American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation Rheumatology Scientist Development Award
All applications must be submitted electronically via the ACR REF Web site by 5:00 pm ET August 1, 2012. To submit your application, visit www.rheumatology.org/REF for a link to the online application. Please use 1 inch margins and Arial 11 point font for all documents submitted as part of your application and avoid jargon and abbreviations. Additional information concerning our awards and grants program is available at www.rheumatology.org/REF, or by contacting the REF at ref@rheumatology.org or (404) 633-3777.
The purpose of the ACR REF Rheumatology Scientist Development Award is to provide support for a structured, formal, clinical or basic science research training program for rheumatologists or health professionals in the field of rheumatology. This award is designed for individuals in the early stages of their career or those without significant prior research experience who plan to embark on careers in biomedical and/or clinical research in arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
This mentored post-doctoral fellowship program provides support for salary as well as research and/or education costs for the early years of research training in an environment where trainees may interact with established investigators in a clinical unit involved in the care of rheumatic diseases. The goal of funding at this level is to provide an opportunity for young scientists to embark on focused research and research training that will allow them to be competitive for the next level of career development awards. Through this award, the REF provides a means for ensuring more qualified, highly-trained investigators in the field of rheumatology.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the award, the applicant must:
1. Be an ACR or ARHP member.
2. Have a doctoral level degree, including but not limited to MD, DO, or MD/PhD. ARHP members who are doctorally prepared (i.e., must have PhD, DSc, or equivalent doctoral degree) are eligible for this award. ARHP applicants may include post-docs or investigators new to the field of rheumatology.
3. Applicants must be clinician scientists (both physicians and non-physicians). Applicants who are not clinicians must have a clinician mentor, consultant or co-Investigator on the project. All proposed projects must involve patient-oriented research even if the PI is not a licensed clinician. PhD scientists proposing epidemiology, outcomes, and health services research projects qualify for funding. PhD basic scientists and MDs who are not licensed to perform clinical care may not apply.
4. Be able to commit at least 75% full-time professional effort to research, career development, and other scholarly activities. Candidates may not spend more than 25% effort in clinical and/or teaching activities.
5. Receive acceptance by a mentor who will oversee the training and research experience. An applicant may have more than one mentor; however, at least one mentor must be a rheumatologist or rheumatology health professional and an ACR/ARHP member. This requirement does not exclude having a primary research mentor outside a rheumatology division, but does require that the trainee's academic career development has input from rheumatology faculty (e.g. rheumatologist as a co-mentor). Mentors must have sufficient independent research support to cover the costs of the proposed research project in excess of the allowable costs of the RSDA. The use of co-mentors to achieve the goals of the program is strongly encouraged.
6. Former or current principal investigators on mentored career development awards (e.g., K awards), NIH research grants (R01) or subprojects on a program project (P01) or a center grant (P50) are NOT eligible to apply. In addition, past or current recipients of VA or REF career development awards (PSDA, CIFA, JCD) and/or Institutional K recipients are NOT eligible to apply. Individuals at the NIH or CDC are not eligible to apply.
7. MD or DO applicants who are fellows must have completed one year of training by the start of the award term, and must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited clinical training program. This training must lead to the applicant’s eligibility to take the ABIM examination in rheumatology or the ABP examination in pediatric rheumatology. Health professional applicants must have completed at least one year of mentored research experience.
8. Applicants applying for this award may not apply for the ASP Junior Career Development in Geriatric Medicine Award or Rheumatology Investigator Award in the same funding cycle.
If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the REF before preparing your application.
Citizenship
Applicant must be a citizen or non-citizen national of the United States, or be in lawful possession of a permanent resident card. Non-citizen nationals are generally persons born in outlying possessions of the United States (e.g., American Samoa and Swains Island). Individuals on temporary (J1, H1) or student visas are not eligible.
Financial support will be provided as outlined below. Salary support will be provided up to a maximum of $50,000 per year in years one and two; and up to a maximum of $75,000 in year three. Salary will be based on levels set by the institution. Recipients may receive salary supplementation from other sources; however the extent of this supplementation must be stated on the application and the applicant must notify the REF if other support is received during the award term. Fringe benefits are allowed at a rate of up to 30 percent. Documentation of institutional fringe rates must accompany the proposed budget.
The award will be paid directly to the sponsoring institution and will be disbursed in two equal installments in July and January of each award year. The award must be directly applied to the individual recipient’s salary and/or research and educational costs only as outlined in the approved budget. Indirect costs are not allowed.
Year 1: Up to $50,000 total; all of which may be used for salary support, or a portion may be used for research costs as outlined below.
Year 2: Up to $75,000 total; with up to $50,000 toward salary support and up to $25,000 for research costs as outlined below.
Year 3*: Up to $100,000 total; with up to $75,000 toward salary support and up to $25,000 for research costs as outlined below.
*Renewal in year 3 is competitive, and subject to approval by the REF Scientific Advisory Council.
Research Costs: Up to $25,000 per year may be requested for research costs. Allowable research costs include the following types of expenses: (a) research supplies, equipment and technical personnel; (b) tuition and fees** and books related to degree programs, such as a MPH, MCR or other didactic courses appropriate for career development; (c) travel to research meetings or training; and (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time. These funds may not be used for salary support for the recipient.
**Payment for tuition and fees will be disbursed separately upon demonstration of course completion and a bill from the institution.
