See full document containing the full outline of the grant here.

The Vanguard Committee of the International Liver Transplant Society (ILTS) is composed of young, highly motivated, and qualified individuals with multidisciplinary expertise in liver transplantation. The committee is dedicated to promoting the engagement of early-career liver transplant professionals and trainees in all ILTS activities. It advocates on their behalf by providing opportunities for active participation in projects, recognizing and supporting their research, and facilitating valuable collaborations.

Since 2021, the Vanguard Committee Grant has been available to support a clinical, basic science, or outcomes research project led by a young physician-scientist in the field of liver transplantation. The grant aims to further the goals of the ILTS by fostering innovation and excellence in this domain.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • The candidate must be 42 years old or younger, or within 5 years of completing initial training.
  • A mentor with established expertise in the research focus must provide a letter of support, confirming their commitment to the mentorship role.
  • The candidate must submit an updated Curriculum Vitae.
  • Both the trainee and mentor must be ILTS members in good standing before submitting the application.
  • The project must be original.
  • Mentees who are principal investigators on major grants (e.g., NIH K or R series, international scientific foundations) are not eligible.

Research Topic: The research topic must fall within the field of liver transplantation, whether in the clinical, basic science, or translational arenas.

Research Project Composition:
The research project should include the following components:

  1. Abstract: A concise summary of the project, limited to 200 words.
  2. Specific Aims Page: A clear and focused outline of the project’s objectives.
  3. Project Description: A detailed narrative (maximum of 5 pages, single-spaced, 12-point font) organized into the following sections:
  • Significance: Describe the importance of the research and its potential impact.
  • Innovation: Highlight the novel aspects of the proposed work.
  • Research Approach: Provide a comprehensive plan for conducting the research, including methodology and expected outcomes.
  • References.

Note: References are not included in the 5-page limit and should be listed separately. A short description of the available resources (environment, instruments, core facilities) must be included (maximum of 2 pages). 

Evaluation of Proposals: The submitted projects will be evaluated by a selection committee consisting of:
The President-Elect (Affiliated Council of the Vanguard Committee), a member of the Basic Science Committee with relevant expertise in the topic related to the projects, the Chair of the Education Committee, the Chair of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the Chair of the Vanguard Committee, and an “ad hoc” reviewer (Council Member) appointed by the ILTS President.

Each member of the jury will independently vote on the project. The evaluation will consider the following criteria: Significance, Innovation, Investigators, Approach, Environment, and the potential impact on the field. A report with feedback from the evaluating committee will be provided to each applicant independently of the outcome.

Funding: ILTS will provide a $10,000 USD grant to support the project, along with covering expenses for the winner to attend the ILTS Annual Congress the following year (including travel and hotel). The awardee will present their research results in person at the Congress.

Grant Period, Progress Report, and Final Report: The funding must be utilized within a period not exceeding two years. No indirect costs are allowed. A progress report (maximum 3 pages) detailing the advances made must be submitted 6 months after receiving the grant. Additionally, a final report is required no later than 24 months from the start of the grant. Both reports will be evaluated by the same initial selection committee. Continuation of funding will be contingent on the outcomes and progress outlined in these reports.

Mandatory Documents for ILTS Award Disbursement: For studies involving human subjects, evidence of Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval must be provided before the award can be initiated. Similarly, for studies involving animals, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval is required prior to the start of the project.

Timeline:

December 16th, 2024: Call for Submission opens.

February 15th, 2025: Submission deadline.

End of March Award Notification.

July 1st, 2025: Research start date.

Apply Now for the Vanguard Committee Grant!

The awardee will be recognized at the ILTS annual meeting.

ILTS is an international society of transplant professionals, and we support the international standards of informed, uncoerced consent of organ donors and prohibitions on trafficking of organ donors for profit.