Tirone E. David Surgical Investigator Program

Program Overview

The Tirone E. David Surgical Investigator Program provides research scholarships for cardiac surgeons within their first seven years of practice with a focus on aortic and valvular heart disease.

The Tirone E. David Surgical Investigator Program is part of the AATS Foundation Surgical Investigator research scholarship series. By applying for the Tirone E. David Surgical Investigator Program, all candidates will be considered for all available AATS Foundation Surgical Investigator programs including the Tirone E. David Surgical Investigator funding. The review committee will assign successful candidates based on individual requirements.

Application Process

• Biosketch.
• Description of the proposed research, including background, specific aims, significance, and research plan (5 page limit).
• Description of research facilities.
• Detailed budget (up to 10% of the total funding can be used for indirect costs and/or overhead assessments).
• Disclosure of other currently funded research projects and pending applications for support.
• Letter of support from the Surgical Chief or Director of Laboratory where research will be conducted addressing their endorsement of proposal and feasibility of the research proposal being carried out.*
• First most significant reprint.
• Second most significant reprint.
• One page statement describing the relationship of the proposed research to the applicant’s career goals.

*For those looking to send letters of support for the candidate directly to the AATS Foundation, please email foundation@aats.org.

Guidelines

• Applications for the Surgical Investigator Awards may request up to $50,000 per year for up to two years. Two-year proposals are preferred. For requests of more than one year, a progress report and request for additional funding are required prior to the end of the originally funded year. Additional funding will be made after review of the progress report.
• All applications will be subjected to a rigorous peer-review process which will be established and overseen by the program's Review Committee.
• If selected, the award will be paid to the successful applicant’s institution for support of salary, research supplies, travel, and other legitimate academic expenses.
• The funding is to be used for initial support or for bridge funding for the continuation of a project between grants. Preliminary data and publications in the area of research will be required to assess feasibility.
• After the research has concluded, investigators are required to submit a final report of their research activities and findings to the AATS Foundation Board.
• All publications emanating from the research must include acknowledgement of the award.
• All eligible applications for the Tirone E. David Surgical Investigator Program will be considered for all available AATS Foundation Surgical Investigator funding. The review committee will assign successful candidates based on individual requirements.

Suggestions and Guidelines for Year One Progress Report

• Briefly list the specific aims of the project.
• Indicate what you expected to have done at this point in the project cycle.
• Describe the barriers to progress to-date.
• Update your project plans for the second year.
• Indicate how you expect to continue or complete this research project.
• Describe plans to submit a manuscript/grant proposal or some other tangible mark of progress in the coming months.
• If available, submit any tables, figures or graphics from a report or paper you are working on.
• Feel free to add any additional information that will support a second year of funding.

Supported By

• Artivion
• Honoring Our Mentors Tirone E. David Fund
• Medtronic