2024 DLF Prize Application Portal

The 2024 DLF Prize of $20,000 will be awarded to an early career scientist in neuroscience, molecular biology, pharmacology, or biotechnology who has demonstrated productivity and potential for future accomplishments in brain regeneration research. The prize winner must have demonstrable research experience and a record of accomplishments in at least one of the DLF’s four research priority areas or in another specified research topic that is closely related to DLF’s research agenda. The DLF’s four research priority areas are:

• Research into pharmacological methods of reactivating or augmenting synaptogenesis
• Research into trials of repleting damaged cortex using derived cortical neurons
• Research into transcriptomic profiles of cortical neurons during recovery phase post brain injury
• Research furthering effective design of anti-sense oligonucleotides and/or other small molecule medicines to down-regulate inhibitors of regeneration in the cortex and spinal cord

One prize of $20,000 will be awarded.

Eligibility Criteria

The successful applicant must be an early career scientist in neuroscience, molecular biology, pharmacology, or biotechnology. The “early career scientist” should be within 2-5 years post completion of their doctoral degree.

The successful applicant may be working in an academic (university or non-profit) or commercial setting (e.g., pharmaceutical or biotech company)

Expectations of the winner

• Attend, participate, and present at the next DLF Conference within the first year of the award
• Provide a write up of a completed research project or a project in progress for the DLF Newsletter within the first six months of the award
• Give the DLF permission to publicize their award in the various materials it disseminates

Timelines

• Applications due by March 31, 2024
• Preliminary review of applications/selection of finalists by April 30, 2024
• Winner chosen by May 31, 2024
• Notification of application status: First week in June

Application process

The application includes four sections to be submitted through the portal:

1. Identifying information regarding the applicant (this information will be used to assign each applicant an application number)
2.  Application questions (to be answered online and submitted through the portal)
3.  Required supplementary materials (uploaded through the portal)
4.  Optional supplementary materials (uploaded through the portal)

If you have any questions about the application or issues using the portal, please send an email to [email protected]