The AASM Foundation is committed to developing the careers of sleep and circadian investigators by increasing support for sleep researchers. To meet this goal, the AASM Foundation has established research career development awards to assist sleep researchers at various stages of their career.

The AASM Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2021 Career Development Awards (Cycle 1). Award funding amounts provided range from $40,000 to $100,000 and are for 1-2 years. Applications are due on June 7, 2021 by 11:59 ET.

Focused Projects Award for Junior Investigators

Target Applicants: Early career sleep researchers (MD/DO, PhD, or equivalent)

The Focused Projects Award for Junior Investigators supports the career development of early career investigators who are committed to focusing their research in basic, translational, clinical or population sleep and circadian science. The Focused Projects Award for Junior Investigators provides seed funding for mentored research projects to jumpstart an early career investigator’s research career and provide the necessary support and resources needed to establish a track record of funding, become competitive for larger grants and/or prepare for a larger study, and enhance their chances of establishing a successful career in sleep and circadian research.

New this year, there are 3 different requests for applications for the Focused Projects Award for Junior Investigators.

Focused Projects Award for Junior Investigators

Amount of Award and Duration: Provides funding of up to $40,000 for 1 year.

This request for applications is open for mentored projects that address one or more important unanswered scientific questions related to sleep, sleep disorders and/or sleep health.

Focused Projects Award for Junior Investigators: Insomnia Biomarkers

Amount of Award and Duration: Provides funding of up to $50,000 for 1-1.5 years.

This is a focused request for applications (RFA) open for projects that will identify, evaluate and/or validate biomarkers to support insomnia (disorder) differential diagnosis and clinical treatment response. Proposed mentored research projects for this RFA must address this topic.

This AASM Foundation Focused Projects Award for Junior Investigators: Insomnia Biomarkers is supported by Eisai, Inc.

Focused Projects Award for Junior Investigators: National Sleep Research Resource

Amount of Award and Duration: Provides funding of up to $40,000 for 1 year.

This is a focused request for applications (RFA) open for projects that will use the National Sleep Research Resource (NIH/NHLBI Grant Number HL114473) and address one or more important unanswered scientific questions related to sleep and/or sleep disorders. Proposed mentored research projects for this RFA must use the National Sleep Research Resource.

Physician Scientist Training Award

Amount of Award and Duration: Provides funding of up to $100,000 for 1 year.

Target Applicants: Early career physician scientists

The Physician Scientist Training Award supports early career sleep medicine physicians who are committed to pursuing a research career in basic, translational, clinical or population sleep and circadian science. Given the growing shortage of physician scientists in sleep and circadian science, the Physician Scientist Training Award provides outstanding sleep medicine physicians the opportunity for a protected research training experience for a mentored research project upon completion of their clinical training, helps physician scientists establish a track record of funding and become competitive for larger grants and/or prepare for a larger study, and ultimately launches them to a successful sleep and circadian research career. This request for applications is open for mentored projects that address one or more important unanswered scientific questions related to sleep and circadian science, sleep disorders and/or sleep health.

Bridge to Success Award for Early Career Investigators

Amount of Award and Duration: Provides funding of up to $100,000 for 1 year.

Target Applicants: Early career sleep researchers (MD/DO, PhD, or equivalent)

The Bridge to Success for Early Career Investigators is designed to provide ‘bridge’ funding to promising early career sleep and circadian scientists who have applied for a career development award such as a K-award grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a CDA from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or an equivalent career development grant from another federal or non-federal funding agency, but whose application was not within the funding range. Through this award, the AASM Foundation aims to assist investigators at a critical juncture in their career where bridge funding can determine whether a promising sleep and circadian scientist stays in the sleep field or moves to a different career track. The funding provides support during the period of time needed for revision and resubmission of a promising application in response to reviewer critiques.

ABSM Junior Faculty Award

Amount of Award and Duration: Provides funding of up to $100,000 for 2 years.

Target Applicants: Early career physician scientists with faculty appointments

The American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM) Junior Faculty Award supports early career physician scientists with faculty appointments who are committed to academic careers and focusing their research in basic, translational, clinical or population sleep and circadian science. Given the demands of providing clinical sleep care to patients and academic responsibilities of faculty members at an institution, the ABSM Junior Faculty Award provides funding for mentored research projects to protect the time of early career physician scientists to conduct mentored research, help establish a track record of funding, become competitive for larger grants and/or prepare for a larger study, and ultimately enable their transition to an independent and successful sleep and circadian research career in academia. This request for applications is open for mentored projects that address one or more important unanswered scientific questions related to sleep and circadian science, sleep disorders and/or sleep health.

Bridge to Success Award for Mid-Career/Senior Investigators

Amount of Award and Duration: Provides funding of up to $100,000 for 1 year.

Target Applicants: Mid-career and senior career sleep researchers (MD/DO, PhD, or equivalent)

The Bridge to Success Award for Mid-Career/Senior Investigators is targeted to mid-level and senior investigators in sleep and circadian science research who need ‘bridge’ funding while re-applying for research support. Through this award, the AASM Foundation assists investigators whose large grant proposal, such as an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a merit award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a research or implementation grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), or an equivalent large grant from another federal agency, was submitted but not funded. The Bridge to Success Mid-Career/Senior Investigator Award will help an independent investigator stay in the field of sleep and circadian research while reapplying for external funding. While this award is intended for established investigators, individuals applying for their first independent grants (e.g., first R01) after a career development award (e.g., K-award) are also eligible to apply.