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/multi-disciplinary studies

• Support high-risk/high reward research

• Fund a balanced research portfolio

• Have an international scope

AHA Research Grants

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Predoctoral Fellowship

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award

Clinical Research Program

Beginning Grant-in-Aid

Scientist Development Award

Early Career Programs

Established Investigator Programs

Grant-in-Aid

Established Investigator Award

AHA Affiliates

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

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Offered by Affiliates – New in 2009

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

Predoctoral FellowshipOffered by all Affiliates

Objective• Help trainee initiate a career in CV and stroke research• Support highly meritorious research

Eligibility• 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

Postdoctoral FellowshipOffered by all Affiliates

Objectives• Target early career investigators in mentored

environment• Support introductory and pilot clinical studies• Foster translational science and population-based

research

Clinical Research ProgramOffered by Affiliates & National

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

Clinical Research Program

Objective– Fund highly meritorious physician-

scientists– Target crucial period of career

development spanning completion of research training through early faculty years

Fellow-to-Faculty Transition AwardOffered by National

• 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

Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award

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

Beginning Grant-in-AidOffered by Affiliates

Objective

• Support highly promising beginning scientists• Target career stage between completion of

research training and emergence as independent investigator

Scientist Development GrantOffered by Affiliates & National

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

Scientist Development Grant

AHA Early Career Funding OpportunitiesProgram 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

PostdoctoralPhD, 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

salary2 years

Scientist Development Grant

≤4 years since 1st Faculty/Staff appt.

$60,000-77,000/year up to 50%

of PI salary3 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…• 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 ChemistryType of AHA Awards: British-American Research Fellowship, 1977

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Questions