Dear HRA Members,

The Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) will begin to accept applications for its 2026 MIND (“Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery”) Prize on Monday, August 25^th, 2025. At least six early-to-mid-career investigators based in the USA will each be awarded $250,000/year – for three years – to empower them to pursue groundbreaking research that revolutionizes our ability to predict, prevent, and treat neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Advancing our fundamental understanding of the brain and cognition to ultimately combat neurodegeneration and related diseases is a goal of increasing urgency. Breakthroughs in basic scientific and translational research will yield critical tools for and knowledge of NDDs, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, which affect millions of people worldwide. We would love your help to ensure that talented, bold, diverse, and eligible scientists know about this fundingopportunity.

Applicants must have:

• Between one (1) to eight (8) years of experience running their own laboratories by the start date of the Prize (May 1, 2026);
• A PhD, MD, or MD-PhD (or equivalent);
• Access to an environment capable of conducting high-quality, high-impact research related to the understanding of the human brain and/or cognition, with a lens on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, but investigators need not be specifically trained in neuroscience; 
• Tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty appointments at academic research institutions in the United States of America;
• Not applied to the MIND Prize more than three times before (e.g. if an applicant has applied for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 MIND Prizes, they are no longer eligible this year). 

The deadline to submit the Letter of Intent is Monday, September 29^th, 2025 at 5:00pm ET. 

For more details on the application process, including the full eligibility criteria, please visit our application portal:https://prizeapplication.smapply.io/. 

Please find answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.

Now entering its fourth year, PSF has awarded the MIND Prize to 20 scientists from institutions across the USA. The MIND Prize emboldens investigators to rethink conventional paradigms around NDDs. Modeled after the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize, the MIND Prize catalyzes interdisciplinary approaches and facilitates collaborations across academic departments and institutions. It fuels the groundbreaking research that will accelerate our understanding of NDDs at every level. In addition to receiving funding, MIND Prize winners are given access to a unique network of leaders in academia, business and venture capital, biotech and pharma industries, and philanthropy, and are invited to participate in select programs. You can read more about the six exceptional 2026 MIND Prize winners and their research on our website.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have by responding to this email, and we would greatly appreciate your help getting the word out that the MINDPrize will open for applications on August 25^th. Please feel free to share with your newsletter channels, website, and any social media outlets (@MINDPrize) available. We will send you our press release announcing the opening of the application portal on August 25^th, as well. Thank you in advance for your help. 

With appreciation,

Christy

Christy Hudson