ASRM In-Training Surgical Research Award

ASRM In-Training Surgical Research Award

PURPOSE

The ASRM Research Institute In-Training Surgical Research Grant application cycle opens September 3, 2024. The purpose of this award is to preserve and advance surgical education and innovation in the field of reproductive medicine. Funds may be used to support a new or ongoing surgical research project. Proposals for the In-Training Surgical Research Award will be due Monday, December 2, 2024.

ELIGIBILITY

Investigators meeting eligibility within the reproductive health field are encouraged to apply. Eligible applicants include:

  • Must be a currently enrolled medical student, resident, or fellow at an accredited medical school.
  • Pursuing career interest within the field of surgery and reproductive medicine.

Applicants need not be ASRM members at the time of the application but will be required to become members prior to the initiation and throughout the duration of funding. Awardees must maintain an active membership until the project is completed and has been presented at an ASRM Annual Scientific Congress. Please note that ASRM members will be provided preferential review.

AWARD

Amount: ASRM will award up to $4,000 to be distributed to one or more awardees.

Award Period: 1 Year

APPLICATION

An application must include the following information in order as described below. Additionally, all letters must be included in your application package and cannot be sent separately before the application deadline.

1.     Title page

a.      Title of the project (not to exceed 200 characters including spaces)

b.     Applicant’s name and credentials

c.      Applicant’s department affiliation, sponsoring institution, and contact information

d.     Total funding amount requested

e.      Are you a current ASRM member? (Y/N)

f.       If yes, please provide your ASRM membership number

2.     Letter (One page maximum)

a.      Program Director or faculty mentor letter of support acknowledging the applicant’s project and grant proposal, endorsing the applicant’s research, and confirming the institution’s commitment to providing time and support to the applicant.

3.      Abstract (350 words maximum)

a.      Scientific Abstract describing the research proposal including the potential immediate impact of the anticipated results on the practice of reproductive medicine

4.     Specific Aims of the research proposal presented in NIH format– (One page maximum)

5.     A research proposal should include the following sections (Three page maximum)

a.      Background and Significance

b.     Resources and Environment (can be attached as an appendix – optional section)

c.      Research Plan (methodology and statistical analysis plan must be clearly described)

d.     Timeline for project start-up, implementation, and completion

e.      References/citations are required but will not count against the total number of pages for the application (can be attached as an appendix)

6.     NIH-style Biosketch

a.      A biosketch for the primary investigator as well as the faculty mentor should be provided. Each Biosketch should include a specific description of the role of each investigator in the proposed project and should not exceed FIVE pages (including the current funding)

7.     Budget

a.      A detailed budget and budget justification for the project

b.     Funds are available for project expenses including patient expenses, research supplies, analysis software, national registries, survey licenses, etc.

c.      No clinical care costs will be covered by this funding opportunity

d.     Funds may not be used toward degree-seeking courses or educational training

e.      Indirect costs to the sponsoring institution will not be covered

8.     Formatting & Due Date

a.      The proposal must be typed in Calibri 12 pt. type with page margins no less than .5 inches and no more than 1 inch

b.     Pagination should be included at the bottom of each page (excluding the Title page)

c.      The entire application must be submitted as ONE PDF FILE to research@asrm.org Subject Line: ASRM In-Training Surgical Research Award Application by 4pm EST on Monday, December 2, 2024.

9.     Regulatory Requirements

a.      Human and/or animal use must be approved by the Institutional Review Board or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, or their equivalent, and documented before funds are released, but pre-approval is not required for application.

b.     It is required that any research involving human embryos complies with applicable federal and state laws and will be in line with the ASRM’s guidance document on the ethics of human embryo research. No research will proceed without all relevant Institutional Board(s) and Committee(s) reviews and approval.

SELECTION PROCESS

ASRM Research Institute Grant Review Groups (GRGs) will review the proposals and awardees determined. To avoid a potential conflict of interest, members of the GRGs will recuse themselves from reviewing any proposal that they are directly or indirectly involved in. Award notifications will be made in February 2025, with awards being paid out in April 2025. Project period one year.

REPORTING

A final progress report is required and should be submitted to ASRM at research@asrm.org within 90 days of the project period completion.