Submission Instructions

The following covers general submission instructions. Exact page limitations can be found in the downloadable documents related to the award program to which you are applying. These documents can be found at the bottom of this page.

• Online Submission Instructions
• File Type and Size
• Length Limitations
• Cover Letters
• Appendix Information
• Signature Pages
• Post-submission Edits and Corrections
• Application Template and Guidelines
• Contact Information

 Online Submission Instructions

Once you have completed your proposal (see application template and guidelines documents at the bottom of this page), AHAF requires that the proposal be uploaded to the submission website.

Due to the volume of proposals received we no longer accept proposals mailed or emailed to the foundation.

Please convert your proposal to a pdf file format and save it as “lastname_researchplan.pdf” where ‘lastname’ is the surname of the Principal Investigator.

Once logged onto the submission website, you will be asked to supply administrative and demographic information related to your proposal. Some sections will require that you cut and paste information, such as the abstract, from your proposal to the website.

We anticipate that answering the online questionnaire should not take more than 20 minutes.

Links to the appropriate submission websites can be found on the Apply For Grant Funding page.

In order to return to a saved, “in progress”, application click here.

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File Type and Size

Portable Document Format (.pdf) is the preferred file format. A number of commercial and freeware applications exist for pdf creation. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the final pdf document adheres to the formatting and length limitation guidelines.

For most applications, the AHAF submission website will not permit uploads of greater than 9 MB of information for any single application. Exact file size limitations are noted in the Template and Guidelines documents.

In some cases, greater file sizes may be allowable, but must be approved at least one week prior to the deadline. These allowances are typically reserved for file types that require large file sizes, such as videos. Please contact an AHAF staff member to discuss this.

General Formatting Guidelines

Margins should be set at no less than 3/4" on all sides. Please use Times New Roman font at a size no less than 11 points. The color of the narrative text should be black. Applications must be legible and written in English. Do not use jargon or unusual abbreviations.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the final submitted document adheres to all formatting and length limitation guidelines.

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 Length Limitations

Length limitations and word count limitations are specified in the application template and guidelines documents (located on this page) and are enforced during administrative review.

Length limitations are measured when the document is printed on 8.5 inch x 11 inch (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) paper. Please note that A4 paper exceeds these specifications.

Tables, graphs, and photographs must be included within the section in which they are referenced. Text in figure legends, tables, or graphs, should be included in the word count.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the final submitted document adheres to all formatting and length limitation guidelines.

In order to provide all applicants an equal opportunity to present their ideas, AHAF holds the right to administratively deny any proposal that violates the length limitations or formatting requirements.

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Cover Letters

If you would like to submit a confidential cover letter to the AHAF Research Grants department, please include it as a separate attachment. The uploaded file should be named “lastname_10cover.pdf” where ‘lastname’ is the surname of the Principal Investigator.

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Appendix Information

There is no requirement for appendix information, and many successful proposals do not provide such information. If you wish to include appendix information, you must follow these guidelines.

• Any appendix information should be uploaded in a SINGLE pdf file separate from the proposal.
• The file should be named “lastname_10appendix.pdf” where ‘lastname’ is the surname of the Principal Investigator.
• The first page of the file should list the contents of the appendix, the title of the proposal and the Principal Investigator’s name.
• Up to 5 papers may be included as an appendix.
• All papers must be authored by the Principal Investigator or a named collaborator.
• DO NOT include supplementary data in any Appendix. This will be viewed as an attempt to circumvent page limitations and may result in denial of your proposal.

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Signature Pages

AHAF does not require signatures at the time of submission. Given the variability in administrative time required to collect signatures, AHAF policy allows investigators to submit their signature pages for two weeks following the ‘official’ deadline.

If you choose to submit signatures with your application, the Signature Page should be signed, scanned, and appended to the document. The Signature page should not contain any text information from previous sections, other than the title of the project.

If you will submit signatures after the deadline, please do so by emailing a PDF copy of the signature page to researchgrants@ahaf.org.

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Post-submission Edits and Corrections

AHAF does not accept supplementary data following submission. The only edits allowable following submission are changes to administrative information such as email addresses and telephone numbers.

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Application Template and Guidelines

• Alzheimer’s Disease Research
• Macular Degeneration Research
• National Glaucoma Research

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Contact Information

If you have any questions or difficulties, please contact a representative of the Research Grants office.

Last Review: 09/20/11