Verified

Outcomes Research Grant

Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

The primary objective of this grant program is to promote innovative research that utilizes the SCMR Registry resource to generates crucial evidence regarding the prognostic role of CMR with regards to patient outcomes.

Award Amount:

A single outcomes research grant with up to $20,000 USD funding will be awarded.

Submission Deadlines:

The SCMR submission site will close on October 15, 2026 at 1:00pm US Eastern Time. Please note the submission deadline will not be extended.

Submission Guidelines:

Applicants are encouraged to clearly outline how their research proposals address critical gaps in evidence related to the prognostic value of CMR in clinical practice.

Cover Letter (1-page maximum): Describe the applicant’s employment position and how the outcomes research grant funds will be utilized, including a justification of how the award will positively impact the project by covering essential costs not otherwise funded.
Biosketch (CV): Please use the SCMR Registry Biosketch Form (4-page maximum).
Research Plan (3 pages maximum): A comprehensive description of the outcomes research project including specific aims, significance, current knowledge/preliminary data, and approach. The application should also include a timeline and expected outcomes for a one-year project. This plan should clearly articulate how the project addresses current evidence gaps in the outcomes of CMR.
Detailed Budget Justification (1/2-page maximum): Eligible budget items include, but are not limited to:
- Support for research staff (e.g. fellows, post-doctoral trainees, technologists, biostatistical support, etc.). Note that this grant mechanism will not cover PI salary (unless the PI is a trainee).
- Computing resources for analysis and securing cloud space for data storage.
- Publication costs.
Potential Competing Interests (1/2 page maximum).

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct CMR relevance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the most fundamental predictor of fit.

SCMR Seed Grants explicitly support research that advances the technical and translational application of CMR. Applicants are encouraged to address key knowledge gaps or needs in patient-focused CMR.

High-fit areas include:

Cardiovascular MRI
Cardiac function
Myocardial tissue characterization
Cardiac ischemia
Cardiomyopathy
Myocarditis
Cardiac amyloidosis
Heart failure
Coronary disease
Congenital heart disease
Valvular disease
Cardiac masses
CMR biomarkers
Quantitative CMR
Advanced imaging
CMR physics
AI in CMR

A general cardiovascular study that does not meaningfully use or advance CMR would have weak alignment.

2. Important CMR knowledge gap ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The proposal should clearly identify what is not yet known or adequately validated in CMR.

Examples:

Current CMR technique lacks sufficient diagnostic accuracy
Prognostic value remains uncertain
A CMR biomarker has not been validated
A pulse sequence has technical limitations
CMR findings are not sufficiently integrated into clinical decision-making
The clinical utility of a CMR measurement is unclear
CMR's cost-effectiveness has not been established

SCMR specifically asks applicants to explain how their project addresses current knowledge gaps in CMR.

3. Clinical significance and patient impact ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A competitive proposal should demonstrate why the CMR research matters to patients.

Potential outcomes include:

Earlier diagnosis
More accurate diagnosis
Better risk stratification
Prediction of adverse cardiovascular events
Better treatment selection
Monitoring treatment response
Improved prognosis
Reduced unnecessary procedures
Improved clinical decision-making

For Outcomes Research Grants, SCMR specifically seeks evidence concerning the prognostic role of CMR in patient care.

4. Innovation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Innovation is an explicit SCMR review criterion.

Technical innovation

Potentially strong topics include:

New pulse sequences
Faster CMR acquisition
Quantitative mapping
Motion correction
Improved image reconstruction
Novel contrast techniques
4D flow
Automated image analysis

SCMR specifically gives novel pulse-sequence development/validation as an example of an appropriate Seed Grant topic.

Clinical innovation

New CMR biomarkers
New diagnostic algorithms
CMR-based risk prediction
AI-assisted interpretation
CMR-guided treatment strategies
Multimodality imaging approaches

5. Scientific rigor and study design ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is explicitly scored by SCMR.

The research plan should demonstrate:

Clear specific aims
Strong hypothesis
Appropriate study design
Appropriate comparator
Adequate sample size
Validated CMR measurements
Appropriate statistical analysis
Clearly defined primary outcomes
Reproducibility
Appropriate handling of confounders

The review criteria explicitly include scientific rigor & study design.

6. Feasibility and research environment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SCMR explicitly evaluates the research environment, including equipment, patient volume and mentorship.

A competitive application should demonstrate access to:

CMR scanner
Appropriate scan time
CMR technologists
Relevant patient population
Existing imaging databases
Image-analysis software
Computing resources
Biostatistical expertise
Clinical collaborators

For Seed Grants, the supervisor/department-head letter must confirm that the applicant has sufficient time and resources, including access to images, databases and scan time, to complete the project.

7. Clear translational/clinical value ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SCMR supports both technical/basic and clinical/translational research. The Seed Grant application specifically asks applicants to identify whether the project is basic/technical, clinical/translational, or combines both.

A particularly strong pathway is:

CMR innovation → validation → clinical utility → improved cardiovascular care

For example:

Novel myocardial-mapping technique → improved fibrosis detection → improved risk stratification → better treatment decisions.

8. Applicant's academic record and SCMR involvement ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Applicant factors account for 30% of SCMR Seed and Outcomes Grant review, compared with 70% for the research plan. Academic accomplishments include publications, awards and grants, while history of involvement with SCMR is also explicitly assessed.

Therefore, competitive applicants should demonstrate:

Relevant publications
CMR research experience
Previous presentations
Appropriate scientific training
SCMR membership
Participation in SCMR activities
Emerging independence

This is especially important because SCMR's Seed Grant is designed for early-career investigators.

9. Mentorship and collaboration ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The Seed Grant requires a project mentor who will guide execution of the science.

A strong mentor should provide:

CMR expertise
Technical expertise
Clinical expertise
Statistical support
Access to infrastructure
Career-development guidance

For multicenter projects, clearly defined collaborator roles strengthen feasibility.

10. Preliminary-data and future-funding potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one of the most important strategic features of the SCMR Seed Grant.

SCMR explicitly encourages early-career investigators to use Seed Grant projects to generate pilot results for competitive applications to larger governmental or other grant programs.

Specialties

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Radiology

Cardiovascular Diseases

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for this grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be a member of SCMR at the time of application and for the duration of the grant.
Be an active participating site in the SCMR Registry. Alternatively, the project can be conducted under the mentorship of a SCMR Registry participant.
Applications from researchers obtaining access via mentorship or collaboration with an SCMR Registry participating member are encouraged.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1061 East Main Street Suite 300 East Dundee, Illinois 60118

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