New follow up reporting requirements starting for 2013 applicants. Please review the new instructions carefully.
Ranjan Gupta MD, Chair – Research Management Committee
Brent Graham MD, ASSH Research Division Director
Applicants and Proposals
Eligibility
Follow up Reporting
Publication and Further Funding
Application Process
Submission Guidelines
Introduction: ASSH & AFSH Commitment to Research
The ASSH and AFSH are committed to excellence in clinical and basic science research. Hand care professionals, industry, and the public value and respect our unsurpassed support of education and scientific investigation, unquestionable academic integrity and fiscal responsibility. We are determined to encourage and fund ingenuity and advancement in our profession.
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (AFSH) have established grant funding to encourage young investigators to perform basic science research studies. It is anticipated that the funding will enable investigators to initiate pilot projects that will lead to subsequent funding from other sources such as the NIH.
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Applicants and Proposals
The selection of the research proposals for funding is made by the Research Management Committee with the approval of the Council of the ASSH and the AFSH Board. Selection is based on the merits of the proposal with preference given to new projects for which the grant could serve as seed money for larger grants from the NIH or OREF. Proposals that have already been funded from other sources will not be considered. Awards are made to universities, medical schools, research institutions, or individuals. Grants may be used for salaries of technical and professional assistants, purchase of supplies, or minor pieces of equipment. Grants may not support the personal compensation of investigators, travel or conferences, publication costs, the payment of hospital care for patients under study, the purchase of major pieces of equipment, or any overhead expenses.
In the past, funding has been provided for a range of subjects, including microvascular, tendons, nerves, artificial joints, tissue engineering, biomechanics, rehabilitation, and other related subjects. The grants are for one year, and are limited to a maximum of $20,000.
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Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the grant, at least one of the investigators must be a member of the ASSH. Members of the Research Management Committee are not eligible to be the principle investigator, co-PI or mentor on any AFSH grant application.
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Follow-up Reporting
UPDATED FOR 2013
If awarded either a basic science or clinical research grant, the recipient is compelled to present at the appropriate Investigators Workshop at the ASSH Annual Meeting before receiving their funds and at least one other time during the duration of the award. The award will not be changed by the content of the presentation at the Investigators Workshop – goal is to mirror pre-dissertation presentations made in universities, namely to improve the work or proposed work. The next workshops will be held October 3, 2013 in San Francisco, CA. All future meeting dates are posted on our website.
Investigators receiving grants are expected to make a progress report within 12 months following receipt of funds. If more time is needed to complete the study, the investigator may request a no-cost grant extension. A final report, including a listing of all presentation and publications resulting from the project, must be submitted 24 months after receipt of funds. All funds not used in the study should be returned to the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand.
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Publication and Further Funding
Awardees are encouraged to submit resulting manuscripts to The Journal of Hand Surgery and to present their work, if possible, at the ASSH Annual Meeting. In the case of publication in any journal, presenting or citing research funding, credit is to be noted by footnote that the project was supported totally or partially by funds from the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand. It is requested that a reprint of such publications be made available to the ASSH Research Management Committee Chair for permanent record. Grant applications received from any investigators with delinquent reports will not be reviewed.
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Application Process
Please download the AFSH Research Grant Application
AFSH_Grant_App.doc
The grant application closely mimics the NIH grant format. This is to encourage familiarity with the grant application of the NIH for further funding. Each applicant, funded or unfunded, will receive critiques of the grant from the ASSH Research Management Committee Study Section so that future revisions will be more competitive for extramural funding. The distribution of funded Basic Science and Clinical Research Grants will be up to the discretion of the Research Management Committee.
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Submission Guidelines
Applications are due to the ASSH Central Office by the close of business on April 1, 2013. You must email the following:
- Your completed grant application form in Microsoft Word format
- IRB or IACUC documentation (if applicable)
- Letter of support from your department chair or division head. The purpose of this letter is to verify that the researcher will have time (as in time away from clinical practice) and enough resources in addition to the grant to complete the project in a timely fashion.
Email all documentation to: smeyerhughes@assh.org
While the grant application form must be in Word format, the supporting documents may be in PDF format.
Questions? Email smeyerhughes@assh.org or call (312) 880-1900.
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