Check back in 2011 for application details

The AACAP Quest for the Test Bipolar Disorder Pilot Research Award, supported by The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation, offers $15,000 for child and adolescent psychiatry residents and junior faculty who have an interest in beginning a career in child and adolescent mental health research. Proposed research projects should address questions concerning the pathology or diagnosis of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. The recipient has the opportunity to submit a poster presentation on his or her research for the AACAP's Annual Meeting. The award also includes the cost of attending the AACAP Annual Meeting for five days.

Award Requirements

• Candidates must be board eligible/certified in child and adolescent psychiatry, or enrolled in a child psychiatry residency, integrated training or fellowship program.
• Candidates must have a faculty appointment in an accredited medical school or be in an accredited child and adolescent psychiatry training program.
• At the time of application, candidates may not have more than two years experience following graduation from residency/fellowship program.
• Candidates must not have any significant, individual research funding in the field of child and adolescent mental health. This includes the following: NIH Funding (K or R level grants) or similar foundation or industry research funding. Candidates who have received or are currently receiving “T32” funding support are eligible to apply.
• Candidates must either be AACAP members or have a membership application pending (not paid by the award) and agree to submit a poster presentation on his or her research for the AACAP's Annual Meeting.

Application Guidelines

• Application form (will be posted soon)
• A letter of intent, no more than seven pages (Single spaced, no less than 12 pt. font), including four pages of research protocol, a one page detailed project timeline, one page budget and justification, and one page addressing the inclusion or exclusion of women and minorities.
  1. The research protocol should include the following sections: significance and specific aims, hypotheses, background and rationale, and a research plan (including data analysis plan). Research may be pre-clinical, epidemiological, or clinical.
  2. The detailed project timeline should list tentative dates of all procedures for the proposed research project.  These include but are not limited to: data collection processes, analysis of results, and final report writing.     
  3. The budget should contain sufficient detail so that each item can be separately judged. Computer related items (e.g., personal computers, printers, modems, etc.) are extremely unlikely to receive budget approval. No salary support for the principal investigator will be provided. No indirect costs for the institution will be provided. Typical budget items may include but are not limited to: subject honoraria and travel expenses, instrumentation costs, assay and lab test costs, and/or payment to research assistants.
  4. If women or minorities will not be included, detailed justification of the rationale for their exclusion is mandatory. Such exclusion may lower enthusiasm for the proposal.
• A letter of support from section chief or department chair.
• A letter of support from the proposed mentor.
• Candidate's current curriculum vitae.
• Letter detailing any current research funding (role on project, title, type of project, and source of funds).

(Human and Animal Subjects must be verified at time of award and do not need to be included with the application.)

Program Format
The award recipient is encouraged to work with a child and adolescent psychiatric investigator with expertise in his or her particular area of interest. Work must be completed within one year of receipt of the award. Any unused funds must be returned to the AACAP.

AACAP has the right to waive informalities.

Quest for the Test Bipolar Disorder Pilot Research Award
AACAP Department of Research, Training and Education
3615 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016

For more information, contact the Department of Research, Training and Education at 202.966.7300, ext. 157 or email Alyssa Sommer, Research Coordinator at asommer@aacap.org.

Click here for a list of the 2008 and 2009 AACAP Pilot Research Award Recipients and their projects.