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Warren Alpert Foundation

Annual Giving
$22.9M
Grant Range
$200K - $9.5M
Decision Time
5mo

Warren Alpert Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $22,893,636 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $406,646,323 (2023)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (Distinguished Scholars: announced in March following November deadline)
  • Grant Range: $200,000 - $9,500,000 (institutional grants) / $500,000 (Warren Alpert Prize)
  • Geographic Focus: United States (primarily), with international researchers eligible for Prize
  • Awards Made: 76 grants in 2023

Contact Details

The Warren Alpert Foundation

Overview

The Warren Alpert Foundation was established in 1986 by businessman and philanthropist Warren Alpert. Since its inception, the foundation has committed over $200 million to promoting medical science through research and education, particularly in areas which offer promise of, or which have achieved, significant medical breakthroughs in the prevention, treatment or cure of human conditions and diseases. With assets exceeding $406 million and annual giving of approximately $23 million, the foundation operates as a private foundation focused exclusively on improving public health through grants and programmatic activities progressing towards attaining or perfecting medical treatments or cures through basic research, translational and outcomes research, and health education. The foundation does not solicit funds and is funded solely by The Warren Alpert Estate. Notable transformational gifts include $100 million to Brown University's medical school (which was renamed the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in recognition).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Warren Alpert Foundation Prize - $500,000 annually

  • Prestigious international award recognizing transformative contributions to understanding, prevention, treatment, or cure of human disease
  • Administered by Harvard Medical School
  • 2024 winners: Four pioneers in CAR T-cell therapy
  • 2025 winners: Three scientists whose discoveries led to lenacapavir (HIV treatment/prevention drug)

Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Awards - $200,000 per year for 2 years

  • Supports individual postdoctoral scientists transitioning to Assistant Professor level or higher
  • Focus areas vary annually; recent programs include:
    • Neuroscience: 5-7 awards annually (established 2019)
    • Translational Immunology (non-cancer): Supporting exceptional MD or PhD postdoctoral scientists
    • Gene Therapy/Gene Editing: Rolling focus areas
  • Covers salary, lab costs, and related expenses
  • Application deadline: November 1 (Neuroscience); September 1 (Translational Immunology)
  • Awards announced in March

Large-Scale Institutional Grants - $4.6 million - $9.5 million

  • Multi-year grants to major research institutions
  • Recent examples:
    • $9.5 million over 5 years: Warren Alpert Alliance to Increase Diversity in Genetic Counseling (consortium including University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, Rutgers, Sarah Lawrence College) - funding 40 students with full tuition scholarships and stipends
    • $5 million over 5 years: Stanford Department of Biomedical Data Science - training 15 computational biology/AI scholars
    • $4.6 million: UCLA computational biology/AI training program
  • Application method: Periodic solicitation by invitation in specific research and education focus areas

Priority Areas

  • Medical Research: Basic research, translational research, and outcomes research aimed at medical breakthroughs
  • Medical Education: Support for medical schools and training programs
  • Emerging Technologies: Recent emphasis on computational biology, artificial intelligence, and gene therapy/editing
  • Diversity in Medicine: Significant investment in increasing diversity in genetic counseling and medical fields
  • Neuroscience: Ongoing fellowship program supporting neuroscience training
  • Immunology: Translational immunology research (non-cancer focus)

The foundation determines individual research awards in consultation with a panel of medical experts in concert with the faculties of Harvard Medical School and Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, evidence suggests:

  • Non-medical research or education
  • General operating support unrelated to medical research/education
  • International institutions (for Distinguished Scholars; Prize nominations are international)
  • Organizations outside the health/medical sector

Governance and Leadership

The Warren Alpert Foundation is governed by trustees who oversee the strategic direction of the foundation. Awards are determined through consultation with medical expert panels, particularly involving the faculties of Harvard Medical School and Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

The foundation maintains close partnerships with prestigious institutions including Harvard Medical School (which administers the Warren Alpert Prize), Brown University (home to the Warren Alpert Medical School), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Mount Sinai.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The application process varies significantly by program type:

Warren Alpert Foundation Prize (administered by Harvard Medical School):

  • Nomination-based; self-nominations not accepted
  • Nominations accepted from physicians and scientists worldwide
  • Online nomination form available at https://warrenalpert.org/online-nomination
  • U.S. and non-U.S. citizens eligible
  • Nominees must be living
  • Multiple nominations from an institution permitted

Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Awards:

  • Limited-submission opportunity
  • Must be nominated by Dean, Chief Academic Research Officer, or Grant Administration office
  • Only one candidate per institution can apply per cycle
  • Applications submitted electronically by institutional leadership
  • Candidate must hold post-doctoral research position at a U.S. medical school, research institute, or academic institution
  • Application portal: https://www.warrenalpertfoundation.org/home/how-to-apply/

Institutional Grants:

  • Foundation periodically solicits proposals in specific research and education focus areas
  • Not an open application process
  • Major grants typically awarded by invitation or through established relationships

Decision Timeline

Distinguished Scholars Fellowship:

  • Enrollment period: July to November 1 (Neuroscience); closes September 1 (Translational Immunology)
  • Awards announced: March of following year
  • Timeline: Approximately 4-5 months from deadline to announcement

Warren Alpert Foundation Prize:

  • Annual award cycle
  • Announcement typically in spring for fall recognition symposium

Institutional Grants:

  • Variable timelines depending on solicitation and scope
  • Multi-year grants involve extensive review processes

Success Rates

Distinguished Scholars Fellowship:

  • Highly competitive
  • Neuroscience program: 5-7 awards made annually from national pool
  • Success rate not publicly disclosed
  • Limited to one nomination per institution, suggesting institutional pre-screening

Warren Alpert Foundation Prize:

  • Extremely selective
  • Typically 3-4 recipients annually
  • Recognizes career-defining breakthrough research

Overall Grant Statistics:

  • 76 total awards made in 2023
  • $22,893,636 distributed in 2023
  • Average grant size: approximately $301,000

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are publicly documented. For Distinguished Scholars Fellowship, institutions may nominate different candidates in subsequent years. For the Prize, multiple nominations for the same individual from different nominators appear to be acceptable.

Application Success Factors

For Distinguished Scholars Fellowship:

The Foundation's selection process focuses on:

  • Prior postdoctoral success: "Scholars will be chosen on the basis of the success in their prior post-doctoral work as well as in the importance and creativity of their continued work"
  • Scientific proposal quality: Importance and creativity of continued research
  • Academic records: Scholastic achievements
  • Letters of recommendation: Strong institutional support
  • Institutional standing: Nominated by senior leadership (Dean or equivalent)

Selection uses "an objective and nondiscriminatory selection process based upon criteria including a review of each applicant's scholastic achievements, academic records, scientific proposal and submitted letters of recommendation."

For Warren Alpert Foundation Prize:

The Prize recognizes scientists whose work has led to:

  • Transformative contributions to understanding, prevention, treatment, or cure of human disease
  • Breakthrough discoveries with clear clinical impact
  • Examples: 2025 winners developed lenacapavir (HIV drug given twice yearly); 2024 winners pioneered CAR T-cell therapy

For Institutional Grants:

Recent large-scale grants demonstrate foundation priorities:

  • Programs that increase diversity in medical fields
  • Training programs in emerging technologies (AI, computational biology)
  • Multi-institutional collaborations
  • Clear pathways from training to independent careers
  • Comprehensive support (tuition, stipends, mentorship, professional development)

General Success Factors:

The foundation's mission statement provides guidance: focus on "attaining or perfecting medical treatments or cures through basic research, translational and outcomes research as well as through health education." Successful proposals demonstrate:

  • Clear pathway to medical breakthroughs
  • Strong scientific foundation
  • Institutional commitment and infrastructure
  • Alignment with foundation's rotating focus areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Know the program structure: The foundation operates distinct programs with different application processes - Prize (nomination-based, international), Distinguished Scholars (institutional nomination, U.S.-based), and large institutional grants (invitation/solicitation)
  • Institutional pre-selection matters: For Distinguished Scholars, you must first secure your institution's nomination, as only one candidate per institution can apply - start internal conversations early
  • Timing is critical: Distinguished Scholars applications have firm November 1/September 1 deadlines; allow time for institutional approval processes that must precede submission
  • Focus on breakthrough potential: The foundation's mission emphasizes "attaining or perfecting medical treatments or cures" - demonstrate clear translational pathway from research to clinical impact
  • Track rotating focus areas: Distinguished Scholars Fellowship areas change (neuroscience, translational immunology, gene therapy/editing) - monitor the foundation's website for current priorities
  • Emphasize training-to-independence trajectory: For Distinguished Scholars, show how the two-year award will enable transition from postdoc to independent faculty position
  • Consider diversity initiatives: The foundation has made unprecedented investments in diversity (e.g., $9.5 million genetic counseling diversity program) - programs with strong diversity components may align well
  • Leverage institutional relationships: Large grants appear relationship-driven; if your institution has existing Warren Alpert Foundation connections, engage relevant stakeholders early

References

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