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SPA Young Investigator Research Grants

Society for Pediatric Anesthesia

The Society for Pediatric Anesthesia is pleased to announce the availability of Young Investigator Research Grants, through the Patient Safety, Education and Research Fund (PSERF). The Young Investigator Grants will be for one year, renewable once at the discretion of the Research Grant Committee.

Upon review of the all of the submitted proposals, the Committee may distribute one or more grants to total up to $50,000. The Committee may also choose to reduce the awarded amount or not fund any of the submitted projects for a given calendar year.

Investigators are encouraged to submit grants investigating basic science or clinical research questions, innovations in education, or quality and safety projects, including simulation.

Proposals with a focus on healthcare disparities and care of minority populations will be of particular interest.

Application Process

Initial Proposal

Title Page
TWO PAGE description of the proposed project
- Specific Aims/Hypotheses/Goals
- Importance of this project for pediatric anesthesiology
- Background information
- Previous data, if any
- Methods, including sample size analysis
- Planned data analysis
Biosketch (NIH Style) of the Applicant and Mentor
Letter of support from Chair of Department
Letter of support from research mentor
Letters of support from project collaborators
DEADLINE: August 3, 2026; 5:00pm ET

Initial proposals will be reviewed by the Grant Review Committee, with a decision one month after submission deadline. Each grant will be scored based on the following criteria:

Principal Investigator:
Does the applicant have the potential to succeed as a mentored investigator?
Does the applicant have any previous research experience or track record that are relevant and should be considered?
Does the investigator demonstrate high potential for developing as a clinician-scientist?

Mentor and Mentorship Team:
Is the mentor qualified for the area of proposed research?
Do the applicant and the mentor have a track record of prior or ongoing collaboration?
Does the mentor have a track record of funded investigation?
Has the mentor demonstrated successful mentorship previously?

Significance:
Does the project focus on an important question or problem in the field?

Innovation:
Does the application use novel theories, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts novel to the field

Approach:
Are the proposed research questions, design, and methodology technically sound?
Are there plans to address weaknesses in the approach?
Is the plan relevant to the applicant’s research career objectives?
Is the approach appropriate to the applicant’s stage of research development?

Environment and Institutional Commitment to the Applicant
Are the research facilities and institutional environment adequate and appropriate to support the candidate, proposal, proposed collaboration, and professional development of the applicant?
Is there a clear departmental commitment to ensure adequate protected time for the candidate to carry out the proposal?

Successful applicants will be invited to submit a more complete and thorough description of the project, with budget, timelines, plans for analysis, and future development.

The initial proposal, with all supporting documents, should be collated into one PDF document with the investigator’s last name as the title, and sent electronically to researchgrants@pedsanesthesia.org.

FULL PROPOSAL

DEADLINE for FULL PROPOSAL, if invited to submit: November 2, 2026
Full proposals will be reviewed by the Committee, and results announced no later than early January 2027, for funding to be distributed in late January 2027.

Presentation of Research Results
Individuals whose work is funded for 2026 are expected to present their work at the SPA Winter Meeting in 2026.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to pediatric anesthesia and perioperative medicine (highest predictor)

This is the strongest success predictor.

Competitive proposals should focus on topics such as:

Pediatric anesthesia
Pediatric perioperative medicine
Pediatric pain management
Airway management
Regional anesthesia
Sedation
Patient safety
Perioperative outcomes
Monitoring technologies
Quality improvement in pediatric anesthesia

Projects outside pediatric anesthesiology are generally not competitive.

2. Strong clinical relevance and potential to improve pediatric patient care (very high predictor)

SPA prioritizes research that has a clear impact on the care of children.

Competitive projects should demonstrate potential to:

Improve anesthetic safety
Reduce perioperative complications
Improve pain control
Enhance recovery
Improve perioperative decision-making
Advance evidence-based pediatric anesthesia practice

Projects with a direct pathway to improving clinical care are especially well aligned with SPA's mission.

3. Scientific excellence and rigorous methodology (very high predictor)

Strong proposals generally include:

Clearly defined hypotheses
Sound scientific rationale
Appropriate study design
Robust statistical methods
Realistic recruitment plans
Clearly defined outcome measures

Methodological rigor is essential because SPA awards are intended to support research capable of producing meaningful scientific contributions.

4. Innovation and originality (very high predictor)

Competitive proposals often investigate:

Novel anesthetic techniques
Innovative monitoring technologies
New pain-management strategies
Pediatric pharmacology
Enhanced recovery protocols
Artificial intelligence in perioperative care
Simulation-based interventions

Projects that address important unanswered questions using innovative approaches are particularly competitive.

5. Early-career investigator development (very high and distinctive predictor)

The Young Investigator Research Grant specifically supports investigators in the early stages of their academic careers.

Competitive applicants typically demonstrate:

Strong academic promise
Commitment to pediatric anesthesia research
Potential for independent research careers
Early publications or preliminary research experience

Developing future leaders in pediatric anesthesiology is a major objective of SPA funding.

6. Strong mentorship and institutional support (very high predictor)

Mentorship is particularly important for early-career awards.

Competitive applications usually include:

Experienced research mentor(s)
Protected research time
Strong departmental support
Access to pediatric patient populations
Research infrastructure
Biostatistical support

A well-developed mentoring plan significantly strengthens an application.

7. Feasibility and realistic project scope (high predictor)

SPA grants are relatively modest in size, so projects should be appropriately focused.

Competitive applications demonstrate:

Achievable aims
Realistic timelines
Appropriate sample size
Available institutional resources
Efficient budget

Focused projects are generally more competitive than overly ambitious proposals.

8. Potential to generate preliminary data for larger funding (high predictor)

SPA Young Investigator Grants are intended to help investigators establish independent research programs.

Competitive projects clearly explain how the grant will:

Generate preliminary data
Lead to NIH or foundation funding
Support future multicenter studies
Establish long-term research programs

The strongest applications view SPA funding as a catalyst for future research.

9. Collaboration and multidisciplinary expertise (high predictor)

Strong proposals often involve collaboration among:

Pediatric anesthesiologists
Pediatric surgeons
Intensivists
Pain specialists
Nurses
Pharmacologists
Statisticians
Quality improvement experts

Multidisciplinary collaboration enhances both feasibility and clinical impact.

10. Dissemination and impact on pediatric anesthesia practice (high predictor)

Competitive projects should demonstrate potential to:

Publish in peer-reviewed journals
Present at SPA or other scientific meetings
Influence clinical guidelines
Improve standards of pediatric perioperative care

Projects capable of changing clinical practice are particularly attractive.

Specialties

Anesthesiology

Pediatrics

Eligibility Requirements

The individual must be an MD or DO practicing pediatric anesthesia, with a current medical license.
The individual must be a SPA member within the preceding dues cycle.
The individual must have completed primary pediatric anesthesia training within the previous seven (7) years, or must currently be enrolled in a pediatric anesthesia fellowship.
Resident Status:
- US or Canadian citizens
- Permanent residents (green card holder)
- Working in an academic institution on an H1-B visa with at least 3 years of validity on the visa at the time of the application
Certification in Anesthesiology
- Candidate must be ABA board-certified, Canadian FRCPC-certified, or a current candidate in the ABA or Canadian FRCPC Examination system.
- Physicians who are neither certified nor eligible to be a candidate in the ABA or Canadian FRCPC Examination system for primary certification (either through the regular pathway or the Alternate Entry Pathway) will be eligible to apply for funding if he/she has an active, non-time-restricted license to practice in one of the United States or Canada AND he/she is practicing pediatric anesthesiology (for at least 40% FTE) in an academic medical center or closely affiliated institution.
Candidates who have previously been granted a federal mentored research career development award (i.e., NIH K08 or K23) or similar institutional (i.e., KL2) or foundation award will not be eligible.

Eligible Countries:

Canada

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Society for Pediatric Anesthesia

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 2209 Dickens Road, Richmond, VA 23230

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