The A. Ward Ford Memorial Research Grant, offered through the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin in partnership with the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), supports clinical and basic science research into the current and potential applications of laser and light-based therapies. This grant honors Austin Ward Ford, a pioneer in the early business machine industry, whose legacy inspired the foundation of ASLMS. The grant program reflects a commitment to advancing the medical use of laser technologies across disciplines by fostering academic research.
Eligible applicants must be enrolled in or have completed MD residency or PhD post-doctoral training after January 1, 2018. They must also be members or applicants for membership in ASLMS by the time of the award. While priority is given to individuals pursuing academic research or teaching positions, all eligible submissions are considered. The funding is intended to support projects that can be completed within a one-year period beginning July 1 of the award year, with extensions considered upon request.
The grant offers up to $70,000 and is distributed in two installments to the researcher's institution. The second payment is contingent on a six-month progress report submitted by November 30. The project must conclude by June 30 of the following year, though extensions can be requested from the ASLMS Research and Development Committee.
The application process is a two-step procedure. Interested individuals must first submit a Pre-Application by January 15, 2025. Top-scoring applicants will then be invited to submit a full Grant Application by March 11, 2025. Applications are reviewed and scored by the ASLMS Research and Development Committee, which provides recommendations to the Community Foundation.
Upon completion of the research, recipients are required to submit an abstract to ASLMS for presentation consideration at their next Annual Conference. If not selected to present, recipients must submit a manuscript for potential publication in the ASLMS journal, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. The contribution of the A. Ward Ford Memorial Institute Fund must be acknowledged in any resulting publications or presentations.
For more information, applicants can contact the ASLMS Research and Development Committee via phone or email. All application materials, instructions, and access to the online portal are available through the ASLMS website.
