PURPOSE
The purpose of this award is to provide support for the research career development of otolaryngologists – head and neck surgeons who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on research oriented to pediatric otolaryngology (e.g. patient-oriented clinical trials, health services, outcomes research, translational research, basic science).
ASPO will consider applications from both:
(1) Individuals: If an investigator is unaffiliated with an institution his/her grant application would be made to the individual himself/herself. In the event of a grant award, an ASPO check would be drawn to the individual investigator. This could be considered as income to that individual and therefore subject to income tax. Individuals affiliated with institutions (i.e., universities) may apply individually if allowed by a university policy. In the event of a grant award, an ASPO check would be drawn to the individual investigator (See Signatures and Approvals).
(2) Institutions: Must qualify as an organization exempt from income taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (other than a private foundation). Submission of a W9 form documenting 501(c)(3) status to the ASPO Treasurer will be required (US institutions only) prior to release of funds. Investigators affiliated with institutions (i.e., universities) who are not allowed, by university policy, to apply individually, may ask the university to submit the grant application for the investigator’s project. Investigators in this category are considered institutional applicants. In the event of a grant award, an ASPO check would be drawn to the Institution (see Signatures and Approvals).
TERMS
1. Amount: $40,000 maximum
2. Period: 12 months-24 months, at investigators discretion, non-renewable
3. Use of Funds: A detailed budget and budget justification constitute part of the application and will be evaluated for appropriateness as part of the review process. Funding may be used to support a portion of 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. ASPO 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 $40,000.
Funded CORE applications directly address otolaryngology–head & neck surgery conditions, such as:
Otology/neurotology: hearing loss, cochlear physiology, vestibular disorders
Head & Neck oncology: HPV, molecular oncology, survivorship
Rhinology/sinus disease, olfaction
Laryngology: voice, airway, dysphagia
Pediatric ORL: airway, otitis media, syndromic ENT disorders
Facial plastics/trauma
Sleep medicine & OSA
Quality of life and health services in ENT
❗ CORE reviewers downscore projects that are too broad, general biomedical, or not ENT-specific.
CORE includes numerous award sponsors:
AAO-HNSF
AHNS (head & neck cancer)
ARS (rhinology)
ARO (basic auditory science)
AAFPRS (facial plastic surgery)
ALA / ABEA (laryngology, airway, voice)
AOS / ANS (otology/neurotology)
TRIO / other subspecialty societies
Each award has:
Its own mission,
Preferred topic scope, and
Applicant career-stage expectations.
Predictor: Strongest proposals are tightly aligned with the sponsoring society’s niche and priorities.
Even for pilot and early-stage grants, funded CORE applications often include:
Proof-of-concept experiments
Feasibility data
Demonstration that key methods or models are already working
Clinical pilot datasets (charts reviews, pilot cohorts, QI datasets)
Predictor: Preliminary data sharply increases feasibility scoring.
CORE grants are typically small (often $10k–$50k, occasionally higher).
Successful applications therefore show:
2–3 very focused, realistic aims
A scope that fits the 1-year or modest-funding timeframe
Clear milestones and deliverables
A logical progression toward a future NIH R21/R01, K award, or larger foundation grant
Predictor: Reviewers reward tightly scoped, achievable research—not broad multi-year plans.
CORE explicitly aims to develop future surgeon-scientists.
Funded applicants often demonstrate:
A clear ENT research trajectory
Relevant ENT publications or early productivity
Mentorship by established ENT investigators
Institutional support and protected time
Plans to leverage this project toward NIH K-series or R-series funding
Predictor: Clear evidence of long-term commitment to ENT research is a major advantage.
Especially for residents, fellows, and junior faculty, successful applications include:
A primary mentor with ENT research expertise
A co-mentor with complementary strengths (basic science, stats, engineering)
Clear mentor commitment with regular meetings
Access to cores: imaging, molecular labs, animal facilities, speech labs, audiology labs, etc.
Predictor: The mentor’s track record heavily influences reviewer confidence.
Strong CORE applications combine novelty with clinical relevance:
New diagnostic tools for ENT diseases
New surgical or procedural techniques
Translational work bridging bench to OR/clinic
AI, machine learning, big data applied to ENT
Novel therapeutics or mechanistic insights
Patient-centered outcomes and quality-of-life research
Predictor: Demonstrate how your work will change how ENT conditions are understood or treated.
Reviewers expect:
Clear research design
Appropriate statistical plans
Power/feasibility justification
Ethical and IRB considerations (especially for patient-oriented work)
Predictor: Methodologic rigor and clarity distinguish funded proposals from lower-tier ones.
High-scoring CORE applications:
Use concise, high-quality writing
Present pilot data visually and clearly
Follow formatting rules exactly
Provide a compelling, clinically relevant narrative
Are easy for both clinicians and scientists to understand
Predictor: Strong writing routinely correlates with higher reviewer enthusiasm.
Budgets must be:
Lean
Directly tied to the project tasks
Appropriate for small pilot grants
Free from salary padding or non-essential items
Predictor: A well-justified, tight budget signals feasibility and professionalism.
| Predictor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| ENT-specific research focus | CORE funds only otolaryngology-relevant projects |
| Matching the right society sponsor | Ensures topic fit and reviewer enthusiasm |
| Preliminary data | Shows feasibility |
| Focused, feasible aims | Fits CORE’s 1-year, modest-funding model |
| Strong mentorship | Essential for early-career success |
| Research trajectory | CORE invests in future ENT leaders |
| Innovation + clinical relevance | Improves impact score |
| Rigor & good methodology | Increases scientific quality |
| Clear writing | Helps reviewers quickly grasp the significance |
| Tight budget | Fits CORE’s grant expectations |
Otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons who hold full-time medical school faculty appointments and who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on research oriented to pediatric otolaryngology may apply. A minimal effort of 40% for protected research time (not necessarily for just this grant application) will be required. This effort will need to be documented from a chairman's letter indicating institutional support for this amount of protected time. A research mentor will need to be identified, preferably someone with a track record of successfully mentoring physician-scientists. Applicants with an R01 or equivalent award will not be eligible. Applicants must clearly indicate in the “Other Support” section of the application whether support for the submitted project is being sought from other funding agencies or organizations. Applicants currently holding research career development awards from NIH or other funding agencies are eligible to apply, however, applicants must indicate how the supplemental funds from the ASPO’s Career Development Award will be utilized.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: CORE- Centralized Otolaryngology Research Efforts
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: 1650 Diagonal Rd Alexandria VA 22314
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Dec 15, 2025
Jan 15, 2026
$40,000
Affiliation: CORE- Centralized Otolaryngology Research Efforts
Address: 1650 Diagonal Rd Alexandria VA 22314
Website URL: https://www.entnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2026-ASPOCDA-FOA.pdf
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