THE 2025 DOLLY D. HANSEN, MD RESEARCH AWARD, supported by the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society (CCAS) DOLLY D. HANSEN, MD EDUCATIONAL FUND, is intended to promote research initiatives in the field of congenital cardiac anesthesia by supporting junior members of the CCAS. This is a two-year, $10,000 (USD) award that will be allocated to a research project in the field of congenital cardiac anesthesia. High-quality Quality Improvement projects of importance to the field will also be considered. Preference will be given to a junior faculty member of the CCAS who will be advised by an experienced mentor, who is also a member of CCAS. It is anticipated that the funded project will generate results that can be used as pilot data or preliminary findings to support future grant applications.

A 2-page letter of intent will be due by August 15, 2024.  Letters of intent will be reviewed by the CCAS Research Committee for selection to submit a full application in the fall.  LOIs will be judged based on Importance (Significance and Innovation), Rigor and Feasibility (Approach), and Expertise and Resources (Investigator and Environment) as well as an overall Impact score. Feedback will be provided to all applicants.

Full applications will be due November 1, 2024.  Applicants will be notified of the final results by the end of December 2024. It is mandatory that the award recipient be able to receive the award, either in person or virtually, during the CCAS Annual Meeting in 2025 to be formally recognized.

Funding will begin April 1, 2025. The $10,000 does not include coverage of indirect institutional costs. Scholarly activity generated by this award will be presented to the CCAS members at the CCAS Annual Meeting, either in person or virtually, and results are expected to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. A progress report submitted to the CCAS research committee is expected 12 months after the funding is issued (April 1, 2026).

Who can apply?

• The individual must be an MD or DO practicing in pediatric cardiac anesthesia, with a current medical license.
• The individual must be a CCAS member within the preceding dues cycle.
• The individual must have completed primary pediatric anesthesia training within the previous 10 years or must currently be enrolled in a pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship.
• Resident Status:

• • US or Canadian citizen
  • Permanent resident (green card holder)
  • Working in an academic institution with an H1-B visa having at least 3 years of validity at the time of application.

• Preference will be given to research projects mentored by an experienced mentor who is also a member of the CCAS or sponsored by a CCAS Committee.
• Mentorship:
  The applicant will have to show proof of mentorship, and the application must include a letter of support from the research mentor as well as the chair of the department.

Scoring:
25% Importance of Research (Significance and Innovation)
30% Rigor and Feasibility (Approach)
25% Expertise and Resources (Investigator, Environment, Mentorship)
20% Impact score (overall impact score to reflect the likelihood of the project to exert a sustained influence on the practice of pediatric cardiac anesthesiology in the allotted time)

*High-quality QI projects that utilize appropriate QI methodology will be given consideration.

LETTER OF INTENT

1. Cover Page
   1. Title of the research project
   2. Name and degree of the primary applicant
   3. Name and degree of the mentor
   4. Name and degree of the departmental chairperson
   5. Affiliations
   6. Requested funds
   7. Start and end dates of the proposed project
2. Research Plan (2 pages max)
   1. Background
   2. Hypothesis
   3. Specific Aims
   4. Significance
   5. Methods/Planned analysis
   6. Limitations
   7. Feasibility
   8. Impact/Future directions
   9. References (Max 10 references – not included in the 2 pages)
3. Applicant NIH Biosketch (Max 5 pages)
4. Mentor NIH Biosketch (Max 5 pages)
5. Letter of support – Mentor
6. Letter of support – Chairperson

FULL APPLICATION

1. Cover Page
   1. Title of the research project
   2. Name and degree of the primary applicant
   3. Name and degree of the mentor
   4. Name and degree of the departmental chairperson
   5. Affiliations
   6. Requested funds
   7. Start and end dates of the proposed project
2. Research Summary (Max 300 words)
3. Research Plan (Max 5 pages)
   1. Background
   2. Hypothesis
   3. Specific Aims
   4. Significance
   5. Methods
   6. Planned analysis
   7. Limitations
   8. Future directions
   9. IRB approval
   10. References (Max 10 references – not included in the 2 pages)
4. Mentorship Plan (Max 300 words)
5. Budget in US Dollars and budget justification (Max $10,000)
   1. Equipment costs
   2. Supplies and supplies cost
   3. Other costs
6. Applicant NIH Biosketch (Max 5 pages)
7. Mentor NIH Biosketch (Max 5 pages)
8. Letter of support – Mentor
9. Letter of support – Chairperson

The letter of intent must be submitted by email no later than August 15, 2024, (23:59:59 EDT), to Dr. Laura Downey, CCAS Research Committee Chair and Kim Battle at [email protected]. Please reach out to Dr. Laura Downey at [email protected] with any questions prior to your submission.