Verified

Expired

CRC Screening Microgrants Program

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

The ASGE CRC Screening Microgrants Program supports quality improvement projects focused on one of the most critical gaps in the colorectal cancer screening continuum: colonoscopy completion after an abnormal stool-based test.

With funding from an unrestricted grant from Exact Sciences, now Abbott, ASGE will award microgrants to US-based GI healthcare teams serving medically underserved populations in the United States. Selected teams will develop, implement and sustain coordinated strategies that improve colonoscopy completion after an abnormal stool-based test.

Funded interventions may include:

Patient navigation programs
Open-access colonoscopy workflows
Digital outreach tools, such as text reminders or AI agents
Multi-component quality improvement frameworks tailored to the site’s patient population and practice environment

The program is designed to build long-term institutional capacity, promote active collaboration with primary care or population health quality improvement teams, strengthen performance monitoring and advance health equity in settings where follow-up gaps are most pronounced, including safety-net hospitals and designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Program Timeline

Date	Activity
August 12, 2026	Program application launches
October 12, 2026	Program application deadline
December 14, 2026	Award recipients notified
January 2027	Virtual introductory session for microgrant recipients
April 2027	Baseline results submitted to ASGE by participants
Schedule to be announced	Learning collaborative meetings
October 2027	Interim results submitted to ASGE by participants
December 6, 2027	Final reports submitted to ASGE by participants

Grant Award: Each selected site will receive a microgrant up to $20,000 to fund its QI project. Funds may not be used for facility fees and must be expended by the date specified.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct and substantial relevance to gastrointestinal endoscopy

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Critical

This is the most important predictor for ASGE research funding.

The main ASGE Research Grant explicitly requires a relationship to gastrointestinal endoscopy and lists areas including colorectal cancer screening, Barrett's esophagus, endoscopy training, health disparities, quality improvement, infection control/reprocessing, sedation/anesthesia, bowel preparation, endoscopic obesity treatments, EUS, ERCP, and endoscopically guided imaging/interventions.

A strong proposal should make the connection:

Research question → endoscopic procedure/technology → GI practice → patient benefit

very clear.

2. Scientific merit: significance, innovation and methodology

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Critical

ASGE explicitly states that its research grants are awarded based on:

Significance
Innovation
Methodology
Feasibility
Investigative team
Research environment

These criteria are directly stated in the current ASGE Research Grant requirements and the ACG/ASGE Epidemiologic Research Grant materials.

A competitive application therefore needs:

A clearly defined research problem
Testable hypothesis
Strong rationale
Appropriate study design
Appropriate statistical analysis
Meaningful endpoints
Feasible methods

3. Potential to improve endoscopic practice and patient care

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

ASGE's stated objective is to promote research and innovation in gastrointestinal endoscopy to advance patient care and digestive health.

The proposal should explain exactly how the findings could influence:

Diagnostic accuracy
Screening
Therapeutic endoscopy
Procedure safety
Patient outcomes
Endoscopy efficiency
Quality measurement
Infection prevention
Sedation safety
Endoscopic technology

The ASGE Research Grant requires an impact statement describing the potential impact on gastroenterology and/or endoscopic practice.

4. Innovation in endoscopic technology, methods or clinical practice

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

Innovation is one of ASGE's formal scientific review criteria.

Particularly relevant innovative areas include:

AI-assisted endoscopy
Computer-aided detection
Advanced imaging
EUS
ERCP innovation
Novel therapeutic devices
Endoscopic obesity treatments
New approaches to colorectal cancer screening
Novel bowel-preparation strategies
Endoscope reprocessing
Infection-control technologies
Digital/endoscopic workflow tools

ASGE's current AI Institute for Gastroenterology also demonstrates the Society's continuing interest in artificial intelligence for improving patient outcomes and endoscopy workflows.

5. Strong preliminary data and a credible next-stage funding plan

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

This is a particularly important ASGE characteristic.

ASGE explicitly considers pilot projects when applicants explain how the preliminary data generated will support subsequent larger studies and identify the intended funding source, such as NIH or VA Merit funding.

A strong proposal therefore has:

Pilot question → preliminary data → larger study → NIH/industry/federal funding

rather than treating the ASGE award as an isolated project.

The Society states that investigators with the greatest potential to subsequently obtain larger extramural funding receive priority.

6. Feasible and statistically rigorous study design

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

Feasibility is an explicit selection criterion. ASGE also requires a statistical analysis plan and sample-size calculations, including for retrospective studies.

A strong application should establish:

Appropriate study population
Sample-size justification
Primary and secondary outcomes
Statistical methods
Data collection strategy
Recruitment/access to patients
Timeline
Potential pitfalls
Alternative approaches

For multicenter research, appropriate IRB/IACUC approvals are required before funds can be released.

7. Strong investigator/team and research environment

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

ASGE evaluates both the investigative team and research environment.

The proposal should demonstrate access to:

Experienced endoscopists
Gastroenterology expertise
Biostatistics
Research coordinators
Appropriate patient populations
Endoscopy equipment
Data systems
Imaging technology
Clinical research infrastructure

For trainees, ASGE requires appropriate institutional and mentor support.

8. Strong alignment with ASGE's current priority areas

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

The strongest thematic alignment comes from areas specifically identified by ASGE.

Current examples include:

Colorectal cancer screening
Barrett's esophagus
Endoscopy training
Health disparities
Quality measurement/improvement
Endoscope reprocessing
Infection control
Sedation/anesthesia
Bowel preparation
Endoscopic obesity treatment
EUS
ERCP
Endoscopically guided imaging/interventions

The new CRC Screening Microgrants add an especially clear current priority around improving colonoscopy completion after abnormal stool-based tests in medically underserved populations.

9. Health equity and underserved-population impact

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

ASGE has a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion Research Grant supporting research addressing minority health and healthcare disparities in GI diseases. Its published criteria prioritize projects capable of influencing change in clinical practice.

The 2026 CRC Screening Microgrants further emphasize:

Medically underserved populations
Safety-net hospitals
Health Professional Shortage Areas
Patient navigation
Digital outreach
Primary-care collaboration
Population-health improvement

Thus, when applicable, a proposal is strengthened by demonstrating a measurable disparity and a concrete intervention to reduce it.

10. Excellent application quality, budget justification and compliance

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

ASGE is unusually explicit about administrative requirements.

The Research Grant requires:

Completed application checklist
Cover letter
Impact statement
Abstract
Five-page research proposal
References
NIH-style biosketches
Budget and justification
Resources and environment
IRB/IACUC documentation where applicable
Supporting letters

Applications that fail specified formatting, checklist, page-limit or submission requirements can be returned without review.

The budget is also scrutinized and must clearly relate to the research proposal.

Specialties

Gastroenterology

Eligibility Requirements

Grant recipients will participate in a learning collaborative (LC), supported by nationally recognized experts in colorectal cancer screening QI and ASGE staff. The LC will convene for a virtual introductory session and periodic virtual check-ins. All recipients will have access to a curated GI Leap module on ASGE's online learning platform, offering multimedia educational resources.

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 3300 Woodcreek Dr., Downers Grove, IL

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity