Frank J. Tusa Pilot Award for Research in Hepatic Encephalopathy
The Frank J. Tusa Pilot Award for Research in Hepatic Encephalopathy funds early-stage, innovative research on new interventions for hepatic encephalopathy, supported by the AASLD Foundation.
Funder: AASLD Foundation
Due Dates: December 7, 2026 (Full application deadline, 11:59 pm Eastern time)
Funding Amounts: $50,000 for a one-year project; single payment; no indirect costs or travel allowed.
Summary: Supports highly innovative, early-stage research projects aiming to improve outcomes for people with hepatic encephalopathy, especially those lacking preliminary data.
Key Information: Applicants must be AASLD members and devote at least 20% effort; projects must be new and completed within one year.
Description
The award is intended to catalyze new, high-impact research focused on interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) resulting from liver diseases. The program is designed for projects that are highly innovative, high-risk/high-reward, and lack the preliminary data typically required for larger grants. Emphasis is placed on clinical interaction, use of patient data, or translational studies. The award is not meant for ongoing research but rather for new ideas or methodologies not previously explored, with the goal of generating data that could support future, larger-scale funding applications.
