportunity, a one-page Letter of Intent is due by Monday, November 3, 2025. Full proposals for selected applicants are due Monday, February 9, 2026. All materials should be submitted on this page through the program's SurveyMonkey Apply portal.
To learn more about this opportunity, researchers are invited to join an informational webinar on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 11 a.m. EST. A registration link for the webinar can be found here.
About FTD
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a family of neurodegenerative conditions that cause changes in behavior, mood, executive function, language, memory, and motor function. Based on brain pathology, FTD could account for as many as 10-20% of all dementia cases. The disease is underdiagnosed, and a true global prevalence estimate is hindered by a general lack of awareness and the complex nature of its detection. The hallmark trait of FTD is a progressive deterioration of the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, but clear biomarkers or FTD-specific treatments have not been developed. Research into FTD linked to the known autosomal dominant genetic variants GRN, MAPT, and C9orf drives most of the current scientific development. Yet only about 25-30% of patients have identified genetic causes, pointing to the need for targeted research to understand sporadic FTD that occurs outside of the autosomal dominant forms.
Scientific Scope
The Kissick Family Foundation aims to accelerate basic discoveries, expedite novel treatment options, and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes for people living with FTD. A broad range of topics are responsive to this call. For example, proposals may target the disease’s basic biology, develop and validate biomarkers that can be used to diagnose and track disease progression more effectively, or preclinically assess novel therapeutic targets.
All responsive applications must examine factors that are not exclusive to the autosomal dominant genetic pathways and instead must have clear relevance to sporadic FTD. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that genetically autosomal dominant and sporadic FTD share common biological processes, such as pathological protein aggregation, impaired cellular waste management, and neuroinflammation; further study of these and other cellular mechanisms is in scope for this program and may accelerate discovery in all forms of FTD research. This RFP is focused on sporadic FTD, but projects may include the use of GRN, MAPT, or C9orf72 models with justification on how findings will inform sporadic FTD beyond known genetic causes. The Kissick Family Foundation encourages applications targeting any proteinopathies or molecular subtypes of sporadic FTD. We recognize that insights from rarer proteinopathies may also advance understanding of broader FTD mechanisms.
We will prioritize proposals that use intentionally creative approaches and interrogate emerging hypotheses to advance the fundamental understanding of sporadic FTD. Informed by the current state of the field, example topics include but are not restricted to:
- Microglia and other non-neuronal cells implicated in FTD pathogenesis.
- Interactions between co-pathologies and their influence on disease progression.
- Clinical biomarkers—including fluid (e.g., cerebrospinal fluid, blood, imaging-based, proteomic, and genetic markers—to support early diagnosis, disease staging, patient stratification, and progression monitoring.
- Synaptic dysfunction and alterations in neural circuitry as early contributors to FTD pathogenesis.
- Innovative approaches to identify novel genetic risk factors and/or disease pathways implicated in sporadic FTD.
- Proteinopathies and molecular subtypes that define distinct forms of FTD and inform targeted therapeutic development.
- Computational approaches, including AI and machine learning, to uncover hidden patterns in complex datasets, enhance biomarker discovery, and enable predictive modeling of FTD.
- Neuroimaging techniques that enable tracking of FTD-related changes in living tissue.
This list of topics should be considered non-exhaustive and illustrative; we welcome any novel, insightful, and high-quality research that advances our understanding of sporadic FTD.
We also encourage applicants from outside traditional FTD research domains or disciplinary origins, including investigators working with emerging technologies, novel tools, or methodologies that could be applied to FTD even if not previously used in this context. This includes, but is not limited to, researchers in computational biology, imaging, AI/machine learning, immunology, structural biology, systems neuroscience, and biophysics. Regardless of the applicant’s discipline, representation on the investigative team should include sufficient knowledge of FTD biology.
Finally, the Kissick Family Foundation advocates for a growing FTD research ecosystem and therefore encourages newly independent investigators to apply.
Kissick Family Foundation Frontotemporal Dementia Grant Program
The Kissick Family Foundation Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Grant Program will fund a second cohort of research to understand the fundamental biology of why and how sporadic forms of FTD develop. In partnership with the Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC), the program seeks to broaden the foundational knowledge of FTD to spur diagnostic and therapeutic advancements. SPARC is now accepting applications for two-year projects to conduct basic or early-stage translational research on this topic.
About the Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Kissick Family Foundation Frontotemporal Dementia Grant Program intends to award up to five two-year research grants led by doctoral-level investigators at qualifying research-based institutions worldwide. Projects will be eligible for up to $500,000 in funding over two years, inclusive of indirect costs.
Please download the RFP for further details.
To be eligible for this opportunity, a one-page Letter of Intent is due by Monday, November 3, 2025. Full proposals for selected applicants are due Monday, February 9, 2026. All materials should be submitted on this page through the program's SurveyMonkey Apply portal.
To learn more about this opportunity, researchers are invited to join an informational webinar on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 11 a.m. EST. A registration link for the webinar can be found here.
About FTD
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a family of neurodegenerative conditions that cause changes in behavior, mood, executive function, language, memory, and motor function. Based on brain pathology, FTD could account for as many as 10-20% of all dementia cases. The disease is underdiagnosed, and a true global prevalence estimate is hindered by a general lack of awareness and the complex nature of its detection. The hallmark trait of FTD is a progressive deterioration of the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, but clear biomarkers or FTD-specific treatments have not been developed. Research into FTD linked to the known autosomal dominant genetic variants GRN, MAPT, and C9orf drives most of the current scientific development. Yet only about 25-30% of patients have identified genetic causes, pointing to the need for targeted research to understand sporadic FTD that occurs outside of the autosomal dominant forms.
Scientific Scope
The Kissick Family Foundation aims to accelerate basic discoveries, expedite novel treatment options, and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes for people living with FTD. A broad range of topics are responsive to this call. For example, proposals may target the disease’s basic biology, develop and validate biomarkers that can be used to diagnose and track disease progression more effectively, or preclinically assess novel therapeutic targets.
All responsive applications must examine factors that are not exclusive to the autosomal dominant genetic pathways and instead must have clear relevance to sporadic FTD. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that genetically autosomal dominant and sporadic FTD share common biological processes, such as pathological protein aggregation, impaired cellular waste management, and neuroinflammation; further study of these and other cellular mechanisms is in scope for this program and may accelerate discovery in all forms of FTD research. This RFP is focused on sporadic FTD, but projects may include the use of GRN, MAPT, or C9orf72 models with justification on how findings will inform sporadic FTD beyond known genetic causes. The Kissick Family Foundation encourages applications targeting any proteinopathies or molecular subtypes of sporadic FTD. We recognize that insights from rarer proteinopathies may also advance understanding of broader FTD mechanisms.
We will prioritize proposals that use intentionally creative approaches and interrogate emerging hypotheses to advance the fundamental understanding of sporadic FTD. Informed by the current state of the field, example topics include but are not restricted to:
- Microglia and other non-neuronal cells implicated in FTD pathogenesis.
- Interactions between co-pathologies and their influence on disease progression.
- Clinical biomarkers—including fluid (e.g., cerebrospinal fluid, blood, imaging-based, proteomic, and genetic markers—to support early diagnosis, disease staging, patient stratification, and progression monitoring.
- Synaptic dysfunction and alterations in neural circuitry as early contributors to FTD pathogenesis.
- Innovative approaches to identify novel genetic risk factors and/or disease pathways implicated in sporadic FTD.
- Proteinopathies and molecular subtypes that define distinct forms of FTD and inform targeted therapeutic development.
- Computational approaches, including AI and machine learning, to uncover hidden patterns in complex datasets, enhance biomarker discovery, and enable predictive modeling of FTD.
- Neuroimaging techniques that enable tracking of FTD-related changes in living tissue.
This list of topics should be considered non-exhaustive and illustrative; we welcome any novel, insightful, and high-quality research that advances our understanding of sporadic FTD.
We also encourage applicants from outside traditional FTD research domains or disciplinary origins, including investigators working with emerging technologies, novel tools, or methodologies that could be applied to FTD even if not previously used in this context. This includes, but is not limited to, researchers in computational biology, imaging, AI/machine learning, immunology, structural biology, systems neuroscience, and biophysics. Regardless of the applicant’s discipline, representation on the investigative team should include sufficient knowledge of FTD biology.
Finally, the Kissick Family Foundation advocates for a growing FTD research ecosystem and therefore encourages newly independent investigators to apply.