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AHNS Trainee Pilot Research Award

American Head and Neck Society (AHNS)

The purpose of this award is to support basic, translational, or clinical research projects in head and neck oncology. Clinical or translational research studies are strongly encouraged and should be specifically related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, or pathophysiology of head and neck neoplastic disease. The Trainee Pilot Research Award is meant to encourage trainees to become active in research within the field of head and neck surgery.

TERMS 1. Amount: $20,000 maximum

2. Period: 12 months, non-renewable

3. Use of Funds: A detailed budget and budget justification constitute part of the application and will be evaluated as part of the review process. Funding may not be used to support the Principal Investigator’s salary during the period of the award. Allowable expenses include consultant fees (e.g., statistician); salary support for research assistants or other technical personnel; computer software or hardware; purchase and maintenance of experimental animals; laboratory supplies and services; and expenses related to publication of results directly related to the supported project, exclusive of reprint costs. Equipment and supplies purchased with this Award become the property of the recipient institution. The AHNS prefers not to pay institutional (indirect) costs for this very modest award; if the institution is unwilling to waive such costs, however, they are limited to no more than 10% of the Total Direct Costs (sum of amounts requested for personnel, consultant costs, equipment, supplies, patient/animal care costs, and other expenses). The Total Costs (direct + indirect) may not exceed $20,000.

4. Review: Applications will be reviewed by members of the Centralized Otolaryngology Research Efforts (CORE) Study Section, composed of AHNS members designated for the Study Section, and members of the AAO-HNSF CORE Study Section Subcommittee. Recommendations for funding must be approved by the AHNS Council.

5. Notification: Letters of notification will be sent in June of the award year. Please do not call the AAO-HNSF or AHNS office prior to that time to inquire about results.

6. Start Date: The recipient of the AHNS Trainee Pilot Research Award will be announced publicly at the closest AAO-HNS Foundation Annual Meeting immediately following the award. The award may be activated as early as July 1 of the year of award, but no later than January 1 of the following year.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong Relevance to Head & Neck Oncology / Surgery / Clinical Problems

The research question should clearly address issues in head & neck cancer or disease, surgical outcomes, reconstruction, or translational aspects (e.g. biomarkers, pathology, molecular studies).

Clinical relevance is important — projects that promise to improve patient care, diagnosis, therapy, surgical technique or long-term outcomes tend to stand out.

Predictor: The tighter and clearer the link to head & neck disease/surgery, the stronger.

2. Feasible, Well-Defined, Appropriately Scoped Goals (Given Pilot/Seed Funding)

Because many AHNS grants are modest, successful applications often have focused aims (often 2–3), realistic timelines (1–2 years), and measurable deliverables.

Overly ambitious, multi-aim large-scale proposals are less likely to succeed with seed funding.

Predictor: Concise, realistic, achievable plan beats over-ambitious proposals.

3. Innovation or Translational Promise — Not Just Descriptive Work

Innovative surgical approaches, novel reconstructive techniques, new biomarkers, translational studies bridging basic science to clinical application — these are highly valued.

Grant reviewers tend to favor work that could lead to improved surgical care, better outcomes, less morbidity, or novel therapeutic strategies.

Predictor: Translational or innovative projects often rank higher than purely observational or descriptive studies.

4. Investigator & Institutional Support, Experience / Mentorship (Especially for Early-Career Applicants)

For residents, fellows, or junior faculty — having a mentor, institutional resources (OR access, clinical volume, pathology, imaging, research staff) improves feasibility and reviewer confidence.

For more experienced investigators: prior relevant work, publications, or evidence of ability to carry out surgical/clinical research helps.

Predictor: Strong team, mentorship, and infrastructure support improves competitiveness.

5. Rigorous Study Design & Methodology — Clinical, Translational, or Lab-based as Appropriate

For clinical outcomes: clear definition of endpoints (survival, recurrence, quality-of-life, complications), appropriate patient selection, statistical plan, follow-up strategies.

For translational or basic studies: robust methodology, sample size justification, controls, reproducibility, ethical oversight (if human/animal).

Realistic budgeting — not overbudgeting for pilot/seed grants.

Predictor: Well-designed methods with rigorous planning boost the likelihood of funding and meaningful results.

6. Pathway to Future Funding or Larger-Scale Studies

Seed funds from AHNS are often stepping stones — reviewers like proposals with a plan to leverage AHNS data/results to external funding (e.g. NIH, major foundations) or larger clinical trials.

Demonstrating scalability or draft design for subsequent phases increases value.

Predictor: Applications with a credible next-phase plan get more favor.

7. Clear Benefit to Patients & Quality-of-Care Improvements

Focus on outcomes meaningful to patients: functional outcomes, morbidity reduction, improved survival, quality of life, reconstruction outcomes, reduction in complications.

Proposals that highlight how findings might change clinical practice, influence guidelines, or improve standard-of-care have an advantage.

Predictor: High clinical impact improves application strength.

🛠️ If You Have a Draft — What I Recommend Checking Before Submission

Verify that your project aims are tightly focused and achievable with given resources/time.

Ensure you clearly define clinical or translational relevance to head & neck disease.

Have a realistic methods and analysis plan, with appropriate patient/sample selection, ethical compliance, and follow-up strategy.

Confirm institutional/mentor support and access to resources (OR, clinics, pathology, labs, imaging, staff) — include support letters if required.

Assemble a timeline and deliverables plan (e.g. patient accrual schedule, data analysis milestones, reporting plan).

Draft a future funding / next-step plan, showing how AHNS support will lead to bigger grants or clinical trials.

Prepare a budget matching the scope — avoid over-ambition for seed-level grants.

Emphasize patient-centered outcomes and clinical impact — not just academic interest.

Specialties

Surgery

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must reside in the U.S. or Canada and be medical students, residents, fellows, graduate students, or fellows. All applicants must be members of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) in good standing. Trainee applicants (medical students, residents, fellows, and graduate students) are expected to have appropriate faculty support and mentorship. Previous AHNS or AAO-HNSF research grant recipients are eligible to apply. However, applicants who have successfully obtained funding from a private or federal agency for the same research project are not eligible. Applicants who submit proposals to multiple funding sources for the same project and are notified of an award from both AHNS and another agency must choose only one award.

Eligible Countries:

Canada

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Head and Neck Society (AHNS)

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1650 Diagonal Rd Alexandria VA 22314

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