American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Perinatal Pediatrics Marshall Klaus Perinatal Research Awards MISSION: TO SUPPORT & ENCOURAGE TRAINEE RESEARCH The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Section on Perinatal Pediatrics, and Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute initiated the Marshall Klaus Perinatal Research Awards with the goal of enhancing and supporting development of research skills among physicians training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. These awards provide partial support intended to assist fellows in initiating and completing research projects. Grants of $5000/year are available. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The American Academy of Pediatrics Perinatal Research Grant Program is designed to give pediatric residents and neonatal fellows with limited research training and experience an opportunity to initiate and complete research projects related to their professional interests. $5,000 grants are available to qualifying trainees. Projects may be related to the full spectrum of child health research, such as perinatal-neonatal health, behavioral sciences, biomedical science, epidemiology, health services, prevention, public health, quality improvement, and quality measurement. Trainees must conduct their research under the supervision of a mentor within his or her own department or with other basic, clinical, or social scientists within the trainee's institution. Research projects can be conducted for a maximum of two years and should be completed during the residency program. The Section on Perinatal Pediatrics’ Research Committee considers each application in light of the following criteria: proposed methodology, significance of the topic, innovation, feasibility to complete during fellowship, and relevance to the trainee's career goals. It is of particular importance that the mentor provides a clear plan of mentorship and outline explicitly what role he or she will take in order to support the trainee in the conduct of the project. Priority is given to trainees who have no or limited research training after medical school and to proposals most likely to advance the trainee's research knowledge, skills, and interests. Award recipients will be expected to submit their research findings in an abstract to the AAP National Conference & Exhibition (Section on Perinatal Pediatrics) fall meeting. In addition to the $5000 award, the recipient's travel and lodging (economy airfare and other expenses, as outlined in the AAP Travel Guidelines) will be provided. In addition, recipients will be asked to complete a brief follow-up survey to assist with the evaluation of the program. ELIGIBILITY Applicants must be fellows in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine or pediatric residents in a training program (categorical or combined) who have confirmed plans to pursue subspecialty training in neonatal perinatal medicine. In addition, applicants must have a definite commitment for at least another year research training in an accredited program. INFORMATION Application packets were mailed to all Training Program Directors. You may also obtain an application at www.aap.org/sections/perinatal or by calling 800/433-9016, ext. 7656. RESEARCH TRAINING MENTOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES The research mentor must have a research background and be knowledgeable in the specific field related to the project. The mentor's biographical sketch (in standard NIH format, limited to 4 pages), along with a letter of support, must be mailed directly to the Academy. In the support letter, the research mentor should explicitly answer the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. How does the proposed project fit into the trainee's career plans? How did the trainee select the topic? What components of the proposed study will the trainee perform directly? What is the trainee expected to learn from conducting the proposed research? What will the mentor do in order to ensure that the trainee increases his / her research skills and successfully completes the project? Please note that the grant sent to the institution will be used specifically for the project. No indirect charges will be paid to the institution. CHAIRPERSON/PROGRAM DIRECTOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES The chairperson/program director must write a letter of support and MAIL it to the Academy. In the support letter, the chairperson/program director must state the time available for the trainee to conduct the research project. If several applications are submitted from one institution, the program director must rank the projects. In the event the program director is also the research mentor of an applicant and more than one applicant from the training program applies for a grant, the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics will be asked to rank the projects. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE APPLICANT FOR THE TRAINEE RESEARCH GRANT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Complete the Perinatal Research Grant Application Form and Perinatal Research Grant Proposal Form and submit by January 31, 2014. Letters of support and biographical sketch also must be postmarked to the Academy at this time. ONLY APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTMARKED BY THE DEADLINE WILL BE CONSIDERED. Request a signed letter of support from your chairperson/program director. Request a signed letter of support from the proposed research mentor with a copy of his or her biographical sketch (in standard NIH format, limited to 4 pages). Indicate on the Research Grant Application Form the institution to which the grant should be made payable. Please contact the Perinatal Research Grant Coordinator if you have not received a confirmation of your application by March 1, 2014. Notify the AAP of any address change. Please note that awards may be used only for the approved study under the supervision of the approved mentor; a request to change study topic or mentor must be approved by the AAP and will be allowed only under special circumstances. If the approved project cannot be conducted or completed, the institution is expected to return all unspent funds to the AAP. IMPORTANT DATES January 31, 2014 - Deadline for application and research proposal. June 1, 2014 - Grants to be funded will be finalized July 1, 2014 - All applicants will be notified and research grants will be mailed. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRAINEES 1. Complete the Perinatal Research Grant Application Form and Perinatal Research Grant Proposal Form. Trainees should not work together on proposals. Please limit your responses for the online application to 500 words per section. 2. Request your chairperson or program director to send a signed letter of support to the Academy. 3. Ask your research mentor to send a signed letter of support to the Academy with his or her biographical sketch in standard National Institutes of Health (NIH) format, limited to 4 pages. For an example of the NIH format, please refer to the following link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/biosketchsample.rtf You do not need to submit your mentor’s CV. AWARD REVIEW AND SELECTION You will receive confirmation of your completed application approximately one month after your application and all supporting materials have been received. If you have not received confirmation of your completed application by March 1, 2014, please contact the Perinatal Research Grant Coordinator. The applications will be reviewed by June 1, 2014. Applicants will be notified and research grants will be mailed after July 1, 2014. If you have any other questions, after reading the instructions in full, please send an e-mail message to: jcouto@aap.org or call the Academy at 800/433-9016, extension 7656. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 31st All completed applications, which include the Application Form, Proposal form, letters of support, and the research mentor’s biographical sketch, must be submitted by January 31, 2014. Applications will not be processed if any items are missing. Biographical sketches and support letters must be postmarked by January 31, 2014. Please send all application materials to: Jim Couto, MA Perinatal Research Grant Coordinator Department of Subspecialty Pediatrics American Academy of Pediatrics 141 Northwest Point Blvd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098 The 2014 Marshall Klaus Perinatal Research Grant Program is made possible through a grant from Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute.