PFD Research Foundation 2018 Grants

The PFD Research Foundation together with the June Allyson Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million in grants to AUGS members since 1998. The Foundation serves the medical profession by supporting promising, innovative research regarding the causes, prevention, cure and treatment of pelvic floor disorders.

Foundation research funds are made available to qualified AUGS members to pursue their research question. Goals of this research grant program are to support the completion of research projects which will lead to publication and presentation at future AUGS Annual Scientific Meetings and to support the development of researchers in the field who will go on to obtain additional funding for future research on pelvic floor disorders.

Applicants can submit proposals for the following research awards:

PFD Research Foundation Fellow Research Award: A two-year grant awarded to a fellow for clinical/patient-oriented, educational, or lab-based/basic science research.

FPMRS Faculty Research Award: A two-year grant awarded to a junior faculty or affiliate member for clinical/patient-oriented, educational, or lab-based/basic science research.

June Allyson Memorial Fund Research Award: A two-year grant awarded to a fellow for lab-based/basic science research.

To submit a grant application, login or create an account using the botton on the side of the page. Once logged in, you will see a "Begin a Submission" button to begin your application.

Instructions for Grant Applications

  1. Title & Info

    All grant applications are required to submit the following:

    • Title — limited to 20 words
    • Research Type — Clinical, Lab-based, or Educational
    • Eligibility Category — Fellow or Non-fellow (Junior Faculty or Affiliate members with a professional degree in the biomedical field)
    • Grant Selection — indicate which of the four grants for which your research qualifies
    • Make Checks Payable To — if you receive a reward, indicate how the "payable" line of your check should be addressed

  2. Contacts

    All applications must have one and only one primary author/applicant. You must also indicate a lead mentor and administrative official. The administrative official will be notified if the award is made. You may also add additional co-authors and co-mentors.

    The following information will be collected (optional unless specified):

    • First Name — required for everyone
    • Middle Initial
    • Last Name — required for everyone
    • Suffix — Jr., Sr., etc.
    • Credentials/Degree — PhD, MEd, etc.
    • Phone — required for everyone except mentors and co-mentors
    • Email Address — required for everyone
    • Organization Name — required for everyone
    • Position/Title — required for everyone except mentors and co-mentors
    • Street Address Line 1 — required for everyone except mentors and co-mentors
    • Street Address Line 2
    • City/Town — required for everyone except mentors and co-mentors
    • State — required for everyone except mentors and co-mentors
    • Zip — required for everyone except mentors and co-mentors
    • Country — required for everyone except mentors and co-mentors

  3. Abstract

    You must type or paste an abstract (description of the proposed project) of up to 200 words.

  4. Upload Docs

    You must upload a NIH-Style Biosketch, Candidate Information document, Research Plan, Environment document, Budget, and Mentor's Letter of Support. Optionally, you may also include 1-2 additional letters of support.

    • NIH-Style Biosketch (5-page maximum): Include a biographical sketch of the applicant and lead mentor, and if appropriate co-mentor(s) and/or co-investigator(s). See Biographical Sketch Sample for format (this includes a brief Personal Statement) and instructions, at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv
    • Candidate Information (up to 1 page, see examples here) : Applicants should demonstrate their commitment to an academic career, and describe how the proposed research project will help them develop into an independent researcher.
      • Candidate's Background: describe past accomplishments and experiences relevant to the career development plan (do not need to duplicate detailed information included in the Biosketch)
      • Career Goals and Objectives: Including short-term and long-term goals
      • Career Development Plan: Explain how past, current and planned activities, including the proposed research, will help ensure career progression to achieve independence as an investigator
    • Research Plan (up to 6 pages, excluding the references): A sound research project that is consistent with the candidate’s level of research development and objectives of his/her career development plan should be provided. The research description should demonstrate significance, creativity and approach, as well as the ability of the candidate to carry out the research. Elements of the plan should include:
      • Specific aims: Including hypotheses
      • Research Strategy: Organize into the following sections:
        • Significance: Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the field that the proposed project addresses; Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice; Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.
        • Innovation: Explain how the application challenges current research or clinical practice paradigms; Describe any novel concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
        • Approach: Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims.
      • If multiple Specific Aims, the applicant may address Significance, Innovation and Approach for each Specific Aim individually, or may address Significance, Innovation and Approach for all of the Specific Aims collectively.
      • Include a time table and plan for completing project within the established timeframe
      • Applicants whose tenure at a given institution may be shorter than the grant horizon (e.g. Fellows in the 2nd year of a 3 year fellowship), must clearly describe the plan for managing all the elements of the research plan, including how they will manage day-to-day study activity, how results will be collected, analyzed, and shared. 
      • Arial 11 font and ½ inch margins should be used
    • Environment: A description (1 page maximum) of departmental/institutional environment and resources available to the candidate and appropriate to the research, including an account of available space and equipment and a list of key personnel (e.g. Applicant, Mentor, co-investigators, research assistants, research coordinators, consultants). The description should illustrate how the institutional research environment is particularly suited for the development of the candidate's research career and the pursuit of the proposed research plan and/or the candidate's research career.

    • Budget: Provide a budget detailing how the grant funds will be used to support the planned project. Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research. Budgets may be adjusted by the Grant Review Committee.  Awardees may apply for up to $25,000 for two-year grants based on the Grant Review Committee’s assessment of the proposed budget. Award monies may be used toward: purchases of equipment and supplies, laboratory tests, technician/research assistant salaries, Institutional Review Board (IRB) costs, and/or statistical support or other administrative support for the research. Up to $1,500 of the total award may be used for travel purposes to attend an AUGS Annual Meeting during the award period. Budget items NOT allowed:
      • Indirect costs to the institution.
      • Investigator or mentor salary support
      • Other applicant travel related to research
    • Mentor's Letter of Support: A statement from the mentor should be provided, and may include his/her qualifications in the research area proposed by the candidate, previous experience as a research supervisor, a description of the nature and extent of supervision that will occur during the proposed award period, and how the mentor will support the candidate’s plan for career progression to move from the mentored stage of his/her career to independent research investigator status.
       
    • Additional Letters of Support: 1 to 2 additional letters may be included from individuals familiar with the applicant’s research activities. One letter must be included from the applicant’s Chairperson or other supervisor, which demonstrates institutional commitment to the candidate, their proposed research and career development plan. Additional letters may be submitted from co-investigators or co-mentors. Letters may address issues of space and effort commitment and a rationale as to why the individual is worthy of the award.

  5. Confirmation

    Once you have completed all of the previous steps, your submission is considered complete. If you click "Conclude Submission" at the bottom of the page, a confirmation email will be sent to the primary author/applicant.