Road to Independence
Bill Fay, MD
University of Missouri
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE:
No relevant financial relationships exist
AHA Research Strategic Plan
• Target early career investigators
• Promote collaborative/multidisciplinary studies
• Support high-risk/high reward research
• Fund a balanced research portfolio
• Have an international scope
Grant-in-Aid
Established Investigator
Award
Established Investigator
Programs
Scientist Development
Award
Beginning Grant-in-Aid
Clinical Research Program
Fellow-to-Faculty Transition
Award
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Predoctoral Fellowship
Summer Undergraduate
Research Fellowship
Early Career Programs
AHA Research
Grants
AHA Affiliates
Summer Undergraduate Research
Fellowship
Offered by Affiliates – New in 2009
Objective
• Encourage promising undergrads to consider
research careers while supporting the highest
quality scientific investigation broadly related to
CVD and stroke.
Eligibility
• Juniors or senior enrolled full-time in an
undergraduate degree program
Predoctoral Fellowship
Offered by all Affiliates
Objective
• Help students initiate careers in CV research by
providing research assistance and training
Eligibility
• Post-baccalaureate, pre-doctoral MD, PhD, DO,
DVM or equivalent degree
• Sponsor/mentor required
• Devote full time to research or activities directly
related to research development
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Offered by all Affiliates
Objective
• Help trainee initiate a career in CV and stroke research
• Support highly meritorious research
Eligibility
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•
•
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MD, PhD, DO, DVM or equivalent degree
Sponsor/mentor required
Not for individuals with faculty/staff appointments
Must devote at least 80% effort to research training
Clinical Research Program
Offered by Affiliates & National
Objectives
• Target early career investigators in mentored
environment
• Support introductory and pilot clinical studies
• Foster translational science and population-based
research
Clinical Research Program
Eligibility
• Health care professionals with Masters, MD, DO or
PhD degree
• Mentor required
• Cannot hold or have held:
– NIH RO1, R21, PO1
– AHA BGIA, SDG, EIA, GIA
– Other equivalent independent award
Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award
Offered by National
Objective
– Fund highly meritorious physicianscientists
– Target crucial period of career
development spanning completion of
research training through early faculty
years
Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award
• Eligibility
– Physician (MD, MD/PhD, DO or equivalent)
– Must be enrolled in or have completed an
ACGME-approved residency or clinical
fellowship program
– Must have completed the clinical portion
of training program
Beginning Grant-in-Aid
Offered by Affiliates
Objective
• Promote independent status of promising
beginning scientists
Eligibility
• MD, PhD, DO, DVM or equivalent degree
• Must have faculty or staff appointment
– Rank < Assistant Professor
Scientist Development Grant
Offered by Affiliates & National
Objective
• Support highly promising beginning scientists
• Target career stage between completion of
research training and emergence as independent
investigator
Scientist Development Grant
Eligibility at Application:
• MD, PhD, DO, DVM or equivalent degree
• May be in final year of postdoctoral training or initial
years of independent research career
• Must have faculty or staff appointment
– Rank < assistant professor
• No more than 4 yrs since 1st faculty/staff appointment
at Assistant Professor or equivalent level
• Cannot have received a prior national-level grant
AHA Early Career Funding Opportunities
Program
Target Audience
Annual Minimum
Duration
Summer
Undergraduate
Undergraduate
students
$4,000 per student
10 weeks
Predoctoral
PhD, MD students
$17,000/year stipend
3 months to 2 years
Postdoctoral
PhD, MD students, not
yet independent
$30,000/year stipend
2-3 years
Fellow-to- Faculty
Transition Awards
M.D., M.D./PhD., D.O.
who seek research
training under a
sponsor/mentor
$593,000
over 5 years
5 years
Clinical Research
Program
PhD, MD students.
MA, MD, DO or PhD
not yet independent
$55,000/year
2 years
Beginning
Grant in Aid
1st Faculty/Staff appt.
through Asst. Prof.
$40,000/year
up to 50% of PI salary
2 years
Scientist
Development Grant
≤4 years since 1st
Faculty/Staff appt.
$60,000-77,000/year
up to 50% of PI salary
3 or 4 years
Some advice…
• Mentorship is key!
– Lab director, program director, chair
– Where, when, how to apply
– Multiple drafts promote success
• Get colleagues to read your grant
– Actual reviewers may be outside your field
– Makes you start early
• Read successfully funded grants
Some advice…
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•
•
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Attend local grantsmanship workshops
Avoid over-ambitious proposals
Don’t give up after one try!
Demonstrate institutional commitment
– SDG/Non-tenure track faculty position
• Know your study section
• Do peer review!
Some advice…
• Assemble a team
– Include senior investigators
• Enjoy the process!
And if you get an AHA
grant….this could be
you!
Martin Chalfie, Ph.D.
2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Type of AHA Awards: British-American Research Fellowship, 1977
Questions
19