The Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) offers the Early Career Research Development Grant to support early-stage faculty in Emergency Medicine, including Pediatric Emergency Medicine, as they begin their independent research careers. This grant is intended to assist recipients in building a structured career development plan, including educational components like didactics or degree coursework, and to fund a research project aligned with their future goals of securing extramural funding. EMF emphasizes the inclusion of community emergency departments and policy/operational partnerships in research proposals.
Eligible applicants must be at the Assistant Professor rank or lower, within seven years of completing residency, and must hold a primary faculty appointment in Emergency Medicine. Institutional support is essential: applicants must demonstrate sufficient access to data or patients, along with proof of IRB submission or approval. The application packet must include a signed Statement of Conditions, a letter of support from the Department Chair, letters from co-investigators, and documentation of other funding support. A letter of intent is due first, followed by a full application via the online portal.
Grant funds may be used for materials, supplies, and salary, but not for overhead, travel to present research, or equipment above $5,000 without justification. Funds are disbursed semi-annually over a two-year period, contingent upon timely and satisfactory progress reports. EMF may reclaim funds if the PI leaves the institution or ceases relevant research. Any discoveries made must be reported, and EMF retains publication acknowledgment rights. A grantee workshop is required, for which travel is reimbursed, but Research Forum travel costs are not covered.
Proposals are reviewed using NIH criteria, emphasizing the project’s significance, innovation, strategy, and feasibility. A final decision is made by the EMF Board of Trustees. Awardees are expected to present their findings at the ACEP Research Forum. Regular surveys post-award track grantees’ career progress and outcomes. Detailed reporting, including financials with institutional sign-off, is mandatory.
The funding cycle follows a strict timeline: Letters of Intent are due by October 31, 2025; full applications by December 12, 2025; awards are announced in June 2026 for a two-year funding period beginning July 2026 and ending June 2028. Questions should be directed to Cynthia Singh, Deputy Executive Director, via csingh@acep.org.
Applications are scored on NIH criteria (significance, feasibility, strategy, innovation); inclusion of operational/policy partners is encouraged.
