ASE/APDS: Collaborative Grant Initiative

The ASE/APDS Collaborative Grant Initiative aims to foster innovative educational research by inviting proposals that include members from both the Association of Program Directors in Surgery and the Association for Surgical Education. With a funding of $5,000 for the winning proposal, the initiative encourages original projects that contribute to the surgical education community, culminating in a presentation during the 2026 Surgical Education Week. Proposals should detail the project's background, design, budget, and timeline.

The Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) and Association for Surgical Education (ASE) are pleased to announce the continuation of a collaborative program intended to increase innovative educational research and developmental activities between the organizations. Proposals will be solicited annually and reviewed by a committee appointed/designated by the presidents and liaisons of each society. A single proposal felt to be of the highest merit will be chosen and announced as the winning proposal during Surgical Education Week.
The winning proposal’s primary investigator or team leader will be awarded $5,000 from the societies to complete the project. There are no specific limitations on how the funds can be used but the plan must be outlined in the proposal.
The proposal should outline in not more than five (5) pages the background, project design, budget, timeline, qualifications of the project team, and rationale for the merit of the project to the surgical and medical education community. This award is not intended to support projects already underway or supported by other sources and is intended to foster original, collaborative, and innovative concepts of interest to both societies. Indirect costs (i.e. university overhead) are not provided or included.

Eligibility

Each submitted proposal must:
Include members of both societies in the project team. For the purpose of the application please fill in one ASE member and one APDS member. The team may consist of as many members as necessary, all whom should be described in the proposal.
Lead to a product presented at the 2026 Surgical Education Week
Involve novel research or program development that is clearly of merit to the surgical education community.