Best Grants for Digestive System Health and Diseases in Pennsylvania

American Gastroenterological Association

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA represents members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice, and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research, and educational programs of the organization.

AGA-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This award provides funding for three years to early-career faculty (i.e., investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent) working toward an independent career in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research.

Objective

The objective of the AGA Research Foundation Research Scholar Award (RSA) is to support early-career investigators working toward independent and productive research careers in digestive diseases by ensuring that a major proportion of their time is protected for mentored research (i.e., a minimum of 50 percent effort dedicated to the proposed project). This award will support junior faculty (not fellows) who have demonstrated exceptional promise and have some record of accomplishment in research pertaining to inflammatory bowel disease.

Review all of the benefits AGA Research Scholar Award recipients are entitled to on the award policies page.

Application Requirements

• Maintain AGA membership throughout the three-year duration of the award.

• Applicants must self-assign their proposal to one of the following categories:
  • Clinical: Research involving direct contact with human subjects or using clinical data to address problems related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or outcome of human diseases (e.g., clinical epidemiology). This category also includes research related to health care delivery (e.g., health services, health IT).
  • Basic/Translational: Research with a primary goal of understanding basic biology or disease mechanisms. This category can involve animal subjects, cell culture, human biospecimens or human data as resources for laboratory- or informatics-based investigation.

• Resources allocated through this award are intended to support the career development of the applicant. The applicant must allocate a minimum of 50 percent effort to the proposed project.

• Applicants are required to have a sponsor and mentor for the award; one individual may serve in the capacity of both positions. A sponsor (typically a division chief or department chair) is an individual who takes responsibility for the quality assessment of the proposed research project, the quality of the research environment within which the project will be undertaken, and the experience and expertise of the principal investigator and other key researchers involved. A mentor will supervise the principal investigator’s research activities ensuring timelines and deliverables and will work with the applicant to create a research career development plan.

• The intent of this award is to foster the scientific independence of junior investigators. Applicants whose research activities become incorporated into a grant application from a senior mentor will need to delineate clearly the scientific and experimental distinctions between their respective programs. This requirement applies both to pending applications submitted prior to review of this award and to applications submitted during the term of the RSA. It must also be clearly stated how the work submitted by the applicant is that of the applicant and not that of the senior mentor(s).

• A complete research facilities and resources form must be submitted.

• Biographical sketches for the applicant, mentor and other key personnel must be submitted.

• Applicants resubmitting a revised application from a prior cycle must include a resubmission report describing responses to reviewer feedback and other major changes since the most recent past submission.

• Upon notification of receipt of this award, the recipient must provide institutional approval from the appropriate committee(s) for use of human subjects or animals. If approval is not necessary, then the recipient must provide documentation from the appropriate regulatory committee.

• Recipients must submit scientific and financial progress reports to AGA annually and final reports 60 days after the end date of the award period. Report templates and instructions are provided to awardees at the time of acceptance. Second and third year funding are contingent upon the submission and accuracy of this documentation.

• All publications, presentations, abstracts, and patent applications arising from work funded by this program must acknowledge support of the AGA–Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

• Additional pre-award policies are available on the Research Award Policies page.

Award Overlap

• At the time of application submission, applicants may not hold, or have held, an NIH K01, K08, K23, K99, R00, R01, R21, R29, Veterans Affairs Career Development Award or any award with similar objectives from non-federal sources (e.g., the American Liver Foundation, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).

• Applicants who have held a K12 or KL2 in the past are eligible to apply. Applicants with an active K12 or KL2 may apply in the final year of their active K12 or KL2 so long as the award will end before the Research Scholar Award term begins.

• If a applicant is granted the award and notified of a comparable award from another agency prior to the first payment of this award, then the recipient must select one of the two awards (i.e., the recipient may not retain both awards).

• If the recipient is notified that a comparable award has been granted after the first payment of this award, then the recipient may retain up to 50 percent of the remainder of his or her AGA award. AGA must be notified by the recipient via email within two weeks of receiving notification of additional funding.

Pennsylvania digestive health researchers and clinicians can access funding for epidemiologic studies on gastrointestinal endoscopy outcomes using GIQuIC data. Grants from the American College of Gastroenterology and ASGE provide up to US $50,000 for ACG or ASGE member physicians, clinical researchers, and fellows in the U.S. or Canada to improve GI endoscopy quality and outcomes.

American College of Gastroenterology provides Pennsylvania digestive health researchers with up to US $75,000 for patient-oriented gastrointestinal and liver disease health equity studies. U.S. and Canadian ACG-member physicians with faculty or community practice appointments can propose clinical, translational, social science, or health services research addressing disparities among underrepresented groups in GI and hepatology care.

Established clinical gastroenterology or hepatology investigators in the U.S. or Canada can apply for the American College of Gastroenterology’s bridge funding awards of up to US $300,000 to sustain digestive or liver disease research programs. Pennsylvania-based physician faculty with recent federal GI or hepatology funding gaps may be especially well positioned for this support.

Junior gastroenterology and hepatology faculty in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. or Canada can seek up to US $450,000 for clinical research careers focused on digestive or liver diseases. Focused on digestive system health and diseases, the American College of Gastroenterology supports ACG member physicians with three-year awards providing 50% protected research time.

With a mission to advance hematology and related organ research, the National Institutes of Health provides Pennsylvania medical researchers and institutions with funding for nonmalignant hematology projects. Eligible R01 proposals may address digestive system health and diseases within the broader scope of blood, kidney, metabolic, aging, cardiovascular, or respiratory research priorities.

Registered nurses conducting pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, pancreatic, or nutrition nursing research or quality improvement projects, including those based in Pennsylvania, can apply for NASPGHAN Foundation support, with awards of US $500 - US $10,000. Grants from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition help advance nursing care for children and families facing digestive system health and nutrition disorders.

Early-career MD or PhD investigators at U.S. nonprofit or government research institutions conducting pediatric inflammatory bowel disease research can apply for this three-year career development award, including those in Pennsylvania. Focused on digestive system health, Crohns and Colitis Foundation invites mentored young investigators to pursue independent IBD research, with awards ranging from US $102,500 - US $307,500.

Pennsylvania digestive health researchers can access funding through the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition to conduct clinical, quality improvement, translational, or basic science projects on pediatric gastrointestinal, liver, pancreatic, or nutritional disorders. Eligible applicants are early-career NASPGHAN member faculty within five years of fellowship completion in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, with awards of US $150,000.

Medical students interested in digestive system health and diseases research in Pennsylvania and other U.S. and Canadian locations can receive up to US $4,000 for a 10-week mentored summer project. Grants from North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition support basic or clinical research in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, or nutrition under experienced scientific mentors.

NIH provides Pennsylvania digestive health and liver disease researchers with funding for multi-level and multi-domain intervention studies. Eligible U.S.-based organizations can propose projects to reduce disparities in liver diseases and liver cancer among populations experiencing health inequities, including work that may benefit patients and communities in Pennsylvania and other covered territories.

Focused on digestive system health, this grant invites Pennsylvania general surgery residents and recent graduates from accredited U.S. or Canadian programs to pursue research on diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. The American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons provides US $20,000 for one year, with potential competitive renewal, covering research activities, salary, and living expenses.

Colorectal surgery residents and colorectal-trained surgeons conducting clinical, hypothesis-driven research in the U.S. or Canada can apply for up to US $25,000 from the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons. Focused on digestive system diseases, this limited project grant supports investigator-initiated studies that directly improve care for colorectal surgery patients, including those in Pennsylvania.

Nonprofit or academic investigators conducting digestive system health and colorectal surgery research in Pennsylvania can seek up to US $25,000 for one-year, investigator-initiated, hypothesis-driven projects. Grants from the Research Foundation of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons support colon and rectal disease studies conducted in the U.S. or Canada, with ASCRS members as principal or co-principal investigators.

Nonprofit or academic investigators conducting colorectal surgery and health equity research in Pennsylvania can apply for up to US $20,000 to support pilot, patient-oriented projects. With a mission to advance digestive system health and diseases, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons provides funding for work on disparities, access, quality improvement, and workforce diversity in colorectal care.

The Robotic Research Grant, offered by the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, provides up to $150,000 over two years for innovative research in colorectal surgery and robotics. Emphasizing education, health equity, and novel techniques, the grant supports projects conducted in the U.S. or Canada, with a focus on scientific rigor. Applications must be submitted by ASCRS members who are principal investigators, ensuring alignment with ethical research standards.

Graduate students, medical students, and early medical residents in Pennsylvania working on digestive system research can receive US $500 - US $1,000 to support abstract-based presentations at Digestive Disease Week. American Gastroenterological Association funding recognizes top abstracts in gastroenterology and hepatology, encouraging emerging investigators pursuing digestive system health and disease careers.

The NIDDK Disease Research and Translational Core Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) program invites applications to support innovative biomedical research focused on cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. These centers foster collaboration, provide essential resources, and mentor early-stage investigators, enhancing the research landscape. Funding will support pilot programs and access to shared services, ensuring efficient use of resources while promoting a robust scientific community dedicated to advancing health outcomes.

The NIDDK Disorders of Gastrointestinal Interoception Consortium Clinical Centers (DGIC) aims to enhance understanding of gastrointestinal disorders by expanding the previous Gastroparesis Consortium's research scope. This initiative will include adult and pediatric conditions linked to impaired interoceptive processing, utilizing multidisciplinary approaches to uncover mechanisms connecting GI function to symptoms, identify biomarkers for treatment efficacy, and explore new therapeutic targets for future clinical trials.

The NIDDK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC) Data Coordinating Center aims to enhance understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by coordinating extensive genetic research. By leveraging diverse patient cohorts and advanced data science techniques, the center seeks to identify genetic risk factors, develop predictive biomarkers, and improve IBD patient management. This initiative will facilitate collaboration among various research centers and ensure efficient data collection and sharing to foster advancements in precision medicine for IBD.

The NIDDK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC) aims to enhance understanding of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) through genomic research. By leveraging patient cohorts and advanced data science, the IBDGC seeks to identify genetic risk factors and develop predictive biomarkers for disease outcomes. This initiative will improve medical management and advance precision medicine for IBD patients, addressing the need for effective diagnostics and treatment strategies in this chronic condition.

The NIDDK is expanding its Gastroparesis Consortium into the Disorders of Gastrointestinal Interoception Consortium (DGIC) to explore various GI disorders linked to interoceptive processing. This initiative aims to include multiple Clinical Research Centers and a Scientific Data Research Center, focusing on multidisciplinary approaches to uncover mechanisms connecting GI function to symptoms. The effort seeks to identify biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for future clinical trials, enhancing understanding and treatment of complex gastrointestinal conditions.

The Silvio O. Conte Digestive Diseases Research Core Centers (DDRCCs) program invites applications to enhance communication and collaboration among researchers in digestive and liver diseases. Funded by the NIDDK, DDRCCs focus on shared resources that foster productivity and innovative research ideas. Each center must revolve around a central theme aligned with the NIDDK's mission, ensuring effective research support while avoiding overlap with other NIH Institutes' funding areas.

The NASPGHAN Foundation Abbott Advanced Fellowship in Pediatric Nutrition offers up to $75,000 for one year of advanced training in pediatric nutrition for members of NASPGHAN. This fellowship aims to enhance pediatric nutrition expertise by supporting a well-defined clinical experience and focused research project. Eligible applicants must be MDs or DOs and members in good standing, with a preference for those seeking training at different institutions. This initiative addresses the increasing importance of pediatric nutrition in child health.

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation seeks to promote innovative research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) by encouraging diverse perspectives from early career investigators and those underrepresented in science. The Innovator Awards do not require preliminary data and are evaluated based on the potential for innovation and scientific merit. Eligible researchers must hold advanced degrees and can apply for funding through their home institutions, fostering groundbreaking ideas that can transform IBD treatment and prevention.

The NIDDK High Risk Multi-Center Clinical Study Implementation Planning Cooperative Agreements (U34 Clinical Trial Optional) supports innovative, hypothesis-driven clinical studies with a focus on diseases relevant to NIDDK. This initiative facilitates early peer review and assessment of study designs while providing essential support for operational documents. Applicants are encouraged to consult with NIDDK staff before submission to enhance the chances of success.

The Limited Competition Small Grant Program for NIDDK K01/K08/K23/K25 recipients offers funding opportunities for pilot studies and feasibility research. This program aims to support researchers transitioning to independent investigator roles by providing resources for small projects that can yield preliminary data for future R01 applications. Key deadlines for applications range from February 2025 through January 2028, with specific dates for standard, renewal, and AIDS-related applications.