Catalyst to Independence Award

Support for the next generation of scientists means investment in the future of the field.

The Catalyst to Independence Award is a transition award that supports the next generation of researchers, catalyzing their careers and efforts to solve the biggest questions in single ventricle heart disease and related fields.

Supporting People and Projects

In addition to generous research funds, the award provides additive programming and financial assistance to equip investigators with the skills, tools, and support they need to thrive as leaders of outstanding independent research programs.

Research Focus Area

Additional Ventures is on a mission to solve single ventricle heart disease, guided by our Research Roadmap to address the critical knowledge gaps within this field and beyond. The Catalyst to Independence Award provides support for outstanding investigators pursuing topics relevant to single ventricle heart disease and aligned with the specific focus areas in the Roadmap – genetics, basic cardiovascular development, tissue engineering, computational modeling, and other relevant areas.

Support

Up to $1M for research, awardee, and lab-support staff

Community

Opportunities to network with Catalyst Awardees and Additional Ventures investigators through sponsored events

Programming

Individual career-coaching and skill-building opportunities

Previous Catalyst to Independence Award Cycles

The inaugural cohort of awardees includes three outstanding early career investigators whose innovative, transformative research has enormous application to the understanding and treatment of single ventricle heart disease. Read more about our Catalyst to Independence Award recipients here and here.

Eligible applicants must meet each of the General Eligibility Requirements listed below:

• Applicants must have earned a PhD, MD, DO, or doctoral equivalent more than 1 year prior to the application due date and must have held their current role for at least 1 year.
• Applicants must have current postdoctoral fellow or instructor status (or equivalent) and be in non-independent, mentored positions.
• Applicants cannot concurrently hold a transition award from another organization and must commit to a minimum 9 calendar months (75% of the year) dedicated effort to the proposed work.
• All applicants must be affiliated with a domestic nonprofit academic or research institution, including public/private academic universities or institutions of higher learning (including colleges, universities, medical schools, and other related academic research institutions); certain qualified governmental agencies with active biomedical research programs may also meet eligibility criteria.
• Applicants must be legally qualified to work in the US (including citizens, non-citizen permanent residents, or temporary residents of the US). Immigration-related matters and visa applications are the responsibility of the fellow and sponsoring institution.

Potential candidates are encouraged to discuss their individual situation with Additional Ventures program staff. Please contact us at grants@additionalventures.org. Applicants from historically excluded and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.