Funder: American Association for Thoracic Surgery Foundation
Due Dates: September 1, 2026 (Opens) | December 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern (Applicant Requirements deadline) | December 2, 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 per year for up to two years; smaller short-term requests welcomed
Summary: Supports mid-career women cardiothoracic surgeon scientists conducting research that builds preliminary evidence for future independent funding.
Key Information: Applicants must hold a US or Canadian institutional appointment and have completed cardiothoracic residency within 15 years of application.
Description
The AATS Foundation and Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) jointly offer this award to support mid-career women cardiothoracic surgeon scientists who have faced external constraints to professional growth. It addresses a gap in research support at a career stage with fewer funding opportunities, helping investigators sustain their research careers and advance professionally.
The award supports clinical, translational, or basic science research intended to generate preliminary data or foundational work for larger independent grants and extramural funding. Its career-development focus recognizes barriers such as caregiving responsibilities, disproportionate non-promotable service, bias, and limited institutional infrastructure. Candidates are expected to demonstrate previous research experience, a need for funding, and a plan for continued research support beyond this award.
