GPM Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups Travel Grant

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must be conducting genomics, proteomics and metabolomic research and translational science in the field of cardiovascular disease.
Applicants must have submitted an abstract to the AHA Scientific Sessions in accordance with the rules and regulations for submitting abstracts to one of the categories primarily sponsored by the Council on Genomic and Precision Medicine. View a list of Council Awards and Travel Grants Available by Abstract Category and Community (PDF). If your abstract is not submitted to and accepted in a GPM-sponsored category, you are not eligible to apply for this specific grant.
All applicants for the GPM Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups Travel Grant must be members of the council at the time of application. If you need to become an AHA/ASA Professional Member, you should do so no later than one week prior to the award submission deadline. Learn more about AHA membership.
Applicant must be active in research and still be in training as an undergraduate or pre-doctoral student, or be active in research and within 10 years of completing medical fellowship (or residency as NIH states, MDs would be Fellows for 3-6 years of the 7-10), terminal degree or highest certificate (e.g. MSc, PhD), as of the award application date.
The individual must be from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis: This includes Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. Other candidates considered a minority are those from medically underserved populations with low socio-economic status and those living in rural areas to include whites.
Winners are not eligible to re-enter the competition in subsequent years.
The applicant must be able to present the abstract at the AHA Scientific Sessions, either in an oral abstract session or a poster session. If the applicant is unable to present the abstract, he/she will be disqualified from the award.
Applicants may apply for a travel grant multiple times with different abstracts, as long as the applicant is the presenting author on each abstract. However, an applicant is eligible to receive only one travel grant, even if multiple abstracts are accepted to Scientific Sessions.
The candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a noncitizen national (born in American Samoa or Swains Island), or a U.S. permanent resident.
Each applicant for AHA council-sponsored awards, regardless of award category, is eligible to receive only one council-sponsored award per AHA conference per year. (For example, an Early Career Investigator Award finalist will not be eligible to receive a travel grant for the same meeting.)

Evaluation Criteria

The selection committee will consider the following criteria to determine the most deserving applicants:

Academic record of the applicant
Applicant’s perceived interest in biomedical research
Mentor’s assessment of the applicant’s commitment to biomedical research
Evidence of an excellent environment for research training for the applicant

The applicant’s abstract must have also been selected for presentation at Scientific Sessions.

How to Apply/Required Documents

Electronic submission through the Council Awards Application System(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window) is required. Hard copies of any part of the application cannot be accepted.

**Candidates may apply for more than one travel grant; however, an applicant is eligible to receive only one travel grant.

Your application file should contain the following documents in PDF format:

Curriculum vitae, including bibliography.
A copy of the unpublished abstract that has been submitted for presentation to Scientific Sessions in accordance with AHA rules and regulations for submitting abstracts to Scientific Sessions. The candidate should be the first and presenting author on the abstract.
Applicant’s personal statement (no longer than one page, double-spaced), outlining the following:
1. Your research interests and long-term career goals
2. How genomic and precision medicine within the cardiovascular field fit into your long-term goals
3. How receipt of the GPM’s Minority Travel Grant will enhance future long-term goals
Reference letter, preferably on electronic letterhead, signed by the candidate’s supervisor or an appropriate institutional officer which includes the following:
1. Confirmation of the applicant as a student, postdoctoral fellow, or faculty within four years of appointment
2. Candidate's grounds for eligibility, including verification that he or she is part of a underrepresented racial and ethnic group as defined by the NIH and identification of the candidate's specific underrepresented racial and ethnic group.
3. Candidate’s key accomplishments to date (or other forms of demonstrated excellence and recognition in the case of very junior trainees)
4. Assessment of relevant scientific attributes (intellectual curiosity, drive, critical thinking, problem-solving)
5. Potential for future success as a competitive investigator

Visit the Council Awards Application System to complete an application.

A username and password set up through online profile registration at Professional Heart Daily will be necessary to access the Application System. If you have not created an online profile yet, you may register as you enter the Application System by clicking "Sign Up" next to the Log In button on the sign-in page. AHA Professional Members who are creating an online profile for the first time should make sure to register using their AHA membership identification numbers.

AHA Professional Membership is required of all applicants for this award. If you are joining the AHA to apply, please wait on your AHA membership number to arrive from AHA Member Services via e-mail before creating an online profile and starting your application file. We suggest that new members join the AHA no later than one week prior to the award submission deadline. The membership number will be required on the award application form.

Prize

A $500 travel grant will be awarded to one or more honorees annually. The honoree will receive up to $500 to help defray travel expenses to attend AHA Scientific Sessions to present his or her abstract.

Reimbursement up to $500 will be made after eligible travel receipts (airfare, hotel, ground transportation) are submitted to the AHA after the meeting. Meals are not included as reimbursable expenses. Awardee will be required to pay his or her own registration costs for the meeting.