Texas is entering a new era of investment in brain health and dementia research.

In 2025, Texas voters approved the creation of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), a new statewide effort to accelerate research on dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders. Backed by a $3 billion state fund, DPRIT represents an unprecedented long-term commitment to advancing the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care of neurodegenerative disease while strengthening Texas’ research infrastructure and scientific workforce.

Modeled in part on Texas’ successful Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), DPRIT is designed to support a broad continuum of activity, from basic and translational research to clinical research, prevention strategies, research infrastructure, and efforts to translate discoveries into meaningful improvements for patients and families. The initiative also creates new opportunities to foster collaboration across Texas’ academic institutions, healthcare systems, communities, nonprofit organizations, and industry.

This commitment creates an extraordinary opportunity for Texas researchers, but realizing its full potential will require a strong ecosystem of innovative ideas, researchers, collaborations, and early-stage projects across the state.

Introducing BRING IT

To help seed and strengthen this growing research ecosystem, the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Alzheimer’s Association, has launched the Brain Research & Innovation Network: Grant Initiative of Texas (BRING IT).

BRING IT is providing one-year grants of up to $100,000 to Texas-based academic institutions and nonprofit organizations. These seed grants are intended to help investigators generate preliminary data, establish collaborations, demonstrate proof of concept, or achieve other milestones that can help seed a strong pipeline of innovative brain health and dementia research across Texas.

The inaugural funding opportunity will support projects across five areas:

Implementation Science for Brain Health and Dementia Care. Translating evidence-based approaches for brain health, dementia risk reduction, detection, and care into real-world clinical and community settings.
Next-Generation Disease Models and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). Developing human-relevant, computational, and other emerging models that improve the efficiency and translational relevance of dementia research.
Multimodal Sensing and Algorithmic Risk Stratification in Primary Care. Using AI, digital technologies, multimodal data, and innovative clinical workflows to improve early identification of individuals at risk for cognitive decline.
Drug Repurposing Opportunities to Treat Neurodegenerative Diseases. Leveraging computational and machine-learning approaches to identify opportunities to repurpose existing therapies.
Precision Prevention: Modifiable Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline and Dementia. Developing innovative approaches to address lifestyle, vascular health, and other modifiable factors that may reduce dementia risk.

Together, these areas span prevention, early detection, therapeutic development, and real-world implementation, while creating opportunities to bring new disciplines and collaborations into brain health and dementia research.

Why BRING IT matters and why you should apply

Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of families across Texas, reshaping lives and placing immense strain on healthcare systems. DPRIT’s $3 billion commitment marks a once-in-a-generation turning point for brain health and dementia research in Texas. Realizing the potential of this moment will require a strong research ecosystem that supports bold, high-potential ideas and gives promising early-stage research the opportunity to develop.

That is where BRING IT can help:

Fast-Track Your High-Risk, High-Reward Ideas: Major institutional grants often demand extensive preliminary proof before funding a novel concept. BRING IT seed funding fills that critical gap, giving up to $100,000 to test ambitious hypotheses and gather the early proof-of-concept data that can help promising research move forward.
Help Strengthen Texas’ Brain Health Research Ecosystem: Applying for BRING IT isn’t just about securing immediate project capital; it’s an opportunity to contribute to a growing statewide ecosystem of innovative brain health and dementia research. BRING IT can help researchers generate early evidence, build collaborations, and create a stronger foundation.
Join a Collaborative Statewide Network: By applying or partnering with us, you gain access to an interdisciplinary coalition of academic leaders, clinical experts, and community advocates dedicated to driving real-world health outcomes.

If you have a transformative concept in brain health, this is your moment to scale it. Don’t leave your most promising ideas on the drawing board.

Letters of Intent are due November 13, 2026. Eligible Texas-based academic institutions and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to review the full funding opportunity and submit an LOI.

Have an idea that could advance the future of brain health in Texas? Apply now and BRING IT.