The AARCC/ACHA Young Investigator Award was developed to strengthen research in adults with congenital heart disease. Projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Preliminary or pilot data collection

• Quality improvement initiatives requiring data analysis

• Exploratory research using bio-banked samples available for analysis

• Basic, clinical, or translational research

Quality improvement or community engagement projects without a research component will not be considered.

The Principal Investigator must:

• Be an AARCC member in good standing

• Be an ACHD Fellow in Training at a recognized ACHD training center or an early-career faculty member at the Assistant Professor level who is within five years of terminal training

• Have mentorship from an established investigator with expertise relevant to the proposed project

• Have at least one mentor who is also an AARCC member in good standing

Faculty members are limited to one submission as Principal Investigator.

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Applicants may request up to $50,000 in direct project costs.

Grant funds may support:

• Salaries and fringe for staff involved in the study

• Student stipends

• Supplies

• Equipment

• Other project-related expenses

Grant funds may not be used for faculty salaries or tuition costs, and F&A/indirect costs are not allowed.

Contingent on the receipt of meritorious applications, up to three projects are anticipated to receive funding.

A Letter of Intent is required and must be submitted through the AARCC/ACHA Young Investigator Award online submission form by December 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. Submissions by email will not be accepted.

The project title is limited to 81 characters, and the project summary is limited to 4,000 characters.

Applicants should be prepared to briefly address the project goals and funding request, statement of need, proposed activities and methodology, anticipated outcomes, project personnel, and anticipated budget. The LOI template provides additional guidance for preparing this information.

Submit a Letter of Intent‍ ‍| Download LOI Template

Applicants proceeding to the full application stage will receive submission instructions by email.

The application must be submitted through the online form by February 12, 2027, at Noon EST. The form will collect basic applicant/contact information and require applicants to upload one PDF containing the complete application.

Download Full Application Guidelines

Applications will be reviewed by a designated Review Committee composed of AARCC and ACHA members. Review will consider:

• Responsiveness to the request for applications

• Scientific and technical merit

• Significance of the proposed project

• Qualifications of the investigative team

• Appropriateness of the methodological approach

• Potential for scholarly productivity or subsequent external funding

Reviewers may also identify changes in study design or methodology that could strengthen the proposal and provide those recommendations to applicants.

Awards will be announced at the in-person AARCC Research Meeting at the 2027 ISACHD meeting in Skamania.

The anticipated project period is: August 1, 2027–July 31, 2028

IRB or IACUC approval is not required at the time of application, but applicable approvals must be obtained before funding can be awarded.

Principal Investigators receiving an award agree to:

• Submit a final progress report within 30 days following the end of the project period

• Provide AARCC and ACHA with copies of publications resulting from the project

• Notify AARCC and ACHA of subsequent funding received using preliminary data generated through the award

• Present the project at a future AARCC meeting

• Acknowledge AARCC and ACHA funding in resulting publications and presentations