The Leif Lundblad donation – Funding for Research on Alzheimer's Disease

Purpose

The donation is intended to support research on the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. In the 2026 call, the focus is on causes other than Tau and Amyloid Beta, such as, but not limited to:

• Energy metabolism
• Neuroinflammation
• Autophagy
• The glymphatic system

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are researchers holding a doctoral degree who are employed by or affiliated with Karolinska Institutet and conduct research within the above-mentioned area. Both projects addressing fundamental biological mechanisms and clinical research projects are welcome.

Research projects that foster collaboration between groups at KI and/or other Swedish higher education institutions are encouraged.

Funding

A maximum of SEK 3 million may be awarded per applicant.

Funding may be sought for a period of up to three years. In exceptional cases, funding may also be awarded for projects of shorter duration.

Awards cannot exceed the amount applied for.

Approved funds are disbursed retrospectively based on actual expenditures within the framework of the approved annual grant allocation.*

Application

Applications must be prepared in accordance with the instructions provided in the Prisma application portal. The applicant’s CV will be retrieved from their Prisma profile.

Required attachment:

• A publication list including: 
  • The 10 publications most relevant to this call, and
  • A complete publication list covering the previous five years and the current year.

Applications must be submitted electronically.

The application form will be available in KI Prisma during the application period:

24 August 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 27 September 2026, 2:00 p.m. (CEST).

Decision

Final funding decisions will be made by the Committee for Research following evaluation by an external review panel. The Lundblad family will be given the opportunity to provide comments; however, the scientific quality of the proposed projects will be the decisive factor.

All applicants will be notified of the decision by email in December.

Reporting

Researchers awarded grants are required to present their research results to the Lundblad family at least once per year.

Contact

For questions regarding this call, please contact:

Cecilia Lövdahl
cecilia.lovdahl@ki.se

For questions regarding Prisma:

fonder@ki.se
 

* Funds are disbursed retrospectively based on actual expenditures within the framework of the approved annual grant allocation. This is intended to maximize the return on the donated funds for as long as possible.

By 1 November each year, grant recipients must submit a detailed forecast of expenditures for the current year. Where a demonstrable need exists, grants may be paid semi-annually in advance within the limits of the approved six-month allocation, based on a cash-flow forecast.

Grant payments are not subject to a time limit and will continue, provided that a demonstrable need exists, until the full awarded amount has been disbursed.