American Federation for Aging Research

The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is a private, charitable, 501(c)(3), organization whose mission is to provide funding for biomedical research on aging.

AFAR supports its own privately funded AFAR Research Grant program and administers seven foundation and corporate-sponsored scholarship and fellowship programs. Together, these programs serve as a springboard for promising PhD students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty to begin their careers in aging research. AFAR also supports mid-career scientists new to the field.

AFAR's support is critical because cuts in federal funding for medical research are causing undue hardship on the next generation of researchers who must compete for ever-dwindling research dollars. America's health and economic well-being require a growing number of scientists and physicians who understand the processes of aging and age-related diseases and stay committed to finding ways to help Americans live longer and healthier lives.

The AFAR Research Grant provides awards to junior faculty- PhDs and MDs- who are often still considering their field of inquiry. The reasoning behind AFAR's approach is straightforward: a relatively modest grant often makes it possible for a new investigator to make a commitment to aging research that lasts a lifetime.

The AFAR approach has been successful. A recent survey of the AFAR Research Grant recipients revealed that 98% of respondents reported that they have continued work in research, including 92% who said that they are still involved in aging research. Eighty-five percent of these researchers say that they have continued the work that they started under their AFAR-sponsored grant.

In administering all of AFAR's award programs, AFAR gathers the nation's leading scientists and physicians to rigorously review the hundreds of grant applications received each year. The scientific review and selection process not only uncovers promising new topics in the field, but also provides support for new approaches to understanding the basic mechanisms of aging and the care and treatment of diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, macular degeneration and heart disease.

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