Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Funds Alzheimer's-focused drug-discovery teams through mission-driven investments and philanthropic collaboration for earlier-stage breakthroughs.

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is a New York-based 501(c)(3) foundation founded in 1998 by Leonard A. Lauder and Ronald A. Lauder. It funds Alzheimer's and related-dementia work worldwide, and it says it has distributed nearly $400 million across 792 programs in 21 countries.

Its programs center on drug development, biomarkers, prevention, diagnostics, and frontotemporal-dementia work. The Drug Development RFP and Prevention RFP each reach $5 million, the Neuroimaging and CSF Biomarker RFP and ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program reach $600,000, and the Treat FTD Fund reaches $2.5 million. Co-funded routes include the ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program with Harrington Discovery Institute, FTD work with AFTD, and the pooled Diagnostics Accelerator.

ADDF uses mission-related investments tied to scientific and business milestones, so the practical bar is a credible translational plan rather than a basic research idea. Returns can take the form of equity, convertible notes, or royalties, and the best fit is a team that can move a biomarker, therapeutic, or prevention project toward patients with clear evidence and a realistic development path.