Call for Applications: American Society of Transplantation Allied Health Professionals Grant
All applications for the AST grants must be completed by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Monday November 14, 2011. The submission site will automatically close after the deadline. No applications or supplementary documents will be accepted after the submission deadline.
This is a two-year grant ($5,000/year) awarded for studies that focus on topics related to transplant candidate and recipient outcomes and well-being, quality of life, compliance, and aspects of transplant-related drugs that affect patient care (including dosing, side effects, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenetics). Studies should be designed to answer specific question(s). Preference will be given to prospective studies. Note the distinct eligibility requirements compared to the other faculty grants.
The AST supports a wide range of basic and clinical research topics. Research topics that involve under-represented areas including minorities, women, and pediatrics are strongly encouraged. The AST also encourages applications from women and minority researchers. Under-represented minority investigators are defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group as determined by the NIH. Established AST members are encouraged to bring this funding opportunity to the attention of new faculty members performing transplantation research at their institutions and to support their applications.
Eligibility Criteria
Please pay particular attention to the eligibility requirements, as requirements vary for different AST Grants.
Appointment and Institutional Resources
At the time of application, the applicant must have a staff position at an accredited medical center or institution of higher learning and be an established member of the transplant team. The applicant must submit a letter from the Department Chair that stipulates that the applicant has the institutional resources for conducting independent research (office space, computer, statistical back-up, access to medical records). Additionally, the letter must also specifically stipulate the amount of protected research time should this grant be awarded.
AST Membership
The applicant must be an active member of the AST or have submitted a completed membership application (for review/approval by the AST Membership Committee) by the submission deadline (with expectation that membership will be active before the grant review occurs). The proposed work is to be performed in a North American Medical Center. The applicant’s membership dues must be paid to date by January 1, 2012; otherwise, the application will not be considered for funding.
Education
The applicant must hold a degree and have completed any advanced training commensurate with their position at the time of the application. Allied Health Professionals include, but are not limited to: Transplant Coordinators (CCTC), staff nurses (RN), nurse practitioners (RN, NP, CRNP, FNP, ACNP); clinical nurse specialists (CNS); physician assistants (PA-C), social workers (MSW); and Doctors of Pharmacy (PharmD). PhD’s who are staff members of a clinical department who do not hold an MD, and are performing clinical research (e.g. PhD’s in psychology, sociology, nursing, epidemiology, or public health), are also eligible. Allied Health Professionals must have sufficient advanced training and experience to perform the proposed work. Collaborations between Allied Health Professionals to provide optimal expertise, is permissible.
Citizenship The applicant must be either: a) US, Canadian, or Mexican citizen; b) a lawfully admitted permanent resident foreign national of the US, Canada, or Mexico with a valid visa during the award period; or c) a foreign national admitted lawfully for residence in the US, Canada, or Mexico during the awarded period. Funding will not be released until visa status is confirmed.
Previous Funding
An individual cannot apply for an AST Allied Health Professionals Grant if he/she has been awarded this grant in the past or if the applicant serves as the PI on a previous or current RO1, project on a PO1 grant, VA Merit award or comparable non-mentored award. However, an applicant may have current or previous Career Development Awards or Grants-in-Aid. Applicants can apply for an AST grant at the same time he/she is applying for an NIH RO1, PO1, or any equivalent independent research award and may retain AST funding if an NIH RO1, PO1, or any equivalent award is received after the initiation of their AST grant, if they can justify that the projects are distinct or that the grants fund different aspects of a related project. Applicants who receive an RO1, PO1, or equivalent grant are requested to send their Specific Aims from both grants to the AST office along with an explanation for how the two projects are different.
The AST Allied Health Professionals Grant project must be distinct from that of any concurrent award. Moreover, this work should not directly overlap with funded projects of other faculty/staff members within the same Section or Department. Note: An Allied Health Professional may only hold ONE new AST Grant per year as either a PI, or as mentor/sponsor of a Fellowship Grant. If more than one grant from a given Allied Health Professional is submitted and deemed competitive for funding, the AST will determine which grant to fund.
AST
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Phone: 856.439.9986
Fax: 856.439.9982
