Grants>Cardiothoracic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education Awards Program

The deadline for 2014 TSFRE Awards is October 15, 2013. Applications will be posted and accepted beginning on July 8, 2013. (Please note the deadline for the 2014 TSFRE Alley-Sheridan Scholarships has passed.)

1. TSFRE Research Grant

Operational support of original research efforts by cardiothoracic surgeons who have completed their formal training, and who are seeking initial support and recognition for their research program. Awards of up to $40,000 per year for up to two years are granted to support the work of an early-career cardiothoracic surgeon (within five years of first faculty appointment).

2. Nina Starr Braunwald Research Grant

Operational support of original research efforts by women cardiac surgeons who have completed their formal training, and who are seeking initial support and recognition for their research program. Awards of up to $40,000 per year for up to two years are made each year to support the work of an early-career woman cardiac surgeon (within five years of first faculty appointment).

3. Nina Starr Braunwald Research Fellowship

Support of up to $30,000 per year for up to two years for a woman resident working in a cardiac surgical clinic or laboratory research program who has not yet completed cardiothoracic surgical training.

4. Jointly Sponsored Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award

TSFRE/NHLBI Jointly Sponsored Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (TSFRE/NHLBI/MCSDA)
Support to outstanding clinician research scientists who are committed to a career in cardiothoracic surgery research and have the potential to develop into independent investigators. The award is up to $150,000 in total additional matching funding over the five-year NHLBI award period.

TSFRE/NCI Jointly Sponsored Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (TSFRE/NCI/MCSDA)
Provides support to outstanding clinically trained professionals who are committed to a career in laboratory or field-based research and have the potential to develop into independent investigators. The award is up to $150,000 in total additional matching funding over the five-year NCI award period.

5. Carolyn E. Reed Traveling Fellowship

This annual award of up to $10,000 will allow a clinically established woman thoracic surgeon to travel to another institution for the purpose of learning a new skill or technology.

6. TSFRE Simulation

TSFRE requests proposals from $5,000-$15,000 for research grants to support demonstration study of the application of simulation for thoracic surgery education.

* The TSFRE reserves the right to determine the amount of support at the time of the award up to the amounts indicated herein. Only electronic submissions for TSFRE awards will be accepted.

Third John H. Gibbon Jr. Research Scholarship 2014 - 2016

Deadline: July 1, 2013, 11:59PM EST 

In 1985, the AATS established a two-year research scholarship awarded annually to a North American surgeon committed to pursuing an academic career in cardiothoracic surgery. Each year the Association honors one of the specialties major contributors to the science of cardiothoracic surgery through their efforts in basic and clinical research. This year’s scholarship recognizes the contributions of Dr. John H. Gibbon Jr. who also served as the 41st President of the AATS.   

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery announces the Third John H. Gibbon Jr. Research Scholarship to provide an opportunity for research, training and experience for North American surgeons committed to pursuing an academic career in cardiothoracic surgery. The scholarship will be funded by the AATS Graham Research Foundation and administered by the Association.

The research program must be undertaken within the first three years after completion of an approved cardiothoracic residency. Applications for the scholarship must be submitted during the candidate's first two years in an academic position. The duration of the scholarship is to be two years.

The yearly stipend shall be $80,000 paid to the host institution for support of salary, research supplies, travel and other legitimate academic expenses of the scholar. The stipend is to be used for direct salary support and related research expenses only; it cannot be used to support indirect institutional costs.

The application will consist of three components:

1. The candidate must submit a proposal for the research to be undertaken and a statement of career plans and how the research activity will relate to the candidate's academic career.

2. The Director of the laboratory in the institution at which the research will be performed shall submit an endorsement of the proposal and indicate the facilities and degree of support available for the candidate's research.

3. The Chairman of the candidate's department shall submit his or her endorsement of the proposal and confirm the candidate's academic appointment.

The Scholarship will begin July 1, 2014 and conclude on July 1, 2016. The scholar shall submit an interim and a final written report of his/her research activities to the Council of the Association.

Please address all letters to:

Board of Directors
AATS Graham Research Foundation
500 Cummings Center
Suite 4550
Beverly, MA 01915
978-927-8330

Evarts A. Graham Memorial Traveling Fellowship 2014-2015

Deadline: July 1, 2013, 11:59PM EST 

The Evarts A. Graham Memorial Traveling Fellowship was established in 1951 by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery for the purpose of supporting study within North America by promising young academic cardiothoracic surgeons from outside the region to broaden their overall training and increase international contacts. Since the inception of the Graham Fellowship, 60 individuals from 30 countries have completed the Fellowship.

The Fellowship is funded and administered through the AATS Graham Research Foundation, and provides a stipend of $75,000 US to support studies at a primary center of their choice as well as travel to secondary sites in North America. The Fellowship also provides round-trip coach air fares from the recipient's country to his/her primary center.

The dates of the beginning and ending of the Fellowship year should be scheduled to coincide with the Annual Meetings of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery in April 26-30, 2014, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada and April 25 – 29, 2015, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Washington. The Fellow will be introduced at the Graham Reception in Toronto and will be expected to submit a report summarizing his/her year's experience prior to the May 2015 Annual Council Meeting.

Fellowship Application Guidelines

Awards are made to surgeons of unique promise who are regarded as having potential for international thoracic surgical leadership.

•A candidate should have completed his/her formal training in general surgery and in thoracic and/or cardiovascular surgery, but should yet not have reached a senior position.

•Candidates must be sufficiently proficient in English to realize the full benefits of the Fellowship.

•The Fellow must identify an individual at a primary center who will act as his/her sponsor and who will assist in planning the course of study at the host institution for a minimum of 6-9 months. A letter of support from that sponsor is required.

•In addition to their primary center, the Fellow is encouraged to select secondary centers in which complementary experience can be acquired, and at which the candidate will spend shorter periods of time. These centers should be selected with guidance from their primary host, and mentors at those locations similarly identified with letters of support submitted.

•The Fellow is expected to engage in observation, consultation, teaching and research during the twelve months. Patient contact will be determined by the sponsoring surgeon and will conform to the regulations and licensing requirements of the state, province, or country in which he/she is studying.

•Candidates must be non-North American residents without significant (> 6 months) prior training in North America prior to making application. While candidates with prior experience may apply, those with no prior experience will receive preference.

•The applicants proposed plan of study must clearly outline the educational insights and benefits that the fellowship will have on their professional career.

•Letters of support and biography submitted by the applicant must outline future ambitions leading towards a potential leadership role in cardiothoracic surgery

•The successful candidate should be planning to return to their native country following the completion of their fellowship.

Please address all letters to:

Board of Directors
AATS Graham Research Foundation
500 Cummings Center
Suite 4550
Beverly, MA 01915
978-927-8330