The purpose of the Allied Scientist Training Grant is to provide support to trainees enrolled in graduate level training programs outside the clinical realm of Interventional Radiology but are still considered crucial to the future of Interventional Radiology and create collaborative research training environments that benefit from the unique perspectives of established scientists and Interventional Radiologists.

The mission of this grant mechanism is to fund research that will lead to the ongoing collaboration between basic or translational science laboratories and interventional radiology by funding graduate level trainees. Specifically, SIR Foundation seeks to promote highly innovative, groundbreaking research; high-impact research with near-term clinical relevance; multidisciplinary, synergistic research; translational studies to support the fluid transfer of knowledge from bench to bedside; and the next generation of interventional radiology investigators through mentored research.

Projects may include but are not limited to topics such as:

• Explore the role of IVUS or other intravascular imaging in determining endpoints in chronic limb ischemia
• Explore the role of ultrasound imaging in arteriovenous lesion identification pre-procedure to improve interventions
• Investigating the role of SVC stenting in oncologic patients
• Defining the best interventions for superficial vein disease (thermal vs. non-thermal) 
• Comparing IR for spine interventions for pain to external beam radiation with a particular focus on the length of stay
• Review patient outcomes of adenomyosis treatment for all patients through the development of a quality-of-life questionnaire
• Evaluate imaging criteria of adenomyosis and correlate with pathology and symptoms to establish a non-invasive imaging classification system

Award:

Funding up to $40,000 for 24 months (2 years)

Eligibility:

• Applicant is encouraged to be an SIR member however it is not a requirement. However, trainee’s advisor or co-advisor must be an active SIR member (note the requirement of active membership status mean that either the advisor or co-advisor must be an Interventional Radiologist). 
• Candidate should be a trainee enrolled in a graduate-level, degree-seeking program (i.e. Masters, Doctor of Philosophy, or equivalent) or post-doctoral fellows at an accredited educational institution in the United States or Canada. 
  • Students enrolled in a wide variety of disciplines such as engineering, informatics, cellular and molecular biology will also be considered.
• Applicants enrolled in clinical residencies or fellowships are not eligible for this grant. 
• It is expected that the trainee will devote a minimum of 75% of their time to the proposed research project. 
• Applicants must be citizens of the United States or Canada or those who have permanent resident status therein. 
  • Permanent residents must submit documentation of their status.   
  • An exception can be made if an applicant is at an institution in the U.S. or Canada and is on a visa, a letter will be required from the department chair guaranteeing completion of the project. 
• Grant FAQs
  • Are multi-PI applications allowed?
    • Multi-PI applications are allowed. However, SIR Foundation’s ability to approve a multi-PI grant will be dependent upon the applicants’ institutional policy to execute a multi-PI agreement with SIR Foundation. A contact PI must also be established and identified at the time of application submission.
  • Can applicants apply for more than one SIR Foundation grant?
    • Yes, applicants are able to apply for more than one grant, but not in one grant cycle. Previous SIR Foundation grant awardees are also eligible and encouraged for the Reviewer-in-training Program.
  • I do not have an adviser or mentor, where can I find one?
    • If you are an SIR member, you access the Mentor Match Program where you can request a mentor that matches your specific interests in IR.
  • Can those in a SIR or SIR Foundation leadership role apply for a grant?       
    • The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Foundation is a scientific nonprofit organization that was created for the purposes of advancing scientific knowledge in the field of interventional radiology, increasing the number of skilled investigators, and developing innovative therapies that lead to improved patient care and quality of life. It is critical to SIR Foundation that those serving in appointed leadership positions avoid conflicts of interest. The decisions and actions of those in our leadership positions must be made solely for the benefit of SIR Foundation. 
      • 1) SIR members currently serving in a leadership position in the SIR or SIR Foundation** are not eligible to apply for or receive new grant/research funding from the SIR Foundation during the term of their tenure.
      • 2) A principal investigator (primary recipient or transfer recipient) of a SIR Foundation grant is not eligible to apply for or to receive further SIR Foundation funding until after the completion of the existing SIR Foundation funding. Completion includes submission of a Final Report to the SIR Foundation, and SIR Foundation signoff of that report.  
      • ** defined as: Board of Directors, members of the Steering Council, Clinical Specialty Councilors, Chair/vice Chair of an SIR/SIR Foundation Committee, Division or Section.

Reporting: 

An Interim Progress Report (IPR) is required after the first year (12) months of the project. A Final Progress Report (FPR) must be submitted within sixty (60) days of the project's completion. All reports will be submitted electronically. No-Cost Extension (NCE) Requests may also be made throughout the term of the project life cycle.

Presentations/Publications: 

It is strongly suggested that recipients submit their work primarily to the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR) or to the SIR Annual Scientific Meeting. Requests to submit to other meetings or journals will be entertained.  Such requests should be made in writing to the SIR Foundation Grants Team and include the reason why submission to the alternate meeting or journal is more appropriate. All posters, oral presentations, and publications must contain appropriate acknowledgement of SIR Foundation’s support.

Please read the full guidelines before submission available at sirfoundation.org/allied_scientist

If you have any questions or concerns about the application or guidelines, please contact the SIR Foundation Grants Team.

Applicants will be notified by early April of their award decisions. 

Deadline to Apply: 5 pm EST on January 15th