This award provides operational funding of up to $30,000 a year for up to 2 years to support the costs of original research. Preference will be given to either clinical or laboratory based investigations that are judged likely to generate data that will, in turn, facilitate subsequent funding support for the applicant. In making the awards, emphasis will be placed on originality, clear, concise presentation of a logical project, high probability of successful project completion, and importance of the work toward the advancement of thoracic surgery.

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

Any thoracic surgeon who has completed a program leading to certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery or its equivalent in a country outside of the United States or who will successfully complete such training by the grant start date is eligible for a TSFRE Research Grant.

TSFRE recognizes that the support provided by a TSFRE Grant may not be sufficient to fully fund operational costs. The TSFRE's Research Grant awardees are permitted to secure other research grants to supplement a TSFRE Research Grant, but are expected to have 30% of their time protected for research pursuits. Prior receipt of an NIH grant (KO8, RO1) will weigh heavily against an applicant's candidacy in the absence of mitigating circumstances. Award of NIH funding during the period of a TSFRE award will be managed administratively on a case-by-case basis. A TSFRE awardee is obligated to notify the TSFRE in the event of such an award. Initial application for NIH support during the award years is strongly encouraged.

Narrative

Your narrative should include the following elements

1. Specific Goals and Significance (1 page)
   Identify the goals of the project and the potential significance of your expected findings. Logical future studies may also be indicated and some appraisal should be made as to the general impact of this work on the field. For most applications, less than one page will be required for this element of the proposal.
2. Background (1 page)
   To present the rationale for the project, a critical presentation of the most important relevant work of others and the results of any preliminary work that you have done. Because this grant is regarded as a pilot grant, preliminary data are not a prerequisite for funding. 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.
3. Experimental Design (not to exceed 3 pages)
   State the hypothesis that 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.
4. Budget (1 page)
   Outline costs of the entire project under the broad categories of personnel, equipment and supplies. Indicate the sources of funds that exceed the amount of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation award that are required to complete the project (e.g. National Institutes of Health, Department of Surgery, American Heart Association, etc). See letters of support, page 7. The Foundation does not support costs of consultants, travel or graphics.

Deadline

Applications are available online only and must be received by TSFRE on or before October 15: No exceptions will be granted without prior approval from the Research Committee.