Deadline: February 29, 2012

Online Application

Purpose This award is to assist in the development of young faculty members engaged in clinical, outcomes, and/or educational research in digestive diseases.

Eligibility Criteria The supported research can be focused on clinical, outcomes, and educational research in digestive diseases. This includes but is not limited to clinical trial development, patient-centered outcomes research, health services research, comparative effectiveness research, cost-effectiveness research, and educational research. The award is restricted to surgeons who have completed formal clinical and research training in general surgery and are within 5 years of their first faculty appointment in a department of surgery at a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education in the United States or by the Committee for Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools in Canada, or the equivalent national accrediting body for applicants from other countries. At least 25% of the applicant’s time should be dedicated to the research and training outlined in the research plan. The Head of the Department and/or Division of General Surgery must ensure the applicant has the required protected time for research. The SSAT award of $20,000 per year for two years is a career development award and is meant to support young investigators who have not been funded by a National Institutes of Health R01 Award or equivalent. In addition, if an investigator has received a similar type of career development award from another organization such as the American College of Surgeons, American Surgical Association, etc., he/she will be ineligible for the SSAT Career Development Research Award. It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify the SSAT of potential funding conflicts. The award may be used to support clinical trial infrastructure (research assistants, data analysts, etc.), purchase of large administrative datasets necessary for conducting research, education/formal training in clinical research/biostatistics, and principal investigator salary support to ensure protected research time. No portion of the award is to be used for institutional indirect costs. The recipient will present a progress report the SSAT leadership at the Annual Meeting during and immediately following the award period. It is expected that the recipient submit abstracts arising from his/her Career Development Award-funded research to the SSAT Annual Meeting for presentation consideration, as well as manuscripts to the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the official journal of the SSAT, for publication consideration.

Applications Applications will include: A completed application form. The applicant’s curriculum vitae. A research plan of no more than 8 pages using the following headings: Title Summary (Abstract) Specific Aims Significance Innovation Approach References Two page training/career development plan. Appropriate institutional (IRB) approvals. A letter from an SSAT member agreeing to sponsor the applicant. A supporting letter from the Department Head/Division Director indicating a commitment to continuation of the academic position and facilities for research and of continued protected time. This letters should outline specifically how the program will be integrated into the applicant’s long-term career plan. A letter from the mentor/sponsor for the proposed project indication, clearly and specifically, the plan for the applicant’s career development during and subsequent to the award period.

Deadline The deadline for the 2012 award is February 29, 2012.

Review Applications for the 2012 SSAT Career Development Award for Clinical/Outcomes/Education Research will be reviewed by the Research Committee of the SSAT. The successful applicant(s) and the SSAT sponsor(s) will be notified of the decision by early April 2012, and the winner will be introduced at the Opening Session of the SSAT annual meeting during Digestive Disease Week, May 18-22, 2012 in San Diego, CA. Please note that this is now an on online process, and only online applications will be considered. Online Application