Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
Global Affairs Committee (GAC)
Funding Agency
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
Funding Title
Global Laparoscopy and/or Endoscopy Education and Training Award.
Purpose and Guidelines
The SAGES Global Laparoscopy and/or Endoscopy Education and Training Award is open to any international principal investigator, hospital/university, healthcare organization, professional organization or government who strives to promote, educate and train surgeons/healthcare providers in basic laparoscopy and/or endoscopy. The purpose of the award is to educate and train surgeons/healthcare providers in basic laparoscopy and/or endoscopy in developing countries where minimally invasive surgical techniques are currently absent or underutilized. The goal is to improve public health and establish sustainable access to basic laparoscopy and/or endoscopy to improve the care of a large patient population who may benefit from basic laparoscopy and/or endoscopy. Programs with greater sustainability potential and the possibility of levering laparoscopy to improve overall local surgical care and systems will be favored. Awards are conferred on a competitive basis by submission of a project proprosal, which is reviewed and evaluated by the SAGES Global Affairs Committee and approved by the Governing Board.
Timeline for Funding
Deadline for Submissions: February 17, 2015
Available Funding
Two awards will be granted with each grant limited to no more than $200,000 for a period of two to four years (the time necessary to establish a sustainable laparoscopy and/or endoscopy service to a population). All funds requested are not guaranteed to be awarded and any awarded dollars are at the discretion of the review committee. The purpose of these grants is to develop a sustainable and accountable education/training initiative in basic laparoscopy and/or endoscopy with specific predetermined goals and the ability to track outcomes. Applications with a commitment of matching funds or “matching equivalents” (resources or infrastructure to achieve the desired goal) are strongly encouraged but not mandatory. Part of the grant review process will necessitate a telephone discussion and/or a “site visit” to establish the viability of the proposal given the breadth of political and international variability inherent in different countries. The review committee will review each application individually to assure sustainability and accountability as they relate to the stated goals. A percentage of funds will be necessary to cover GAC additional administrative coordinator support. Administrative coordinator support is contingent upon the application site and infrastructure and will be calculated into the final award.
Guidelines for Submission
It is assumed that some of the resources required to conduct the project are available through the sponsor’s organization/hospital/government/professional society. The grant serves to provide supplemental support for education/training personnel, infrastructure and equipment or services required to complete the proposal. Awards are based on the merit of the project as well as the investigator/hospital/organizations’ vision and capability as well as the likelihood that the project will be sustainable. Considerations include the investigator/hospital/organizations’ experience, background and availability of resources.
Specific Project Proposal Requirements
- Objectives/Specific Aims – 1 page
It is requested that the authors outline very clearly their goals for the proposal and how these goals are measured. Specific outcomes data collection (metrics) and plans for publication should be one of the specific aims.
- Background – 2 pages
Applications should specifically define the problem at their institution/country/region and who or what population is being targeted for the project. As part of the background, it is expected the lead of the project in the country/region specifically address his/her qualifications and the qualifications of his/her hospital or organization that would make the project successful.
- Methods/Resources – 3 pages
Please list all resources currently available to the applicant that can be committed to the proposal. It is strongly encouraged and will make the application more competitive for funding if matching funds or “matching equivalents” (resources, personnel, equipment, local monetary donations, etc…) are available for the project. If so, please outline all available resources that would be necessary to contribute to the success and sustainability of the project.
Outline the infrastructure of the organization, hospital and/or entity and their ability to comply and complete the project. Define a specific timeline for the project and the earliest date the project can begin in the country/region.
A “local champion” who will lead the project as well as a local leadership structure have to be clearly defined.
Address a mechanism for accountability/goals/outcomes to be measured as a part of the proposal and longitudinally. Define specific metrics to measure success and what tools will be used to measure these metrics. Ultimately, a plan to illustrate how outcomes in the country/region show improved quality as a result of the proposal.
Develop a sustainability plan for the proposal. Specifically address how the plan will continue beyond the period of funding outlining potential barriers to sustainability and how these will be addressed.
The application should address the number and scope of the anticipated population that would benefit from the project.
- Supporting documentation
- CV of the local leader and coordinator
- Brief of the government role and commitment to the project
- Participation of the organizational/hospital/professional organization
- Bibliography
- Budget
In detail, please describe expenses, i.e., investigator effort, coordinator effort, is F&A allowable, can equipment costs be included, may some of the funds be used for travel, etc.
The following additional requirements must be met by the Investigator/entity:
- Submit semi-annual updates to the SAGES Global Affairs Committee during the course of the project, starting 6 months after the grant has been awarded.
- At the conclusion of the project, the entity is required to submit a final update report to the Global Affairs Committee specifically addressing how the outcomes were measured and the goals were met.
- An abstract must be submitted for presentation at the SAGES Annual Meeting Scientific Session which immediately follows the successful completion of the project
- A manuscript on the project and your findings/results must be sent to Surgical Endoscopy. A copy of the final manuscript must be sent to the SAGES Office in order for the grant to be considered complete. SAGES must be acknowledged as a funding source
- Letter of recommendation from SAGES member preferably a leader in SAGES is preferable but not mandatory
SAGES Global Affairs Committee understands that projects may need modification during the execution phase. If a study design is modified, the responsible party MUST notify the committee. The committee will then review the suggested changes and decide whether they will continue to fund the new study.
How to apply / Questions
Questions and submissions can be made to Jacqueline Narvaez in the SAGES office electronically to jacqueline@sages.org or via paper:
Jacqueline Narvaez/ SAGES Global Laparoscopy and/or Endoscopy Education and Training Award
11300 W. Olympic Blvd, suite 600
Los Angeles CA 90064, USA