Heart Disease Grants

2009 National Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award Program Description

Application Deadline: Jan. 22, 2009 (11:59 p.m. Central Time)
Award Activation: July 1, 2009

Contact Information
(214) 360-6104, -6106, -6107, -6113
E-mail: ncrp@heart.org
Fax: (214) 360-6124

Science Focus
The American Heart Association funds research broadly related to cardiovascular disease and stroke. We support research in clinical and basic sciences, bioengineering, biotechnology and public health.

Applications related to obesity, women and heart disease, and resuscitation are particularly encouraged.

Objective
This program provides funding for trainees with outstanding potential for careers as physician-scientists in cardiovascular or stroke research during the crucial period of career development that spans the completion of research training through the early years of the first faculty/staff position. The award provides a supportive mentored experience during this period of transition. The award will (1) greatly enhance the awardee's chances of obtaining a high-quality faculty/staff appointment; (2) improve the awardee's success and retention in an investigative career in cardiovascular science; and (3) develop the mentoring skills of the awardee as a potential future mentor.

The award will provide support for beginning physician-scientists for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years of research training and the first years of the first faculty/staff (or equivalent) appointment, for a maximum of five years of support. It is strongly encouraged that the five years of the award run consecutively, but the applicant and mentor may propose and justify an alternative plan for peer review consideration.

Individual awardees may take the award from the institution providing the research training component to another institution for the career development component (first faculty/staff appointment). The intent is to make the awardee a "free agent" who is empowered to stay at or move from the training institution while retaining the award. The mentor during the faculty stage of the award may or may not be the same person who was the mentor during the training phase.

Disciplines
All basic disciplines as well as epidemiological, community and clinical investigations that bear on cardiovascular and stroke problems.

Target Market, Eligibility

* Physicians who hold an M.D., M.D./PhD., D.O. or equivalent doctoral degree at the time of application submission and who seek additional research training under the supervision of a sponsor/mentor prior to embarking on a career of independent research.
* Applicants must be enrolled in or have completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved residency or a clinical fellowship program associated with an ACGME-approved residency.
* Applicants must have completed the clinical portion of their training program by the time of award activation. The applicant is responsible for identifying and working with a sponsor/mentor to develop the application.
* Candidates may have had no more than five years of postdoctoral research training (beyond clinical training) at time of application.
* The award is not intended for individuals of faculty/staff rank.
* At the time of award activation, applicant may not hold a faculty/staff appointment. The exceptions are M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. with clinical responsibilities who hold a title of instructor or similar due to their patient care responsibilities but who devote at least 80 percent full-time effort to research training.
* The mentor may hold an M.D., PhD., D.O. or other equivalent degree. Because of the strong mentoring component of this award and the importance of developing a meaningful relationship between awardee and mentor, an individual mentor may sponsor only one applicant to the program per year.

Citizenship
At time of application, must have one of the following designations:

* U.S. citizen
* Permanent resident
* Pending permanent resident. Applicants must have applied for permanent residency and have filed form I-485 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and have received authorization to legally remain in the United States (having filed an Application for Employment Form I-765).
* E-3 -- specialty occupation worker
* H1-B Visa -- temporary worker in a specialty occupation
* O-1 Visa -- temporary worker with extraordinary abilities in the sciences
* TN Visa -- NAFTA Professional

Individuals with J1 visas are not eligible.

Awardee must meet American Heart Association citizenship criteria throughout the award.

Exception: Postdoctoral applicants who are outside the United States at time of application, and who meet all other eligibility requirements for the Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award, must provide visa documentation prior to award activation.

Location
The training component of the award may be completed at any accredited institution in the UnitedStates, although U.S. citizens or permanent residents may complete this training portion at a non-U.S. institution. All awardees must complete the faculty component at an institution in the United States. Applicants are not required to reside in the United States for any period of time before applying for the award.

Budget/Annual Award Amount

Training Stage of Award:

* PI Salary/Fringe: Yes, up to $50,000 (institution may supplement)
* Project Support: Yes, up to $10,000/yr; travel limited to $2,000/yr, salaries of technical personnel essential to the conduct of the project, supplies, equipment, volunteer subject costs, publication costs; $5,000/yr is available to support mentor salary, projects costs, mentor travel to accompany awardee to professional meetings
* Fringe Benefits: Yes, included in $50,000
* Indirect Costs: No
* Dependent Allowance: No
* Tuition: No
* Maximum Annual Amount: $65,000

Faculty Stage of Award:

* PI Salary/Fringe: Yes, $90,000 (institution may supplement salary)
* Project Support: Yes, $25,000/yr; travel limited to $2,000/yr, salaries of technical personnel essential to the conduct of the project, supplies, equipment, volunteer subject costs, publication costs; $5,000/yr is available to support mentor salary, projects costs, mentor travel to accompany awardee to professional meetings
* Fringe Benefits: Yes (included in $90,000)
* Indirect Costs: Yes, $12,000 maximum (10 percent of total award amount)
* Maximum Annual Amount: $132,000
Award Duration
Five years, subject to annual review and satisfactory progress.

Restrictions

* Not intended for individuals of faculty/staff rank.
* Since the fellowship is considered a training award, a staff or faculty appointment cannot be held. (The exceptions are M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. with clinical responsibilities who hold a title of instructor or similar due to their patient care responsibilities but who devote at least 80 percent full-time effort to research training.)
* During the training period, awardees are expected to devote more than 80 percent full-time equivalent effort to research or activities directly related to their development into independent researchers, as opposed to administrative, patient care, or teaching responsibilities. A 75 percent full-time equivalent effort to research is required during the faculty component of the award.
* Current AHA predoctoral and postdoctoral awardees may apply for this award.
* The fellow cannot hold a comparable fellowship award.
* With one exception, this award may not be held concurrently with another AHA award (national or affiliate). Exception: A Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award recipient may apply for and receive an affiliate Beginning Grant-in-Aid or Grant-in-Aid during the faculty phase. The awardee may request only project support for these AHA grants, since the Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award provides significant salary support.
* Current or prior recipients of an AHA Scientist Development Grant, Established Investigator Grant or Established Investigator Award (national or affiliate) are not eligible.
* Prior or current recipients of any NIH K-series awards are not eligible.
* The Fellow-to-Faculty Award is not renewable (an individual may hold this award only once).
* A minimum of one year of research training after award activation is required prior to the transition to a faculty/staff appointment.
* An applicant may submit only one national application per deadline.
* The same or similar application submitted for the fourth time will be administratively withdrawn and returned to the applicant.

Applicants should never contact reviewers regarding their applications. Discussing scientific content of an application or attempting to influence review outcome will constitute a conflict of interest in the review. Reviewers are directed to notify the AHA if an applicant contacts them.

Applying to National and an Affiliate
If eligible, an applicant may simultaneously submit applications for affiliate and national awards. If both are funded, the applicant must choose one award. A person cannot hold more than one association award concurrently, unless there is a stated exception. The proposed research plan may need to be adjusted based upon different length of award and dollars available. The deadline dates may be different for each submission.

Interim Reporting and Progress Assessment
Research Committee assessment of annual progress reports to include research findings, abstracts, and publications. Audit of annual expenditure reports. Non-competing review of information submitted by the awardee at the time of completion of the training portion of the award.

Carryover of funds will be allowed as specified in current AHA policies/procedures. Any publications resulting from this award should acknowledge the American Heart Association's support.

Evaluation
Response to program promotion (application volume).
Publications and citations by others resulting from the AHA-funded projects. Subsequent funding obtained by the awardee. Career progress of award recipients. Assessment of impact of research funded.

Success Rate (January 2007 deadline)
# Applications Reviewed: 52
# Applications Awarded: 9
Success Rate: 17.31 percent

2009 National Scientist Development Grant Program Description

Application Deadline: Jan. 22, 2009 (11:59 p.m. Central Time)
Award Activation: July 1, 2009

Contact Information
(214) 360-6104, -6106, -6113
E-mail: ncrp@heart.org
Fax: (214) 360-6124

Science Focus
The American Heart Association funds research broadly related to cardiovascular disease and stroke. We support research in clinical and basic sciences, bioengineering, biotechnology and public health.

Applications related to obesity, women and heart disease, and resuscitation are particularly encouraged.

Objective
To support highly promising beginning scientists in their progress toward independence by encouraging and adequately funding research projects that can bridge the gap between completion of research training and readiness for successful competition as an independent investigator.

Disciplines
All basic disciplines as well as epidemiological, community and clinical investigations that bear on cardiovascular and stroke problems.

Target Audience

* M.D., Ph.D., D.O., D.V.M. or equivalent doctoral degree at time of application
* Applicants should be faculty/staff member initiating independent research careers, usually at the rank of instructor or assistant professor (or their equivalents).
* Must have faculty/staff appointment at activation.
* At the time of award activation, no more than four years will have elapsed since an applicant's first faculty/staff appointment (after receipt of doctoral degree) at the assistant professor level or its equivalent (including, but not limited to, research assistant professor, research scientist, staff scientist, etc.).
* Applications may be submitted for review in the final year of a postdoctoral research fellowship or in the initial years of the first faculty/staff appointment.
* Must meet institutional requirements for grant submission at time of application.
* Individuals are ineligible for the Scientist Development Grant if they have been or are currently funded (extramurally) for more than one year at a level greater than $95,000 per year in direct costs.
* SDG and an NIH mentored K-series award cannot be held concurrently.

Citizenship
At time of application, must have one of the following designations:

* U.S. citizen
* Permanent resident
* Pending permanent resident. Applicants must have applied for permanent residency and have filed form I-485 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and have received authorization to legally remain in the United States (having filed an Application for Employment Form I-765).
* E-3 -- specialty occupation worker
* H1-B Visa -- temporary worker in a specialty occupation
* J-1 Visa. Note: You must have an H-1B or equivalent by the award activation date. If the H-1B or equivalent is not received by the award activation date, the award must be relinquished.
* O-1 Visa -- temporary worker with extraordinary abilities in the sciences
* TN Visa -- NAFTA professional

Awardee must meet American Heart Association citizenship criteria throughout the award.

Budget/Annual Award Amount

* PI Salary/Fringe: Yes, up to $35,000/yr
* Project Support: Yes, at least $35,000 per year (all of award may be budgeted for project support and 10 percent indirect costs if PI salary/fringe are not requested)
* Indirect Costs: Yes, not to exceed 10 percent ($7,000/yr)
* Maximum Annual Amount: $77,000 ($70,000 direct + 10 percent indirect costs)

Award Duration
Four years

Peer Review Criteria

1. Future Independence of Investigator: Is there demonstrated evidence that the award will promote independent status for the applicant by the end of the three- or four-year award? The award is not intended to provide enhanced funding for professional personnel working on the research program of an established scientist.
2. Significance: Does this study address an important problem broadly related to cardiovascular disease or stroke? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods and technologies that drive this field?
3. Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned and feasible (as determined by preliminary data) and appropriate to the aims of the project? The assessment of preliminary data should be put into perspective so that bold new ideas and risk-taking by the beginning investigators are encouraged rather than stymied. Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
4. Innovation: Is the project original and innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms and address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools or technologies for this area?
5. Investigator: Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers? Does the investigative team bring complementary and integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?
6. Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support as demonstrated in the department head letter?

Restrictions

* Awardee may not hold another association award concurrently.*
* Awardees may apply for a Beginning Grant-in-Aid, Established Investigator Award or Grant-in-Aid in the final year of this award.
* An awardee may hold the Scientist Development Grant only once (national or affiliate).
* These awards are non-renewable.
* The project submitted can have no scientific overlap with other funded work.
* No sponsor required or accepted for this award.
* An applicant may submit one National Innovative Research Grant application and one other National application per deadline if desired.
* Individuals are ineligible for the Scientist Development Grant if they have been or are currently funded (extramurally) for more than one year at a level greater than $95,000 per year in direct costs.
* An SDG and an NIH mentored K-series award cannot be held concurrently.
* The same or similar application submitted for the fourth time will be withdrawn and returned to the applicant.**

Successful applicants who hold any postdoctoral fellowship or training award must resign that award when activating the SDG award. The SDG is an independent award; therefore, training or fellowship awards (such as the NRSA) cannot be held simultaneously.

Applicants should never contact reviewers regarding their applications. Discussing scientific content of an application or attempting to influence review outcome will constitute a conflict of interest in the review. Reviewers should notify the AHA if an applicant contacts them.

Location of Work
Awards are limited to nonprofit institutions such as medical, osteopathic and dental schools, veterinary schools, schools of public health, pharmacy schools, nursing schools, universities and colleges, public and voluntary hospitals and other nonprofit institutions that can demonstrate the ability to conduct the proposed research. Applications will not be accepted for work with funding to be administered through any federal institution or work to be performed by a federal employee with the exception of Veterans Administrations employees. Funding is prohibited for awards at non-U.S. institutions.

Exception: An investigator may be allowed to request approval to conduct work outside the United Statestemporarily.

Applying to National and an Affiliate
If eligible, an applicant may simultaneously submit applications for affiliate and national awards. If both are funded, the applicant must choose one award. A person cannot hold more than one association award concurrently, unless there is a stated exception. The proposed research plan may need to be adjusted based upon different length of award and dollars available. The deadline dates may be different for each submission.

Interim Reporting
Assessment of annual progress reports to include research findings, abstracts, publications and names of trainees supported, if any.

Evaluation
Publications, citations by others, appointment to a faculty/staff position and/or other evidence of career progression, contribution of association support to career advancement.

For the last year and a half of Spencer’s life, over 8 months were spent in the hospital. Through the generosity of friends, relatives and strangers, Spencer’s parents received snacks, books, cards, and meals to help during a very stressful situation. During Fall 2001 at Glennon, the Kults became friends with other families that were coping with extended hospital stays: one teenager waited over 3 months for a heart transplant and another family was dealing with an extended pleural effusion. If Chris and Tina were exposed to several families at one small Midwest hospital, just imagine the hundreds of other families around the country experiencing extended or far from home hospital stays, and the financial difficulties they have to face.

With Spencer’s passing, The Kults and the Congenital Heart Information Network wanted to honor his memory in some way that would help other families who might be faced with financial difficulties. In an effort to reach out to these families, C.H.I.N. is now pleased to announce the creation of Spencer’s Fund, a family assistance program that will help families with financial expenses incurred during extended or far from home clinic appointments and hospital stays. Spencer’s Fund will provide groceries, meals, travel subsidies, lodging assistance, and utility payments to families in need.

The Spencer Kult Memorial Family Assistance Fund (Spencer’s Fund) is available to all members of C.H.I.N.

Who is eligible to make a request?
Spencer’s Fund will honor requests from members directly, requests from members on behalf of other members, and requests from friends and families on behalf of members. We encourage local members to make requests for families experiencing difficult hospitalizations on their behalf. We have all made incredible connections in our "global waiting room" and Spencer’s Fund would like to reach out and help during those stressful times.

Requests can be made at any time by emailing SpencersFund@tchin.org or via fax at 314-416-0449. C.H.I.N. membership will be verified before a gift request from Spencer’s Fund is fulfilled.

Nina Starr Braunwald Career Development Award

Provides a biennial award of $110,000 for two years to support the research career development of a woman cardiac surgeon who holds a full-time faculty appointment and who is within 10 years of completion of thoracic surgery residency.

Application Deadline: October 15, 2008

The award is intended to provide salary for the recipient and/or direct research support (equipment, supplies, technical assistance) for women who wish to further their investigational skills. The award includes fringe benefits and indirect costs not to exceed $10,000. A specific research program is required as the major component. In selecting successful applicants, emphasis will be placed on prior accomplishments, the potential of the applicant, the quality of the research and the research education that the applicant would receive as a result of the award. Particular emphasis will be placed on evidence of supervisory interaction with established senior investigators and on the quality of the research environment. An important additional criterion will be an assessment of the importance of the proposed research toward the advancement of cardiac surgery. Priority will be given to applicants who have not yet demonstrated investigative independence (such as receipt as PI of an NIH RO1 award), and to established investigators who plan to use the award to develop a new line of inquiry.

Eligibility
The Nina Starr Braunwald Award is available to women cardiac surgeons in an academic cardiac surgery unit. Applicants must have a senior mentor who is an established investigator in cardiac surgery, cardiology or allied disciplines.

Narrative

Personal Goals (250 words or less, in cover letter or narrative form)

Mini CV in NIH Biosketch format (3-4 pages)

Description of the proposed research relationship between the applicant and her mentor, including facilities and environment available to support the applicant during the Award.

Background, including work to-date by others (250 words or less).

Hypothesis and objectives (250 words or less)

Work to date by the applicant and experimental design (750 words or less) Figures and illustrations may be included, and succinct figure legends are not counted against the word limit.

Summary of the anticipated findings, and likely importance to the field and for the applicant’s career advancement (250 words or less)

Financial information, including: a. Existing and pending support (for each project, give name of principal investigator, project title, period of support, and amount of awards); b. Proposed Budget for this Award; c. Letter of support from the chairperson to whom the candidate is responsible, including a specific plan to support the applicant’s career development.

An appendix containing up to three manuscripts by the applicant, including work submitted but not yet published, may be included.

Deadline
Applications are available online only and must be submitted to TSFRE on or before October 15: No exceptions will be granted without prior approval from the Research Committee.

Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education
900 Cummings Center
Suite #221-U
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: (978) 927-8330
Fax: (978) 524-8890