The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Discovery Award, administered by the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), provides funding for innovative projects that explore the biological mechanisms underlying normal human aging and associated physiological decline. The program specifically seeks to encourage established researchers—particularly those who may not have previously focused on aging—to contribute their expertise to this vital and expanding field. It emphasizes projects that explore aging biology rather than those that treat aging as a disease or focus primarily on specific diseases without strong relevance to aging mechanisms or human healthspan.

The goal of the GFMR Discovery Award is to generate pioneering discoveries that could lead to new approaches or therapeutics with potential to improve human healthspan. Proposals from all branches of biology are welcome, provided they directly support the understanding of normal aging and are not incremental extensions of existing work. Research characterizing aging purely as a disease or focused solely on specific disease processes is discouraged unless clearly tied to translational aging-related outcomes.

Each award provides $525,000 over three years, distributed in annual installments of $175,000. A maximum of 8% per year ($12,963) may be allocated to indirect or overhead costs. Up to two awards will be made in 2025. Grantees are expected to attend the joint AFAR Grantee Conference and the Glenn Foundation Workshop on the Biology of Aging to foster collaboration, mentorship, and scientific exchange among awardees and field leaders.

To be eligible, applicants must be full-time faculty at a U.S. not-for-profit institution and hold the rank of Assistant Professor or higher at the time of the LOI deadline. Assistant Professors must have R01 or equivalent funding. Applicants should have a strong publication record beyond the postdoctoral level. Individuals who are PIs at Paul F. Glenn Centers for Biology of Aging Research or who have received the Glenn Foundation Breakthrough In Gerontology (BIG) award are ineligible. Simultaneous application to other AFAR or GFMR junior faculty awards is not allowed. Former recipients of AFAR’s junior faculty grant are eligible.

Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) in PDF format by February 18, 2025. LOIs will be reviewed by a committee, and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by early June 2025. The results of the LOI review will be announced in late April 2025, and award funding will begin July 1, 2025. Institutional endorsement is required for invited full applications. Reviewer critiques will not be provided at any stage of the review process.

Applicants must also follow ethical guidelines for animal use in gerontological research if applicable. Progress reporting includes annual narrative updates and a final report due within three months of the award’s end. These updates ensure accountability and allow AFAR and GFMR to track the scientific impact of the awardee’s work.