Alzheimer's Disease Program Research Grants

Research Projects Awarded in 2019

On March 26, 2019, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Chronic Disease Control Branch, Alzheimer's Disease Program (ADP) announced its intent to award eleven research grants, ranging from 1 year to 5 years, totaling $21,055,000. For more information, please see list of Alzheimer's Disease Award (PDF) recipients and the research categories.

The purpose of the CDPH Alzheimer's Disease Research Awards Request for Application (RFA) (PDF, 1.2 MB) was to solicit competitive applications from eligible organizations to conduct research in connection to the study of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The amount available for the Alzheimer's Disease Program Grant Awards under this RFA is approximately $3,115,000, a year, beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. Funding is derived from the California State General Fund. The amount of the grant award is contingent upon appropriations by the California State Legislature and available State Funds. Carryover of these funds is not allowed.

CDPH's goal is that these projects lead to an advancement of knowledge regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, either in the academic or research field and to clinical implementation, including new treatment methodologies, or new detection and diagnosis innovations. CDPH would like to improve the capacity of the public health, health care delivery and long-term care services and support systems in California for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Additionally, a better understanding of underrepresented or disparate populations will assist in framing public health and long-term care services and support systems at the community level.

Alzheimer's Disease Program Research Grants - Background

Since 1985, CDPH Alzheimer's Disease Program has awarded $24 million to scientists engaged in the study of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. This research encompasses areas of basic science, diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, health disparities, behavioral management, drug therapies and caregiving.   

In 1984, California enacted legislation requiring the Department of Health Services (now CDPH) to administer a research grant program to help discover the cause, and the cure for, Alzheimer's disease.  In 1987, subsequent legislation created a tax "check-off" program, allowing taxpayers to designate a specified amount on their State tax returns (in excess of their tax liability), which are then transferred to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Research Fund.  In accordance with this legislation, the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency assigned administration of this tax "check-off" program to the Department of Health Services. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Research Fund (Tax-Check Off), please visit the Franchise Tax Board Voluntary Contribution Funds webpage.

The CDPH Alzheimer's Disease Program has awarded 134 research projects since inception, which have contributed significantly to our understanding of the disease and its impact on patients and their caregivers.

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