SPA Young Investigator Research Grants

Application Process

Initial Proposal Submission (August 15, 2025 deadline):

Submit the following collated into one PDF document (with investigator's last name as the title):

1. Title Page
2. Project Description (Two pages maximum):
- Specific Aims/Hypotheses/Goals
- Importance of this project for pediatric anesthesiology
- Background information
- Previous data, if any
- Methods, including sample size analysis
- Planned data analysis

3. Biosketch (NIH Style) of the Applicant and Mentor

4. Supporting Letters:
- Letter of support from Chair of Department
- Letter of support from research mentor
- Letters of support from project collaborators

Submission: Send electronic PDF to [email protected]

Initial Proposal Deadline: August 15, 2025, 5:00 PM ET

Initial Review Timeline: Decision announced one month after submission deadline (approximately September 15, 2025)

Scoring Criteria for Initial Proposals

Proposals reviewed based on:

1. Principal Investigator:
- Does applicant have potential to succeed as a mentored investigator?
- Previous research experience or track record relevant to proposal?
- Demonstrates high potential for developing as a clinician-scientist?

2. Mentor and Mentorship Team:
- Is mentor qualified for the area of proposed research?
- Do applicant and mentor have track record of prior/ongoing collaboration?
- Does mentor have track record of funded investigation?
- Has mentor demonstrated successful mentorship previously?

3. Significance:
- Does project focus on important question or problem in the field?

4. Innovation:
- Does application use novel theories, approaches, methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions?
- Are concepts novel to the field?

5. Approach:
- Are proposed research questions, design, and methodology technically sound?
- Plans to address weaknesses in approach?
- Relevant to applicant's research career objectives?
- Appropriate to applicant's stage of research development?

6. Environment and Institutional Commitment:
- Are research facilities and institutional environment adequate and appropriate?
- Clear departmental commitment to adequate protected time for candidate?

Full Proposal (If Invited)

Invitation: Successful applicants invited to submit more complete and thorough description

Full Proposal Deadline: November 15, 2025

Contents: Budget, timelines, plans for analysis, and future development

Review Timeline: Results announced no later than early January 2026; funding distributed late January 2026

Expectations for Funded Investigators

Individuals whose work is funded for 2026 are expected to present their work at the SPA Winter Meeting in 2026