Established by the Society in 2007 with financial support from Abiomed, Inc., the W. Gerald Austen Young Investigator Award is designed to encourage individuals to embark on a career in cardiothoracic research and education, with a focus on investigating recovery after acute cardiogenic shock. The inaugural award was presented at the 2008 STS Annual Meeting to Dr. Ranjit John, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota.
In addition to highlighting the urgent need to develop cardiothoracic researchers specializing in heart function recovery, the award is a tribute to Dr. Austen, who is internationally recognized for his contributions as a cardiac surgeon, teacher, and clinical investigator. He was a pioneer in the development of circulatory support systems to aid the failing heart. Recipients receive $40,000 for the costs of conducting research, and up to an additional $10,000 for associated indirect costs, for a total of up to $50,000.
The 2009 award application deadline was September 15, 2008. The 2009 award will be presented during the STS 45th Annual Meeting, January 26-28, 2009, in San Francisco, California.
If you have any questions regarding this award, please contact Grahame Rush, Senior Manager for Governance and Information Technology, at grush@sts.org.
