Cure Alzheimer's Fund / SENS / Methuselah Foundation

Cure Alzheimer's Fund / SENS / Methuselah Foundation

Funds biomedicine founder teams tackling age-related disease through grants, research support, and philanthropic collaboration networks.

Several US-based private foundations focus on aging biology, longevity research, and related fields, providing non-dilutive or royalty-bearing awards to researchers and companies advancing the science of aging. Among the most active are the SENS Research Foundation, which funds and conducts research into rejuvenation biotechnology and the repair of aging-related cellular damage, and the Methuselah Foundation, which supports translational aging research through prizes and grants. Award sizes across this funding landscape vary substantially by foundation and program, generally ranging from modest project grants of approximately $25,000 to larger awards exceeding $1 million, with medians typically in the $100,000 to $300,000 range.

Eligibility requirements differ by foundation. The SENS Research Foundation funds both internal research and external academic and startup collaborators, with a focus on projects addressing the hallmarks of aging at the mechanistic level. The Methuselah Foundation has historically funded both early-stage research projects and translational initiatives through vehicles such as the Mprize. Other foundations in this space, including some focused on Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration specifically, may operate as program-related investments or milestone-linked instruments rather than straightforward non-dilutive grants. Early technology readiness levels, often TRL 2 through TRL 7, are within scope, and applicants can include for-profit companies, universities, and independent research organisations.

Applicants should engage directly with each foundation rather than applying to a single umbrella program, as SENS Research Foundation, Methuselah Foundation, and similar organisations operate independently with distinct missions, funding cycles, and application processes. Award terms, including royalty arrangements, milestone payments, or equity participation, vary by funder and program. Researchers and companies in longevity biology, neurodegeneration, or rejuvenation biotechnology should map their work to the specific focus areas of each foundation before applying.