SANTA BARBARA, CA and NEW YORK, NY — The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the GFMR Grants for Junior Faculty, Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research, and the Postdoctoral Fellowship Continuation Awards. These grants are funded by the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and administered by the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR).
These programs support early career investigators, who are selected through reviews led by scientific committees in aging research.
Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Grants for Junior Faculty provide up to $160,000 to junior faculty (MDs and PhDs) for 1-2 years to conduct research that will serve as the basis for longer term research efforts on the biology of aging. The major goal of this program is to assist in the development of the careers of early career investigators committed to pursuing careers in aging research. This year ’ s four recipients are exploring a range of aging-related topics at research institutions nationwide:
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research support postdoctoral fellows who direct their research toward understanding fundamental mechanisms of aging or developing translational insights that have potential to directly benefit human health. Thirteen one-year fellowships of $80,000 have been awarded this year:
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Continuation Awards support previous or current GFMR fellows whose research is deemed highly promising and would benefit from an additional year of funding. Twelve GFMR Postdoctoral Fellowship Continuation Awards of $80,000 each have been granted this year:
“Advancing research on the biology of aging requires support for early career scientists as the workforce of today and the leaders of future discovery. The scientists supported through these early career awards are conducting innovative research aimed at extending our years of health as we age," says Kevin Lee, PhD, Chief Scientific and Programmatic Advisor, Glenn Foundation for Medical Research.
Notes AFAR Executive Director Stephanie Lederman, EdM: “Supporting Postdoctoral Fellows and Junior Faculty at this point in their research path and entry into the field helps build momentum in this important area of science. The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research has been an invaluable partner to AFAR for nearly all forty-five years of our organization, and we are proud to see how our grantees have contributed significantly to the field.”
Learn more about the GFMR Grants for Junior Faculty here . Learn about the Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research here and the Postdoctoral Fellowship Continuation Awards here .
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About the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research - Founded by Paul F. Glenn in 1965, the mission of the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research is to extend the healthy years of life through research on mechanisms of biology that govern normal human aging and its related physiological decline, with the objective of translating research into interventions that will extend healthspan with lifespan. Learn more at www.glennfoundation.org .
About AFAR - The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is a national non-profit organization that supports and advances pioneering biomedical research that is revolutionizing how we live healthier and longer. For nearly half a century, AFAR has served as the field’s talent incubator, providing more than $225,000,000 to over 4,500 investigators at premier research institutions to date—and growing. In 2026, AFAR expects to provide approximately $6,522,000 to 56 investigators through a range of programs. A trusted leader and strategist, AFAR also works with public and private funders to steer high-quality grant programs and inter-disciplinary research networks. AFAR-funded researchers are finding that modifying basic cellular processes can delay—or even prevent—many chronic diseases, often at the same time. They are discovering that it is never too late—or too early—to improve health. This groundbreaking science is paving the way for innovative new therapies that promise to improve and extend our quality of life—at any age. Learn more at www.afar.org .