Launch Award Grant

The Launch Award, offered by the Parkinson's Foundation, is a prestigious four-year program designed for postdoctoral researchers in Parkinson's Disease (PD). This award facilitates a two-stage training process, allowing awardees to transition from mentored training to independent research careers. With a total funding of $400,000, the program aims to cultivate a new generation of independent investigators dedicated to addressing the challenges of PD, ensuring impactful contributions to research and treatment advancements.

NOTE: The Launch Award is offered every other year (it is closed during the 2024-2025 cycle, and it will be open during the 2025-2026 cycle).
It is a four-year, two-stage award for outstanding postdoctoral researchers that will enable them to complete needed mentored training and transition promptly to independent research careers in PD.
Program Overview
Nearly 10 million people worldwide live with Parkinson's, with numbers expected to increase by 20% by 2030. The need to solve PD is acute and requires a continued influx of talented scientists dedicated to PD research. The Foundation aims to help these young scientists transition and succeed in independent careers to maximize their impact in PD research.
The Launch Award will cultivate a strong cohort of new and talented independent investigators dedicated to PD research. The award will provide research support to outstanding postdoctoral researchers that will enable them to complete needed mentored training and transition promptly to independent research careers in the PD field. This award is a two-stage program consisting of a Mentored Stage (1-2 years) and an Independent Stage (up to 2 years). The strongest applicants will propose a well-conceived plan for 1-2 years of mentored research training and career development to help them become competitive candidates for independent faculty positions, preparing them to launch robust, separate research programs studying PD.
The Launch Award seeks to attract the best and brightest individuals conducting research in the U.S. or internationally. At the end of the funding period, it is expected that awardees will become independent research leaders with their own research space and research team.
Funding
The Launch Award is a two-stage program that tracks the awardee's career stage, providing a total of $400,000 for up to 4 years. The support during the two stages is as follows:
Mentored Stage - The Mentored Stage is intended to last a minimum of 12 months and no more than 2 years. The funds available for this stage are capped at $80,000 per year, including approximately $20,000 per year for research support. During the Mentored Stage, salary support will be commensurate with the institution's pay scale of up to $60,000. An expected 75% of the applicant's time is to be dedicated to research. The remaining 25% effort is for additional training, postdoctoral projects, and publishing of results. There is no provision for the fringe benefits or deduction of indirect cost during the Mentored Stage of the award. Funds are awarded for two years, subject to annual review of progress.
Independent Stage - The Independent Stage provides up to 2 years of support contingent upon securing an independent research position at an independent academic or research institution and follows directly after the Mentored Stage of the award. The Independent Stage phase of the award has a total cost limit of $120,000 per year. Applicant salary support is permitted up to 40% of awarded funds, including fringe benefits. Deduction of indirect costs, not exceeding 10 percent of direct costs, from the total is allowed. As in the Mentored Stage, funds are awarded for two years — subject to annual progress reviews. Applicants may not hold concurrent research awards from the Foundation but are encouraged to leverage Launch Award funding for additional grant support. Ideally, the applicant will be ready to submit an NIH R01 or equivalent grant by the conclusion of a Launch Award.

Eligibility

Applicant must possess a PhD, MD, or equivalent degree and be within 18 months to 6 years of completing that degree or clinical training at the time of application, including resubmission. Applicant must currently be in a postdoctoral or other mentored position and must name and provide a letter of support from an established investigator who will serve as the mentor and supervisor.  US citizenship or permanent resident status are not required – international applicants are welcome.
Transition to the Independent Stage of the award is not automatic and will be subject to progress review. The successful transition depends upon the applicant obtaining a full-time independent researcher position at the US or international institution, as recognized by their respective institutions. This position would make the awardee eligible to apply for an NIH R01 or equivalent grant as a PI and lead an independent research team. The Foundation will evaluate the evidence of independence and institutional support based on individual institutions’ regulations.

Ineligibility

Applicants requiring less than 12 months of mentored research training and career development are not eligible for this award.Applicants may not have their own lab or equivalent.