The need for clinicians and clinical/translational researchers in hematology-related disciplines is strong. In recognition of the changing role of the hematologist and of current and future anticipated workforce needs, training opportunities for physicians interested in hematology-related careers must be expanded. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) invites Training Program Directors and other educators to submit proposals for novel training initiatives that will augment existing training programs. The Alternative Training Pathway Grant is intended to address the needs of trainees with primary interest in various aspects of hematology and to encourage competency-based training in established and emerging areas of hematology. Additionally, the grant is intended to produce clinicians and clinician-scientists with the skills to apply the full array of technologies made available through advancing medical sciences for the management of complex hematologic problems.

Description of Need

The Alternative Training Pathway Grant is intended to foster the development and/or implementation of creative new curricula for trainees in clinical and clinical/translational hematology and related fields. A growing number of trainees are expressing an interest in pursuing hybrid careers (e.g., medicine/pediatrics) and/or a desire to become trained in both clinical care and laboratory medicine (e.g., transfusion medicine or directing hemostasis laboratories). There is a perceived need for specialists with integrated expertise in hematology and other rapidly evolving areas of applied medicine such as vascular biology, stem cell technologies, cellular therapeutics, and targeted pharmacotherapeutics, laboratory oversight, and transfusion medicine. The Alternative Training Pathway Grant is designed to allow training program directors the opportunity to develop curricula that meets these new demands. Examples of previously funded initiatives include integrated pathways in adult and pediatric benign hematology; pediatric hemostasis-thrombosis and pharmacology; and hematology and palliative care.

Support

Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to support the development and implementation of novel hematology-related training programs as an alternative to traditional training programs. The award may be expended over a one- to two-year period of time. No institutional overhead (i.e., indirect) costs will be supported by this grant.

Eligibility

Applicants must be Training Program Directors and other educators, and Active Members of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) at institutions with an accredited training program(s) in adult or pediatric hematology or hematology/medical oncology, or in other hematology-related disciplines (e.g., pathology specialties) in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. Awards are limited to only one application per institution. Awardees must commit to providing progress reports and final reports as defined in the terms of the grant.

Proposed Curriculum

The proposed curriculum should be able to integrate within an accredited hematology, hematology/oncology, and/or hematology-related specialty training program. Inter-disciplinary initiatives are encouraged, and multi-institutional programs will be considered.

Applicants should:

• Describe the proposed new or alternative training pathway(s).
• Discuss how career development and the scope of career opportunities will be enhanced through the proposed training pathway(s).
• If an inter-disciplinary initiative is proposed, describe how cross-training and certification in fields related to hematology may be pursued or how defined specialty barriers might be breached (e.g., medicine and pediatrics).
• Describe how the curriculum could be disseminated to other training programs if applicable.
• Describe plans to achieve sustainability of the pathway over time.

Examples of innovative pathways include: 1) Hematology and Laboratory Oversight Pathways (e.g. Special Coagulation Laboratory); 2) Hematology and Transfusion Medicine with an emphasis on apharesis. For more examples see the list of winning grantee at the end of the page.

Letter of Intent

Letters of Intent for the 2010 application cycle will be due via e-mail no later then 5:00 p.m. EST, on Tuesday, February 2, 2010.  Those who have fulfilled the Letter of Intent requirements will be invited to apply. 

• A completed Letter of Intent Form must include:
• The contact information for the principal investigator
• A descriptive title of the proposed alternative training pathway
• The names of other key personnel and/or collaborators
• The participating institution(s)
• An abstract (350 word maximum) of the proposed Alternative Training Pathway.

Please be sure to include all necessary documents in one PDF document; separate e-mails will not be considered.

Application

The proposed curriculum should be able to integrate within an accredited hematology, hematology/oncology, and/or hematology-related specialty training program. Inter-disciplinary initiatives are encouraged, and multi-institutional programs will be considered. Applicants should:

To be eligible, applicants must submit a letter of intent to ASH Headquarters by February 2, 2009, for consideration. Completed applications packets are due by March 27.

Applicants will be required to submit the original application plus one copy. Items should be included in the application in the following order:

1. Cover Page/Application Form
2. Award Agreement
3. Biographical Sketches of the Program Director and Key Faculty
4. Abstract of the Proposed Training Pathway
5. Budget
6. Project Narrative*:
   1. Introduction
   2. Previous experience and track record of applicant
   3. Proposal
   4. Long term plans
   5. Candidates: recruitment and selection strategies
   6. Key faculty and roles
7. Letters of commitment:
   1. Department Chair (required)
   2. Related Departments (if appropriate)
   3. External Collaborators (if appropriate)
   4. Other (if appropriate)
8. Appendix**
   1. References

*Project narrative must not exceed seven typewritten, single-spaced pages (including any necessary tables and figures) with one-inch margins using 12-point font.

**References and other supporting materials that are not specifically part of the proposal should be included in the appendix (limit 10 pages). Tables and/or figures should not be included in the appendix – you must include these in your seven page project narrative. Maximum total length of project narrative with appendix is 17 pages.

Submission

Only those who have submitted a Letter of Intent, fulfilled the Letter of Intent requirements, and have been invited to apply may submit an application. 

Applications must be submitted electronically to training@hematology.org by March 19, 2010.

Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

All submissions must include the required documents listed below, in the order below, and be submitted as one PDF file. 

The file should be named in the following format: ATPG Application, Lastname, Firstname, Institution 2010.pdf

Applications not formatted correctly, with missing or incorrect required documents will not be considered.

Items should be included in the application in the following order:

1. Cover Page/Application Form
2. Award Agreement
3. Biographical Sketches of the Program Director and Key Faculty
4. Abstract of the Proposed Training Pathway
5. Budget
6. Project Narrative*:
1. Introduction
2. Previous experience and track record of applicant
3. Proposal
4. Long term plans
5. Candidates: recruitment and selection strategies
6. Key faculty and roles
7. Letters of commitment:
1. Department Chair (required)
2. Related Departments (if appropriate)
3. External Collaborators (if appropriate)
4. Other (if appropriate)
8. Appendix**
1. References

*Project narrative must not exceed seven typewritten, single-spaced pages (including any necessary tables and figures) with one-inch margins using 12-point font.

**References and other supporting materials that are not specifically part of the proposal should be included in the appendix (limit 10 pages). Tables and/or figures should not be included in the appendix – you must include these in your seven page project narrative. Maximum total length of project narrative with appendix is 17 pages.

Review Procedures and Notification

Peer review will be conducted by a specially convened study section. Applications will be scored for innovation, feasibility, quality of the training environment, potential to impact career development, and plans for dissemination to other training programs (if applicable).  Institutional commitment to long term support for the program also will be carefully assessed.

Study section recommendations on the selected proposals will be forwarded to the ASH Awards Committee and ASH Executive Committee for final approval.

Applicants selected for funding will be notified in the spring of 2010.

Terms of Awards

The funds awarded must be used for the training curricula specified in the application submitted to ASH and in strict compliance with the budget included with the application, or any subsequent budget approved by the Society.

All awards will be activated on July 1, 2010. The applicant will have the option of spending the funds over one to two years, as defined in an approved budget. Award payments will be made in two installments. The condition of the second payment is dependant on the submission of a required interim report. Payments will be made to the appropriate financial officer for the institution as indicated on the proposed budget form. The institution will be responsible for distributing the funds to the program director in accordance with the budget submitted with the application.

No indirect costs are allowed to be taken from this grant.

Interim Reports

Award recipients are required to submit an interim report half-way through the grant period. The interim report should include a summary of the work performed and reprints of publications generated by the program during the term of the award. The report should provide assurances that program development has progressed and that appropriate facilities and mentors will continue to be available.

Failure to submit the interim progress report will render the program director ineligible for continued funding. The recipients will be expected to cite support from the American Society of Hematology in any publications resulting from the award.

Final Reports

A final written report (not to exceed four pages) is expected within 60 days of the end of the award period. Award recipients, along with the financial officer from their institution, must also submit a financial report detailing how the funds were used over the one or two year period. This report must be sent to ASH Headquarters to the attention of the training manager.

Transfers

In the event the principal investigator transfers to another institution during the funding period, continuation of the funding at the new institution may be allowed with prior approval of the Society. To obtain permission, the principal investigator must make a request in writing to the Society before the transfer occurs.

Reallocation of funds

The program director may request a reallocation of funds from one expense category to another by submitting the request in writing to the Society. This written request must specify the dollar amount, which categories are impacted, and a justification as to why this change is necessary.

All transfer and/or re-budgeting requests must be sent in writing to the attention of ASH’s Training Manager for review and consideration.

Key Dates

Questions regarding this application and the ASH Alternative Training Pathway Grant should be directed to Joe Basso, Training Manager, at jbasso@hematology.org or 202-552-4910.

2009 Alternative Training Pathways Grant Recipients

Ellis J. Neufeld, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston Karp, Boston, MA

Pathway: Pediatric and Adult Training in Hematology Pathway (PATHway)

Thomas Shea, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Pathway: Transition of Care for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases

Alvin Schmaier, MD, Case Western Reserve University; University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Pathway: Specialized Clinical and/or Basic Research Training in Benign Hematology

2008 Alternative Training Pathways Grant Recipients

Thomas C. Abshire, MD, Emory University School of Medicine

Pathway: Training in Adult and Pediatric Benign Hematology

Donald Mahoney Jr, MD, Baylor College of Medicine

Pathway: Pediatric Hemostasis-Thrombosis Pharmacology Fellowship Training Pathway

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