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Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award

American Heart Association

Three finalists will be selected for oral presentation at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2026 Scientific Sessions. The awardees will be selected based on the originality, quality, and the impact of the work presented in the abstract. The finalists will present a 10-minute oral review and 5-minute Q&A of their abstract during the conference.

The winner will receive $1,500 ; the runners-up will receive $1,000 each.

Application Instructions

Submit an abstract as first author for the conference.
Select the award for which you are applying from the drop-down list on the awards page of the abstract submission website.
Upload the following material between January 14, 2026 to March 11, 2026 (6 p.m. CT):
- A signed letter of endorsement from a department chair, advisor or other sponsor, certifying that you meet the eligibility criteria for this award and stating the date on which you were first appointed to a faculty position.
- Your curriculum vitae and bibliography.
- Your AHA membership number

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct Relevance to Cardiovascular / Cerebrovascular / Vascular / Heart- or Circulation-related Disease or Physiology

The research question must be clearly tied to cardiovascular or related disease/biology (heart disease, stroke, vascular biology, risk factors, prevention, therapy, epidemiology, etc.).

Whether basic science, translational, clinical or public-health — the link to cardiovascular health must be explicit and central.
Predictor: Tight, explicit cardiovascular relevance — generic biomedical proposals rarely compete well.

2. Scientific Merit, Innovation & Potential to Advance the Field

Novel hypotheses, new therapeutic or diagnostic approaches, underexplored mechanisms, or prevention strategies tend to be highly valued.

Projects that promise to yield important insights into disease pathophysiology, risk factors, prevention, or new treatment strategies are prioritized.
Predictor: High innovation + potential for significant impact increases funding likelihood.

3. Feasible, Well-Designed Study with Realistic Aims & Methods

Given variability in grant size (some are modest seed grants, others larger), successful applications often have focused aims (2–4), a clear methodological plan, and a realistic timeline.

For clinical or population research: well-defined endpoints, appropriate sample size, statistical plan, and feasible recruitment/ follow-up.

For basic/translational research: robust design, appropriate models, controls, reproducibility plans, ethical compliance if human/animal subjects.
Predictor: Well-scoped, methodologically rigorous, feasible studies — rather than overly ambitious ones — tend to do best.

4. Investigator Credentials, Institutional Support & Resources (Especially for Early-Career/Fellowships)

For early-career investigators: mentorship, training environment, access to necessary infrastructure (labs, patient cohorts, imaging, data resources) is important.

For experienced investigators: previous record in cardiovascular research, publications, and proof of capacity to deliver.

Institutional commitment (protected time, core facilities, collaborative environment) gives reviewers confidence in feasibility.
Predictor: Strong team + institutional backing increases competitiveness.

5. Translational or Public Health Potential — Not Just Academic Interest

AHA values research that can lead to improved prevention, diagnostics, therapies, or population health impact, not just basic science.

Especially for clinical or epidemiologic proposals: potential for influence on practice, guidelines, public-health policy, or risk reduction.
Predictor: Clear path to translation or public health impact boosts an application's value.

6. Preliminary Data or Strong Rationale (When Required)

For more ambitious proposals, having pilot data or preliminary results helps — establishes feasibility and reduces risk.

For less data-heavy proposals (e.g., early-phase or exploratory studies), a strong rationale, literature support, and sound hypothesis may suffice — but logic must be tight.
Predictor: Demonstrated feasibility or well-supported rationale increases credibility.

7. Good Grant Writing — Clarity, Structure, Significance & Impact — + Realistic Budget

Well-structured aims, clear background & significance, logical methods, realistic budget, timeline, deliverables.

For smaller grants: budgets need to match project scope — no over-ambitious aims with limited funds.

Clear statement of impact — scientific, clinical, or public health.
Predictor: Strong narrative + realistic budgeting + clear impact improves chances substantially.

8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Especially for Population/Clinical Research)

Given cardiovascular disease burden varies by demographic, proposals addressing health disparities, risk factors in underrepresented populations, or equitable access to care are often viewed favorably.

Inclusion of diverse populations and a plan for equitable recruitment/impact enhances public-health relevance.
Predictor: Focus on equity or underserved populations can strengthen proposals — especially for population-based or prevention studies.

9. Path Toward Future Funding, Translation or Long-Term Impact

Seed or pilot grants should ideally position the project for follow-on funding (bigger grants, multicenter studies, clinical trials) or real-world translation.

Reviewers often assess scalability and long-term benefit, not just immediate results.
Predictor: Projects that show a clear plan for growth or translation — beyond the initial funding — tend to fare better.

🚫 Common Pitfalls & What Weak Applications Look Like

Vague cardiovascular link — proposals that are generic biomedical but without clear heart/vascular relevance

Overly ambitious aims relative to funding or resources, unrealistic timelines

Weak methodology, vague endpoints, poor feasibility, inadequate institutional support

Lack of translational or public-health relevance — purely descriptive without clear impact

Poor grant writing: unclear structure, weak significance statement, ill-justified budget

🎯 What This Means — If You Plan to Apply to AHA

Begin with a clear cardiovascular-focused research question (disease, physiology, prevention or therapy)

Design a focused, realistic study (2–4 aims max, methods matched to resources, ethical plan if needed)

Ensure you have site/institutional support, mentorship (if early career), and resource access

Emphasize innovation and potential impact — scientific, clinical, or public health/ population health

If appropriate, address diversity and health equity, especially in population-based or prevention studies

Write a clear, structured, compelling proposal — background, significance, aims, methods, budget, impact

For seed-level grants: plan for future funding or translational steps — make your proposal a stepping stone

Budget realistically, and request only what is necessary to complete the aims

Specialties

Cardiovascular Diseases

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must be a member of the American Heart Association (membership number required to complete award application).
The applicants must be within their first four years of initial faculty appointment, as of March 11, 2026.
Applicants must submit an abstract for the conference by Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (6 p.m. CST) and only the “first/primary author” may apply.
The applicant must be the abstract presenter.
The work may not have been presented or published before the conference.
The candidate may not have been a winner or finalist of this particular award at previous AHA BCVS Scientific Sessions.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Heart Association

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 7272 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231

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