AABIP Research Grant in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS: Applicants should be permanent residents, or on an appropriate working visa, of the US or Canada. The study supported by AABIP must be carried out in the United States or Canada at an accredited medical institution.  Applicants should be members in good standing of the AABIP. 

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Application Process: 

Applications should follow an NIH style format. The background, preliminary data, specific aims and research design is limited to 3 pages. In addition, a CV for each investigator should be submitted and a letter of support from the applicant’s mentor if the applicant is a fellow.  The application must be submitted online through the AABIP website. The deadline for application submission is 11:59 PM ET, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.  A scientific review of the submitted applications and the results of the funding decisions will be sent to applicants by May 31, 2026. Release of funding will be approximately July 1, 2026.

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PROPOSAL:

• Cover page including title and complete contact information for the PI
• 3 pages total (not including references):
  • Specific Aims (1 page)
  • Background (<½ page)
  • Hypothesis (4-5 lines)
  • Innovation (4-5 lines)
  • Approach (1.5 pages): must include limitations, future application, and timeline for completion).  All proposals should include a statistical section, if applicable. The application should address any additional need for mentoring (if the applicant is a fellow or junior faculty with minimal research experience) and how the data generated from this proposal will lead to further grant applications (e.g NIH R series or NIH mentored awards) or funding (industry, etc), and/or publication.
• CVs for all key personnel
• Budget and justification (NIH format)
• Letter of support from applicants' mentor

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Application resources:

• Example of AABIP Research Grant selected application 
• 2021 Application: Background, preliminary data, specific aims and research design
• 2021 Application: Budget and justification
• If desired, research guidance is provided through the AABIP Research Committee Studios (ARCS).  Click Here for details.

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FUNDING

One award of up to $20,000. No more than 25% of the awarded amount can be used to support the salary of investigators.  Travel costs (please note presentation requirement when considering Travel costs) and publication charges will be limited to $1000 each. If portions of the proposal depend on IRB approval money may be withheld pending IRB approval.  Indirect costs are not supported.

The Awardee is expected to present their study design at the current year AABIP Annual Conference. Additionally, progress update in the form of a presentation is expected at the following year AABIP Annual Conference. The AABIP strongly encourages the recipient to submit their work for publication to the Journal of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology. However, only manuscripts meeting the journal's peer review standards will be published. All publications should acknowledge the AABIP as the funding source.

Additional documentation may be required including but not limited to Investigation Review Board (IRB) approval, Health Information Patient Privacy Act (HIPPA) compliance certificate, Federal Wide Assurance Certificate or its number, Institutional and personal certificate of Human research compliance, Institutional and personal certificate of Animal research compliance (if animal research is part of the application), Financial accountability structure.

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AABIP GRANT REVIEW PROCESS:

To enhance transparency, rigor, and fairness in funding decisions, the AABIP grant review process will be aligned with the NIH grant review framework (https://grants.nih.gov/policy-and-compliance/policy-topics/peer-review/simplifying-review). This updated process will adopt a structured, multi-tiered review system, prioritizing merit, feasibility, and alignment with organizational goals.

Initial Administrative Screening: All submitted proposals will undergo an administrative review to ensure compliance with submission guidelines, eligibility criteria, and completeness of the application.

Scientific Peer Review: A multidisciplinary review panel of experts will evaluate applications based on core criteria: significance, investigator expertise, innovation, approach, and environment. Each criterion will be scored individually using a 9-point scale (see below for the scale), consistent with NIH scoring standards. Reviewers will provide written critiques for transparency and actionable feedback.

Priority Scoring and Funding Recommendation: Applications will receive an overall impact score, reflecting the likelihood of the project to advance the field. Review panels will convene to discuss high-ranking proposals, considering diversity in research topics, equity in funding distribution, and alignment with strategic priorities.

Final Approval: Top-ranked proposals and funding recommendations will be forwarded to the AABIP leadership for final approval, ensuring accountability and alignment with organizational objectives.

Post-Review Feedback: All applicants will receive written critiques, summary statements, and final scores to foster improvement and transparency.

By adopting these NIH-aligned practices, AABIP will ensure a rigorous, equitable, and scientifically sound grant review process that supports impactful research in interventional pulmonology.

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EXPECTATIONS FOR GRANT RECIPIENT

1.  AABIP Research Committee Membership 

Grant recipients will be invited to join the AABIP Research Committee as a Member-at-Large for the duration of their grant. This role includes contributing to ongoing research initiatives and fostering collaborations within the AABIP research community.

2. Presentations and Reporting Requirements

Grant recipients are required to share their work and progress at the following venues:

a. Project Design: 

Present the study design and objectives at the AABIP Annual Conference during the year the grant is awarded.

b. Interim Updates: 

Provide regular project updates to the AABIP Research Committee to maintain accountability and foster collaborative input. 

c. Project Results: 

Showcase final project results at the AABIP Annual Conference the year after grant completion or as appropriate, depending on project timelines. 

d. Progress Reports:

1. Interim Progress Report at 6 months (1 page)

The grant funds will be disbursed in two installments:

a. Initial 50%: Dispensed upfront upon award acceptance and project initiation.

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