Our REC Scholar awardees have enhanced experimental approaches by utilizing the vast research facilities at Duke and UNC and fostered collaborative interactions across several campuses. The central theme of our ADRC is to identify age-related changes across the lifespan that mediate the development, progression, and experience of Alzheimer’s disease. Applicants are encouraged to leverage the services and resources of the ADRC Cores.

---

Purpose

The goal of the ADRC Research Education Component (REC) Core is to promote the development of future research leaders at Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), East Carolina University (ECU), North Carolina Central University (NCCU), University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNC-P) who are conducting basic, translational, or clinical ADRD research within the focus area of age-related changes across the lifespan.

The REC Core will award up to 4 REC Scholar awards annually, of 2-year duration, with funding beginning July 1 of the year following submission. The award can cover salary, project support, and research career development activities. REC Scholars are supported by the ADRC Cores, and meet regularly with a mentorship team including ADRC investigators. At the conclusion of the award, REC Scholars are expected to pursue external funding in their research area.

Eligibility

• Faculty within 3 years of their first faculty appointment or advanced fellow/postdoctoral student with clear plans for transition to faculty status.
• Academic or clinical appointment at Duke, UNC-CH, ECU, NCCU, or UNC-P by the award start date.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Must be able to commit a minimum of 6 calendar months for full-time professional effort for career development and research activities.
• Basic, translational, epidemiological or clinical research that supports the ADRC’s mission and theme.

Support

• REC Scholars receive $10,000 per year in direct funding.
  • Funding will be provided for two years, with Year 2 funds contingent upon successful completion of Year 1 activities. 
  • Funds should be budgeted to support professional effort, project expenses, and professional development activities.
  • Applicants do not need to budget for a full 6 calendar-months of effort on their REC award but must be able to show that they have other sources of funding (e.g., fellowships, foundation awards) that will protect at least 50% of their time for ADRD research and career development. 
• REC Scholars also receive:
  • Tailored career development activities
  • Mentorship from ADRC investigators
  • Collaborative research opportunities 
  • Technical/project support from ADRC Cores including access to ADRC cohort studies data, access to biospecimens, and statistical consultations

Timeline

November 10, 2025 – RFA Released

January 16, 2026 – Full application deadline

March 3, 2026 – Awardees announced

July 1, 2026 – Award start date

Required Documentation

All documents should adhere to NIH formatting requirements (e.g., half-inch margins, minimum 11pt font, no more than six lines per vertical inch).

1. REC Scholar Application
2. Project Plan: Includes Project Title, Background and Significance, Prior Studies/Preliminary Data, Approach, Methods, Timeline (max. 3 pages total), Budget with brief justification (1 page), References cited.
3. Mentor letter summarizing the research accomplishments to-date, describing a plan for ongoing mentorship in the research content area, and confirming that the candidate will have an eligible position at Duke/UNC Chapel Hill/UNC Pembroke/NCCU/ECU with at least 50% protected research time by July 1, 2026.
4. Applicant CV.