Impetus Grants

Geographic Scope: Global (international researchers eligible)

Background:
Established in 2021, Impetus Grants is dedicated to supporting innovative ideas in the aging space that might otherwise be overlooked by traditional funders. The organization has successfully deployed over $34 million into scientific research projects, including aging-related clinical trials, biomarker research, and the development of novel tools and model organisms related to the aging process.

Mission & Focus:
Impetus Grants is designed to fund ambitious longevity science that would not happen otherwise. The program prioritizes speed, conviction, and leverage so researchers can move fast on ideas that could reshape the field.

Key Statistics:

• $34M+ deployed since 2021 with ~1% overhead
• 145 projects funded across three rounds
• Decision timeline: ≤ 3 weeks from application to decision
• 200+ papers published by funded researchers

Thematic Focus Areas:
Impetus prioritizes high-risk, high-reward aging science, including:

Research Priority Categories

1. Proposals that stress-test popular theories of aging
   • Questions about therapies aimed at controlling cell senescence
   • Investigation of controversial aging mechanisms
2. Proposals that stress-test popular protocols for extending lifespan
   • Rigorous investigation of reprogramming and rejuvenation effects
   • Validation of anti-aging protocols
3. Category-openers or novel mechanisms and approaches to reversing aging
   • Absolutely new paradigms and ways of thinking about geroscience
   • High-risk, pioneering concepts (e.g., external energy replacement for treating aging)
4. Translation of preclinical findings
   • Improved model organisms and large-animal studies
   • Context-dependent testing of known aging modulators
   • Clinical trials and human interventional data

Specific Bounties (Round 2 & Beyond)

• Test the causal role of methylation in driving aging (methylation clocks and biomarkers)
• Interventional data in humans (longitudinal omics under interventions)
• Protocols/methods for simultaneous measurement of multiple aging mechanisms, in vivo
• Compilation of open problems in the field (road mapping initiatives)
• Causality of methylation clocks
• In vivo measurements of multiple aging mechanisms
• Interventional data in humans

Eligible Applicants:

• Academic researchers (professors, postdocs, graduate students)
• Non-profits
• Independent applicants
• Scientists transitioning into aging research
• Labs new to the aging space

Recent Round Performance (Round 3, 2023):

• 1,050 applications received
• 34 projects funded (~$10M distributed)
• Acceptance rates by role: 3.4% (professors), 3.3% (postdocs), 2.3% (graduate students), 2.9% (overall)
• First-time applicants: 770 (73% of applicants)
• Proposals from labs new to aging: 368 (35% of applicants)

What Impetus Funds:

• Clinical trials
• Biomarker research
• Novel tools and assays
• Model organisms
• Longitudinal datasets on aging
• Therapeutic candidates
• Systems biology approaches

What Impetus Does NOT Fund:
(Based on application guidance) Projects that:

• Are not appropriately designed to test core hypotheses
• Use poorly chosen experimental models
• Employ predictable technical failures
• Lack proper risk acknowledgment
• Are feasible but entirely incremental
• Focus excessively on background over implementation

Partners & Collaborators:

• Hevolution Foundation (matching funding partner)
• Rosenkranz Foundation (matching funding partner)
• Major donors: Juan Benet, Michael Antonov, Vitalik Buterin, James Fickel, Jed McCaleb, Karl Pfleger, Fred Ehrsam, Molly Mackinlay, Gitcoin

Application Philosophy:

• Less than one page application format
• Focus on high-risk, high-reward science
• Emphasis on implementation details and risk acknowledgment
• Balance between bold/novel ideas and feasibility
• Assessment of potential impact on aging research field

Organization:
Norn Group Inc., 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, headquartered in CA, US

Application Process for Impetus Grants

Timeline & Submission:

• Applications typically open on specific dates (e.g., August 1st for recent rounds)
• Application window: usually 4-6 weeks (e.g., August 1 - September 15)
• Decision timeline: Results within 3 weeks of application closing
• Rolling applications may be available for certain rounds

Application Format:

• Less than one page (standard format)
• Concise, focused submissions
• Avoid excessive background information
• Emphasis on implementation details and risks

Key Application Guidance

Six Critical Elements:

1. High Risk, High Reward Science
   • Focus on bold, ambitious ideas that wouldn't be funded by traditional sources (e.g., NIH)
   • Distinguish between exploratory aging science and incremental research
   • Expected failure rates are acceptable if hypothesis testing is rigorous
2. Be Concise
   • Minimize background and basic term explanations
   • Dedicate space to implementation details and risks
   • Clearly connect work to aging (especially for tool/method developers)
   • Avoid lengthy vision statements
3. Acknowledge Uncertainties & Risks
   • Explicitly describe technical challenges and uncertainties
   • Demonstrate awareness of potential failure modes
   • Identify risks yourself for bonus points with reviewers
   • Examples of acceptable risks: hypothesis testing failures, technology not working in new contexts
   • Examples of unacceptable risks: poorly designed experiments, inappropriate model systems, predictable technical failures
4. Balance Bold & Feasible
   • Classify proposal as "0 to 1" (novel concept, new experiment) or "1 to n" (iteration of developed concept)
   • Ensure ambitious ideas match the grant amount and timeline
   • Example: full brain replacement may be novel but not feasible with $500k over 2 years
   • Impetus may trade feasibility for ambition in funding decisions
5. Impact Assessment
   • Heuristic: "How significantly will this change the behavior of aging researchers?"
   • Consider field-wide implications
   • Focus on contribution to understanding aging mechanisms
6. Experiment Design Quality
   • Core question: "If the experiment succeeds, is the hypothesis unambiguously proven or disproven?"
   • Avoid exploratory studies that cannot definitively test claims
   • Use appropriate model systems
   • Ensure technical approaches match research context

Reviewer Questions & Scoring Criteria

• How well does the researcher acknowledge uncertainties and risks?
• If the experiment succeeds, does it unambiguously test the hypothesis?
• Is the model system appropriate and well-justified?
• Will the technical approach work in the proposed context?
• How significantly will this change behavior of aging researchers?
• Balance of novelty (0-1) vs. iteration (1-n)?

Submission Details

• Contact: For donations larger than $5,000 or inquiries: reach out via norn.group
• Website: https://norn.group/impetus-grants/
• Updates: Check main page for current application deadlines and announcements