80th ASSH Annual Meeting Travel Scholarship 2025

Through the generosity of the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand, Residents*, Fellows* and active duty military surgeons^ have the opportunity to earn a scholarship to attend the 43rd Annual Adrian E. Flatt Residents and Fellows Conference in Hand Surgery (October 8, 2025) as well as the 80th Annual Meeting of the ASSH (October 9 – October 11, 2025). This assistance program is designed to help cover travel expenses and registration fees associated with these meetings.

Please note the updated policies:

1. Recipients will be reimbursed for travel expenses (up to $2,000). All recipients are required to submit appropriate receipts for allowable reimbursements, including transportation, lodging, meals, and registration.
2. Letter of support from Program Director (or equivalent) must indicate if any institutional funding is available to attend the Annual Meeting.

*Note for Residents and Fellows: Scholarships are intended for North American Resident and Fellow applicants only. Scholarship awards will only be given to those who are a Candidate Resident/Fellow or who have submitted an application for candidate membership at the time of acceptance. More information will be sent along with award notification letters.

^Note for military applicants: You must be on active duty at the time of application and for the duration of the ASSH Annual Meeting.

Along with your contact information, you are required to submit the following**:

1. A brief personal statement addressing your current interest in hand surgery, goals/desires of attending the meeting, plan of incorporating knowledge gained, and future interest in hand surgery.
2. CV
3. Letter of support from your Program Director, Department Head, Directorate of Surgery, Executive or Commanding Officer. It must confirm the following:
• If there is ANY institutional funding available for you to attend.
• If you will be allowed to attend the entire annual meeting and Resident/Fellows Conference (Wednesday, October 8 – Saturday, October 11).

Optional documents you can include:

1. Headshot
2. Letter of Recommendation (max of one)

**Questions may apply for those being considered for the Hentz Award and Riordan Award.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2025

Basic Science Grants and Clinical Grants

BASIC SCIENCE GRANTS

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (AFSH) have established grant funding to encourage investigators to perform basic science research studies. Our goal is to enable investigators to initiate pilot projects that will lead to subsequent funding from other sources such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The AFSH is committed to excellence in basic science research while maintaining the highest academic integrity and fiscal responsibility.

ABOUT BASIC SCIENCE GRANTS:

These grants function similarly to the NIH Small Grant Program (R03). The R03 grant mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research that can be completed in a short amount of time with limited resources. These projects include, but are not limited to, pilot studies, self-contained research studies, or development of research methodology or technology. Preliminary data are not required but may be included.

See the NIH Small Grant Program page on the NIH website as background to learn more about the R03 grant mechanism.

CLINICAL GRANTS

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (AFSH) have established grant funding to encourage investigators to perform clinical research studies. Our goal is to enable investigators to initiate pilot projects that will lead to subsequent funding from other sources such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The AFSH is committed to excellence in clinical research while maintaining the highest academic integrity and fiscal responsibility.

ABOUT CLINICAL RESEARCH GRANTS

These grants function similarly to the NIH Small Grant Program (R03). The R03 grant mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research that can be completed in a short amount of time with limited resources. These projects include, but are not limited to, pilot studies, self-contained research studies, or development of research methodology or technology. Preliminary data are not required but may be included.

See the NIH Small Grant Program page on the NIH website as background to learn more about the R03 grant mechanism.

Jennifer F. Waljee, MD, MPH – Research Division Director
David M. Brogan MD, MSc – Research Management Committee Co-Chair
Philip E. Blazar, MD – Research Management Committee Co-Chair

SPECIAL EMPHASIS NOTICE

The AFSH is seeking grant submissions for the upcoming 2026 grant cycle in the following areas: using emerging technology (including AI), healthcare disparities in hand surgery, and contractures. Projects within these subject areas will receive special attention by the Research Management Committee.

SPECIAL EMPHASIS AREAS

Emerging technology: Investigation of new technology/strategies, including AI, to improve clinical care and communication

Healthcare Disparities in Hand Surgery: Studies exploring interventions and solutions to improve care among under-represented and disadvantaged groups

Contractures: Investigation of treatment modalities, diagnostic tools and therapies to improve upper extremity contractures across a wide range of etiologies, including perinatal causes (cerebral palsy), post-traumatic, stroke and distinct pathologic entities such as Dupuytren’s

Special emphasis grants will be considered as part of the general pool of grant proposals reviewed this year.
Proposals covering any topic related to hand/upper limb are welcome to apply.

AWARD

• Up to $60,000 award ($30,000 annually) for one or two years, direct costs only
• 75% of grant award ($22,500 max) is awarded at the start of each grant year and final 25% ($7,500 max) is disbursed after the six-month progress report for each year has been reviewed and approved by the Research Management Committee.

2026 AFSH Grant Application Letters of Intent

In keeping with the National Institute of Health (NIH) we ask that you submit your letter of intent prior to applying for a Basic Science or Clinical Research Grant. The information in your letter will be reviewed by the AFSH Research Management Committee.

Your letter of intent should include the following:

1. A one page Specific Aims document in which the goals, significance and expected outcomes of the project are described. See example here.
- NIH Standard Formatting: 11pt, Arial Font, ½ Inch Margins
2. A 200 Word abstract
3. NIH formatted biosketch. See example here.

Please submit your Letters of Intent by February 16, 2026. Prior to the February 16, 2026 deadline, PI's are invited to submit their LOI for review by the Clinical Research and Grantsmanship Committee; early deadline January 19, 2026. You will be contacted by March 9, 2026 if you are invited to submit an AFSH Basic Science or Clinical Grant.

Questions? Email afsh@assh.org.