Stroke Council Abstract Travel Grant and the Bernard J. Tyson Career Development Award

• Applicant must be active in research and within 10 years of completion of terminal degree or highest certificate (e.g., MSc, PhD), or within 10 years of completing medical fellowship or residency, as of the award application date. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, instructors, and research associates are welcome to apply.
• Applicants must be members of the AHA Scientific Council sponsoring this award. Your council affiliation will be validated during the application process. Membership must be completed online. Please note that membership processing may take 3–5 days; do not wait until the proposal deadline to Join or Renew.

• Applicants must submit a previously unpublished abstract in accordance with AHA rules and regulations for submitting abstracts to the International Stroke Conference.
• The presenting author of an accepted abstract must be registered for the International Stroke Conference and must be able to present the abstract at the International Stroke Conference in person, 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 grant.
• 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 award or travel grant, even if multiple abstracts are accepted to the International Stroke Conference.
• Each applicant for AHA council-sponsored awards, regardless of award category, is eligible to receive only one council-sponsored grant per AHA meeting per year. (For example, an Early Career Investigator Award finalist will not be eligible to receive a travel grant for the same conference.)
• Winners of the current year’s International Stroke Conference awards or travel grants are not eligible for consideration.
• Winners of this travel grant are not eligible to apply in subsequent years.
• Applicants must adhere to the AHA Embargo Policy.
• The work covered by the abstract must not have been presented at a national or international meeting or world congress before the date and time of presentation at the International Stroke Conference. The abstract must comply with the Abstract Submission Guidelines.
• Notwithstanding the above, the AHA Officers have the discretion to determine eligibility for the award in extraordinary circumstances when there is an issue relating to AHA policy, positions or other potentially controversial issue relating to the positioning or perception of the AHA.

Applications will be assessed based on the scientific ranking of the candidate’s abstract and how it compares to other applicants, the candidate’s statement, and CV. This award is meant to support candidates who will most benefit from attending the meeting and science mentorship.

Abstract presenters for ISC will be notified by October. Applicants should submit their applications before presenter notifications are received. Only those with an accepted abstract will be eligible to receive a travel grant. Applicants whose abstract are not accepted may be eligible for a mentorship assignment.

• August 19, 2025, 6 p.m. (CDT) – Deadline to submit an abstract to the International Stroke Conference 2026.
• September 30, 2025 – Deadline to have an active AHA professional membership with the Stroke Council. Membership must be completed online. Please note that membership processing may take 3-5 days; do not wait until the proposal deadline to Join or Renew.
• October 1, 2025, 6 p.m. (CDT) – Deadline to apply for this award in the Council Awards Application System.
• October 2025 – Applicants are notified of their award status (selected or not selected). Only those with an accepted abstract will be considered for selection.

Electronic submission through the Council Awards Application System is mandatory. Hard copies of any part of the application will not be accepted.

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

• Candidate Curriculum Vitae and Bibliography
• Abstract: A copy of the abstract submitted for presentation at the International Stroke Conference, in accordance with AHA rules and regulations. The candidate must be the first and presenting author on the abstract. Please note the abstract control number received after submission, as it will be required on your award application form.
• Letter of Support: Original letter on electronic letterhead, signed by the candidate’s supervisor or an appropriate institutional officer, indicating the applicant’s status as a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, instructor, or research fellow. No additional references are required.
• Candidate Statement: A 1–2 paragraph candidate statement about what this award would mean for you and your career. Please include any challenges or obstacles that you may have experienced in your career.

Visit the Council Awards Application System to complete an application.

A username and password previously set up through online registration at Professional Heart Daily (PHD) will be necessary to access the Application System. AHA Professional Members who are creating an online profile for the first time should make sure to register using their AHA membership identification numbers.

An active AHA Professional Membership is required of all applicants for this award. If you are joining the AHA to apply, please wait for your AHA member 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 application submission deadline for the member ID number to be processed and delivered in time for the application deadline. The membership number will be required on the award application form.

1. Click the link for the Council Awards Application System.
2. Sign in with your Professional Heart Daily username and password.
3. Follow these instructions to set up your profile in ProposalCentral. Setting up your ProposalCentral profile will only need to be done the first time you login to apply for an American Heart Association Council Awards. Please note that the grant maker named American Heart Association is for AHA Research Awards and is a separate log in.
4. To apply for award, follow these steps:
   • Create New Proposal: Start by selecting "Create New Proposal."
   • Filter by Grant Maker: Choose "American Heart Association Council Awards."
   • Select Program: From the Programs list, select "International Stroke Conference Abstract Travel Grant."
   • Apply Now: Click the "Apply Now" button.
   • Choose Award: Within the application, select "Stroke Council Abstract Travel Grant and the Bernard J. Tyson Career Development Award."

For more detailed information on ProposalCentral, also included are additional materials on specific ProposalCentral functionality.

• How to Create an Application in ProposalCentral (PDF)
• How to Register a ProposalCentral User (PDF)
• How To Add Publications in ProposalCentral (PDF)

Up to 5 candidates from the pool of eligible applicants may be awarded.

Each winner will receive:

• One (1) complimentary ticket to the ISC Member Welcome Reception and the Bernard J. Tyson Career Development Award Reception. Attendance at the International Stroke Conference and the council hosted events are mandatory and will be verified before the grant is awarded.
• Reimbursement for eligible travel expenses up to $1,500.

Winners will be notified in October and will be required to pay their registration for the meeting. In addition to the travel grant, winners will receive a Bernard J. Tyson Career Development Award. This award provides those selected with the opportunity to be paired with a Stroke Council Early Career Committee member to help them navigate the International Stroke Conference. They will also be invited to participate in one year of mentorship with a science leader in the field and to networking and engagement opportunities.