Career Development Award

Salary support of up to $50,000 a year for up to 2 years for applicants who have completed their residency training and who wish to pursue investigative careers in cardiothoracic surgery.
These awards are designed to provide salary support for the development of cardiothoracic surgical investigators. Preference is given to investigators (either clinical or laboratory based) that are able to demonstrate unique potential for a successful career in investigative cardiothoracic surgery. Awards should allow the investigator to diminish the financial impact of reduced clinical activity in order for the applicant to cultivate skills that will enhance credibility and expertise in investigation. Preference is given to applicants who are able to demonstrate clearly focused goals in an appropriately supportive and nurturing environment.

Career Development Awards provide support of up to $50,000 per year for up to 2 years. Requests for support for a single laboratory year are discouraged unless this represents the second of two consecutive research years.

If two years of funding are requested and awarded, a progress report approved by the chairperson of the Research Committee is required prior to release of payment for the second year.

Eligibility
Applicants must have completed thoracic surgical training and be able to demonstrate that they hold a position in an investigation-oriented environment. Awards are available for recently trained thoracic surgeons and for established investigators who wish to add a specific component to currently existing investigative skills. It is expected that the applicant will have not less than 50% protected time dedicated to research. Prospective applicants considering this option are encouraged to also consider the TSFRE/NHLBI MCSDA Award.

Narrative

  1. Specific Goals and Significance (500 words)
    Identify the goals to be accomplished during the period of the Career Development Award, the potential impact of this award on the investigator’s career and the field of investigation. The likely educational impact of the award on specific lines of future investigation should be documented. For most applications, less than one page is required for this element of the proposal.
  2. Personal Goals (five sentences or less)
    State your personal career goals. Identify exactly what you wish to accomplish in the course of the proposed work. Logical future studies may be indicated, as well as the potential impact of this work on the field.
  3. Background (500 words)
    A highly focused presentation of the background and rationale for the project, a critical presentation of the most important work of others in the field and the results of any preliminary work by the investigators. This page should reflect the applicant’s knowledge and critical analysis of the area of interest and provide a rationale and foundation for the proposed project.
  4. Experimental Design (not to exceed 750 words)
    State the hypothesisthat you will test and the methods that you will use. Indicate the design of the study and outline in logical sequence how you plan to proceed. Indicate the source of biological material that you will study and the statistical methods you will use in analyzing your data. Excessive methodologic detail is unnecessary, unless you are developing or applying new and unique techniques.
  5. The Educational Environment (not to exceed 750 words)
    Organized contributions of a senior investigator and mentor to the development of the trainee must be clearly identified. A very specific learning program for the trainee must be identified, and the manner in which the proposed work will interact with the training program should be well delineated.
  6. Financial Support for the Project
    State the sources of financial support for the project that you will pursue and for the laboratory in which you will work. Identify the director of the laboratory and sources of support for the project (e.g. National Institutes of Health, Department of Surgery, etc.). Identify the principal investigator, title, grant number, dates of the grant award and direct costs for the period of your fellowship. Include a letter from the principal investigator (of the grant supporting your project) or department chairmanindicating that resources necessary for the project will be provided.
  7. List any other research applications pending or approved and whether any overlap exists with the TSFRE request. The intent of TSFRE is to enable this applicant by the award, but not to provide redundant funding for a funded project.

Deadline
The deadline for this award has passed.