Posted: 26 May 2025
Brandon Capital has opened the second funding round for its Cureator Dementia and Cognitive Decline incubator program with up to $5 million for each project.
The CUREator+ Dementia and Cognitive Decline incubator program is a partnership between Brandon BioCatalyst, ANDHealth and Dementia Australia. Funded by the Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the national program supports the translation and commercial development of novel approaches, spanning therapeutics, diagnostics, assistive and medical devices and digital health technologies, that will prolong or improve the lives of the estimated 433,300 Australians currently living with Dementia and the 1.7 million caregivers who support them.
The CUREator+ Dementia & Cognitive Decline program provides non-dilutive grant funding of $1m to $5m per project. The funding will support commercially orientated projects, through tranche funding deployed upon the successful completion of key pre-agreed project milestones. CUREator+ will also provide successful small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with access to commercial guidance, international expert networks, and hands-on support and mentorship to drive the translation and commercialisation of their opportunities.
Funding is available to support projects that address the early diagnosis, prevent severity of progression and/or management of the cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and motor symptoms of dementia and/or promote enabling environments to increase safety and quality of life of those living with dementia and cognitive decline. Eligible projects will include the development of novel biomarkers, diagnostics, therapeutics (novel and repurposed), medical and assistive devices, and digital technology approaches and products at the preclinical, clinical and commercial development stages.
Projects should focus on conducting critical path activities towards achieving preclinical, clinical and/or commercial evidence to significantly improve the project’s ability to commercialise, demonstrate patient impact, raise growth capital and/or execute on a market entry or growth strategy. Eligible applicants must either be an Australian SME or researcher(s) at an Australian university or research institute willing to incorporate as a new company, if successful.
Funding rounds and guidelines overview
CUREator+ Dementia & Cognitive Decline provides non-dilutive grant funding of up to $5 million per project, across two funding stages.
Stage 2: Top-up funding will be available on a competitive basis to successful Stage 1 companies (maximum total of $5 million in funding) who meet their milestones during the Stage 1 period. Successful projects will have a maximum total of 4 years to complete Stage 1 and 2 project activities and achievement of milestones
CUREator+ Dementia & Cognitive Decline funding will be delivered through a competitive, merit-based process across two rounds.
Round 2: Currently open and will close on Thursday 10 July 2025 at 1:00pm (AEST)
Application Process
Interested entrepreneurial researchers, clinical innovators, founders and start-ups are invited to apply via: https://cureatorplus.grantplatform.com/
More information here.
