GPM Abstract 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. Please view a list of Scientific Sessions Council Awards and Travel Grants Available by Abstract Category and Community (PDF). Make sure that your abstract has been submitted in a category listed under the award for which you want to apply. If your abstract is not submitted to and accepted in a GPM-sponsored category, you are not eligible to apply for this specific grant. Abstract presenters will be notified in early August.
All applicants for the GPM Abstract 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 at least 2 weeks prior to the application 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.
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 must provide documentation of current status as a student, postdoctoral fellow, or faculty within four years of their appointment (faculty members with more than four years of faculty appointment or non-trainee investigators in industry are ineligible). Such documentation must be an original letter, signed by the candidate’s supervisor or an appropriate institutional officer. The letter must indicate the applicant’s status as a student, postdoctoral fellow, or faculty within four years of their appointment.
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.
There are no citizenship requirements.
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 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:

Candidate Curriculum Vitae and Bibliography
Previously unpublished abstract in accordance with AHA rules and regulations for submitting abstracts to Scientific Sessions. The abstract should be submitted to Scientific Sessions before applying for this grant as your abstract control number will be needed on the application form.
Original letter on electronic letterhead, signed by the candidate’s supervisor or an appropriate institutional officer, simply indicating the applicant’s status as a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, instructor, or research fellow. No additional references are required.

Visit the Council Awards Application System to complete an application.

A username and password previously 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, please visit Professional Heart Daily to create an online member profile before accessing the Council Awards 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.

AHA Professional Membership is required of all applicants for this grant. 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 at least 1 week prior to the application submission deadline. The membership number will be required on the award application form.

Prize

Travel grants will be awarded to up to four honorees annually. The honorees will each receive up to $500 to help defray travel expenses to attend AHA Scientific Sessions to present their abstracts.

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. Awardees will be required to pay their own registration costs for the meeting.