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AGA Research Scholar Award (RSA)

American Gastroenterological Association

This award provides $100,000 per year for three years (totaling $300,000) to early-career faculty (i.e., investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent) working toward an independent career in digestive disease research.

Application Deadline:

December 3, 2025

Funding Start Date:

July 1, 2026

Objective

The objective of the AGA Research Foundation Research Scholar Award (RSA) is to support early-career investigators working toward independent and productive research careers in digestive diseases by ensuring that a major proportion of their time is protected for research (i.e., a minimum of 50 percent effort dedicated to the proposed project). The award will support junior faculty (not fellows) who have demonstrated exceptional promise and have some record of accomplishment in research.

Application requirements

• AGA membership must be maintained throughout the three-year duration of the award.
• Applicants will be asked to self-assign their proposal to one of the following categories:
- Clinical: Research involving direct contact with human subjects or using clinical data to address problems related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or outcome of human diseases (e.g., clinical epidemiology). This category also includes research related to health care delivery (e.g., health services, health IT).
- Basic/translational: Research with a primary goal of understanding basic biology or disease mechanisms. This category can involve animal subjects, cell culture, human biospecimens or human data as resources for laboratory- or informatics-based investigation.
• Resources allocated through this award are intended to support the career development of the applicant. The applicant must allocate a minimum of 50 percent effort to the proposed project.
• Applicants are required to have a sponsor and mentor for the award; one individual may serve in the capacity of both positions. A sponsor (typically a division chief or department chair) is an individual who takes responsibility for the quality assessment of the proposed research project, the quality of the research environment within which the project will be undertaken, and the experience and expertise of the principal investigator and other key researchers involved. A mentor will supervise the principal investigator’s research activities ensuring timelines and deliverables and will work with the applicant to create a research career development plan.
• The intent of this award is to foster the scientific independence of junior investigators. Applicants whose research activities become incorporated into a grant application from a senior mentor will need to clearly delineate the scientific and experimental distinctions between their respective programs. This requirement applies both to pending applications submitted prior to review of this award and to applications submitted during the term of the RSA. It must also be clearly stated how the work submitted by the applicant is that of the applicant and not of the senior mentor(s).
• A complete research facilities and resources form must be submitted.
• Biographical sketches for the applicant, mentor and other key personnel must be submitted.
• Upon notification of receipt of this award, the recipient must provide institutional approval from the appropriate committee(s) for use of human subjects or animals. If approval is not necessary, then the recipient must provide documentation from the appropriate regulatory committee.
• Recipients must submit scientific and financial progress reports to AGA annually and final reports 60 days after the end date of the award period. Report templates and instructions are provided to awardees at the time of acceptance. Second- and third-year funding are contingent upon the submission and accuracy of this documentation.
• All publications, presentations and abstracts arising from work funded by this program must acknowledge support of the AGA Research Scholar Award.
• Additional pre-award policies are available on the Research Award Policies page.

Budget guidelines

• Applicants must use AGA’s budget template as provided in the application form.
• The following expenses are allowable:
- Salary and benefits of the principal investigator.
- Salary and benefits of research assistants, laboratory technicians and/or other key personnel.
- Biostatistics support.
- Supplies, animals, equipment or other materials necessary for the proposed research.
- Equipment, not to exceed $5,000 per year.
- Travel, not to exceed $1,500 per year.
• The following expenses are not allowable:
- Salary, benefits or other support for the mentor.
- Indirect costs.
• Any deviation from these budget guidelines must be clearly addressed in the budget justification and other relevant supporting documents. Questions regarding the guidelines should be submitted in advance of the application deadline to awards@gastro.org.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

Based on the award descriptions, eligibility criteria, and what the Foundation emphasizes, here are the major factors correlated with success:

Predictor	Why It Matters	How to Demonstrate It
Clear relevance to digestive disease / GI or hepatology	The mission of AGA is digestive‐disease research; proposals must focus on GI or liver disorders. American Gastroenterological Association+1	Explicitly state how the project addresses a GI/hepatic disease, its mechanism, diagnosis, treatment, or patient outcomes.
Appropriate career stage & eligibility matching	For example, the Research Scholar Award requires early‐career faculty (≤7 yrs post training for MD or PhD). American Gastroenterological Association	Ensure you meet the defined eligibility (faculty status, years since training, membership in AGA).
Protected research time and institutional commitment	The RSA demands at least 50% effort dedicated to the project and a letter of institutional commitment. American Gastroenterological Association	Provide a clear statement of protected time, mentor letter, institutional support, and resources.
Strong research plan with feasibility and scope matched to award	Awards specify funding amount and time (e.g., 1–3 years). Reviewers expect projects that can realistically be delivered.	Define focused aims, realistic timeline/milestones, budget aligned with award size, and feasible methods.
Mentor/sponsor and research environment	For early‐career awards, having a mentor and supportive research environment is critical. American Gastroenterological Association	Provide mentor letter detailing support plan, show your institution has resources (lab, clinical data, etc.).
Track record/promise of independence	Even early‐career applicants must show some research productivity or promise of independent work.	Highlight prior publications, presentations, pilot data, and articulate your path to independence.
Innovation and potential impact	AGA awards stress that funded work should advance the field of GI/hepatology. Innovations Report	Show how your project is novel or addresses an unmet need, and how it could translate into patient benefit or new understanding.
Adherence to guidelines and AGA membership	The application must meet institutional/format eligibility; AGA membership is required. American Gastroenterological Association+1	Confirm membership, follow all instructions, submit required forms, letters, and meet deadlines.

⚠️ Common Weaknesses to Avoid

Project lacking direct GI/hepatology focus (too generic biomedical).

Overly ambitious aims without clear feasibility or timeline given award size/time.

Lack of institutional commitment or protected time for research.

Mentor/mentorship plan is weak or missing.

Not meeting eligibility (career stage, faculty status, membership) precisely.

Budget or scope not aligned with what award supports (e.g., asking for very large scope with pilot funding).

Poorly written application or missing required documentation.

✅ Summary – Top Predictors of AGA Grant Success

In short, the strongest predictors for success with AGA Research Foundation awards are:

A project clearly focused on digestive disease (GI or liver).

Matching the eligibility criteria (career stage, AGA membership).

Realistic, focused aims and a feasible project plan with institutional support.

A strong mentor, protected research time, and environment conducive to success.

Evidence of innovation, impact potential, and a clear path to scholarly independence.

Specialties

Gastroenterology

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants for this award must hold an MD, PhD and/or equivalent degree (e.g., MBChB, MBBS, DO), and a full-time faculty or equivalent position at an institution in North America (U.S., Canada or Mexico) by the start date (i.e., July 2026) of this award.
• Applicants must classify as “early career” according to the following criteria:
- MD (or equivalent) applicants are considered “early career” if no more than seven years have elapsed following the completion of clinical training (GI fellowship or its equivalent) and the start date of this award (July 2026).
- PhD (or equivalent) applicants are considered “early career” if no more than seven years have elapsed following the conferment of the PhD degree and the start date of this award (July 2026).
- An appropriately documented leave of absence, such as parental or medical leave, will not be counted toward the above seven-year eligibility criteria. Exceptional circumstances may also be considered. Exemption requests must be submitted to AGA via email (awards@gastro.org) at least three weeks prior to the application deadline and be clearly indicated in the submitted application documents.
• Research Scholar Award applicants are ineligible for AGA fellowship-to-faculty transition awards in the same awards cycle.
• Applicants performing any type of research (basic, translational, clinical) relevant to digestive disorders are eligible to apply.
• AGA membership is required at the time of application submission. Candidates whose AGA membership applications are pending approval may apply for the award. Please visit the AGA membership page or call 301-654-2055 for membership information.
• Applicants who are physician-scientists, female or from racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in biomedical research are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligible Countries:

Canada

Mexico

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Gastroenterological Association

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 4930 Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

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