Instructions for Preparing a Reference Document

You were asked to provide a reference document because you are familiar with the applicant's scientific interests and abilities. You will be required to upload a reference document to the ProposalCentral online application system. A reference document is confidential and is not viewable by the applicant (principal investigator) or others associated with the proposal. References are critical to the evaluation of the proposal for funding.

Important: The applicant will not be able to submit the proposal until you have uploaded your reference document.

Need Assistance?

For ProposalCentral login issues/account access or help attaching your document:
Call +1-800-875-2562 (toll-free U.S. and Canada), or +1-703-964-5840 (direct dial international) or email [email protected]

For questions about reference content: Email [email protected] or call +1-214-360-6107



Predoctoral Fellowship and Postdoctoral Fellowship Referees:

Please download the Reference Report Form (.doc), complete it, and save it as a PDF document. Then upload it to ProposalCentral by using the link in the email that was sent to you.

This is a confidential communication, to be completed by the person providing reference. No more than 4 pages are permitted.

Please avoid referring to personal circumstances or attributes of the applicant: Marital status, age or gender (e.g. young, woman, man), the juggling of factors such as child care or illness, and roles of the applicant outside of the professional setting (e.g. mother, husband, father).

Note: A mentor, co-mentor, department head, collaborating investigator or consultant contributing to the proposal may not serve as a referee.



Established Investigator Award and Merit Award Referees:

This is a confidential communication, to be completed by the person providing a reference. Please create a document to address the three points below. Avoid referring to personal circumstances or attributes of the applicant: Marital status, age or gender (e.g. young, woman, man), juggling of factors such as child care or illness, and roles of the applicant outside of the professional setting (e.g. mother, husband, father).

Note: The applicant’s Department Head may not submit a reference letter.

After completion, save your document as a PDF, and upload it to ProposalCentral by using the link in the email that was sent to you.

Address the three items below, in no more than 4 pages:

  1. Investigator’s promise (strengths and limitations) and the impact the award would have on his/her career.
  2. Your knowledge of the investigator’s past scientific accomplishments and publications.
  3. The investigator’s demonstrated commitment to cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular diseases and/or brain health.

Sacco Scholars Mentor's Support Letter and Reference Reports

Sacco Scholars Mentor's Support Letter (2-page limit)

Address the items to be evaluated in Peer Review Criterion 3 - Mentor/Training Plan and Environment

Clarify the role the trainee played in developing the proposal, the relationship of the proposal to ongoing work in the mentor's laboratory, and how the proposal will contribute toward the training and career development of the applicant.

Sacco Scholars Reference Reports (2-page limit)

Each Sacco Scholars applicant must obtain two reference documents (one from the mentor, plus another professional reference who knows the candidate well). Those providing the references must upload them into ProposalCentral by the deadline date. The proposal cannot be submitted without the reference reports. Besides the reference from the mentor, a co-mentor, collaborating investigator or consultant contributing to the project may not serve as a referent.

A referent is an individual familiar with the applicant’s scientific interests and abilities. Letters should be composed by the referent and should not originate from the applicant. Any appearance of substantially similar language in reference letters will be factored into the score for the Mentor and Environment, which will impact the overall score.

Please download the Reference Report Form for Sacco Scholars (.doc), complete it, and save it as a PDF document. Then upload it to ProposalCentral by using the link in the email that was sent to you.

This is a confidential communication, to be completed by the person providing reference. No more than 4 pages are permitted.

Please AVOID referring to personal circumstances or attributes of the applicant: Marital status, age or gender (e.g. young, woman, man), the juggling of factors such as child care or illness, and roles of the applicant outside of the professional setting (e.g. mother, husband, father).