To Apply

ERF Funded SNMMI Grants, Awards And Scholarship Program

Grants, awards and scholarships, proudly funded by ERF, allow the SNMMI to keep its commitment to supporting the next generation of researchers and advancing molecular imaging and therapy. This support of early career pilot grants fills a funding void for young innovators who need funding to demonstrate the feasibility of their novel ideas before they can apply for larger government grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation or other sources.

For a complete listing of all SNMMI awards, visit their website www.snmmi.org.

The Nuclear Medicine Pilot Research Grant in Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)

Applications Are Now Closed.  Please check back Summer 2025.

This grant is designed to help a basic or clinical scientist in the early stages of their career conduct novel and innovative research that may be leveraged to lead to further funding from other foundations, corporations or government agencies.

The grant will provide $100,000 for a two-year award. Second-year funding will be contingent on satisfactory first-year progress reports. Funds will be directed to the sponsoring institution. Funds may be used to support salaries, research costs, and/or travel. Indirect expenses are capped at 5%.

The deadline for submitting applications is August 31, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. E.S.T. U.S. 

About the Award:

The 2024 ERF/NETRF Nuclear Medicine Research Grant in NETs is sponsored by the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF). Written progress and budget reports submitted through the Proposal Central NETRF grant portal will be required at six-month intervals, outlining all progress to date. At the conclusion of the award period, the recipient must provide a final written report of the project and budget reconciliation. The investigator selected for the grant will be expected to attend the annual NETRF Research Symposium throughout the project and the year immediately thereafter to present findings. Grant funds may be used to cover travel costs to the Symposium. Additionally, brief outcome updates one, three, and five years following the end of the award will be required.

Applicant Eligibility:

• Basic or clinical scientists with an advanced degree, such as MD, PhD, or equivalent are eligible.
• The research must be done at a non-profit, educational institution or organization in any country.
• The institution may not be a governmental agency (i.e. NIH, NCI, etc) in any country.
• Awardee must hold a full-time faculty or equivalent position when the award starts.
• The applicant must be no more than five years post-training (training includes residency, MD/PhD training, professional school, graduate school, postdoc, or fellowship).
• Applicants must not have served as the principal investigator of a peer-reviewed grant for more than $100,000 in a single calendar year.
• Preference will be given to individuals who have demonstrated great potential for a research career in the field of nuclear medicine/molecular imaging and whose research focuses on translational in vivo studies that include radionuclide imaging or therapy for NETs.

Submission Requirements:

There is no application form to complete. However, all packaged applications must have the following components in the order listed. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

• Title page: Applicant Name, Project Title, Institution
• Principal investigator’s current curriculum vitae or NIH Biosketch (2-page maximum including most relevant references)
• Principal investigator’s ORCID number (If you do not have one, please register and include.)
• Type of Research – Please select one: Basic Science, Translational, or Clinical Research.
• Research Plan (no more than 3 pages) containing the following elements:
  • Specific Aims
  • Background and Significance
  • Preliminary Data (if available)
  • Methods
  • References (not included in page count)

• Personal statement by the applicant (1-2 pages): a description of any past research projects, evidence of interest in neuroendocrine tumors, and description of how the project will contribute to the future development of the candidate as a clinician and investigator in the field of neuroendocrine tumors. 
• NET organ of interest – If applicable, select from the following: Gastrointestinal NET, Pancreas NET, Lung NET, Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma, other (please specify).
• Abstracts:

– Lay abstract: Please provide an abstract for a general audience. Be sure to describe the key question or therapeutic roadblock being addressed by your proposal and why it is important to our understanding of NETs and/or their treatment. Also, describe the potential outcomes and include a short statement describing the proposal’s potential translational and clinical impact. Write in a style that the average non-scientist adult would understand without scientific terminology. (300-word maximum)

– Technical Abstract: Please provide an abstract for a scientific audience. Be sure to describe the key question or therapeutic roadblock being addressed by your proposal and why it is important to our understanding of NETs and/or their treatment. Also, describe the potential outcomes and how they may impact NET research and treatment. (300-word maximum)

• Letter of Institutional Support (1 page)
• Proposed Budget: The funds can be used to support salaries, research costs, and/or travel. 
• Please note: No grantee may receive more than one research grant from ERF in any one year. Likewise, no other grant request will be considered until a satisfactory summary of an earlier grant is received. Applicants who currently have a NETRF award should ensure their NETRF award will end before the start of the ERF/NETRF award since NETRF awardees may only hold one active grant at a time.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria:

• The proposal is highly relevant to advancing molecular imaging.
• The work is completely non-incremental, original and innovative.
• The proposal reflects sound methodology that is likely to prove the hypothesis.
• The protocol is based on good, scientific reasoning.
• The applicant has the knowledge/skills, resources to successfully conclude this project.
• The applicant has the support of their institution.

Submission Details:  

There is no formal application form. Applicants should provide every item listed in .pdf format under the “Submission Requirements” in the order listed. Only complete packages should be submitted via email by 5:00 p.m. E.S.T. U.S. on August 31, 2024. Incomplete packages will not be considered, and ERF is not responsible for ensuring packages are complete. 

Electronically submit cover letter signed by an institutional official with all documentation listed under “submission requirements” in .pdf format to: info@mierf.org; Email subject: “NETS Research Grant Material Submission – LAST NAME”

Disclaimer:

Funding of this award is subject to the approval and availability of grant funds appropriated to ERF. Therefore, ERF reserves the right to alter the number of investigator awards, terms and allowances.

The ERF Cassen Prize

Applications Are Now Closed.  Please check back in Spring 2026.

The Benedict Cassen Prize is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement and work leading to a major advance in nuclear medicine science. The prize award is $25,000 and is only offered every other year (even years).

Proposal Requirements

1. A letter nominating an individual or group should be sent to the ERF, providing a concise summary of the nominee’s work that has led to a major advance in nuclear medicine science. It is advisable that the nominee not be made aware of the nomination. All nominations are kept confidential by the Foundation.
2. Also provide a biography, not to exceed two pages, including past positions and prior awards or recognition received by the nominee.
3. On an additional page, list no more than six peer-reviewed journal references, which substantiate the statements made in your nomination. Do not send reprints or a bibliography.
4. Submit letters of support (no more than three) from persons who are qualified to appreciate the nominee’s contributions to nuclear medicine science.

Submission Details

• Nomination letter and all supporting documents must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 8, 2024.
• Electronically submit nomination letter and all documentation to: info@mierf.org subject: ‘Benedict Cassen Prize Material submission -‘LAST NAME'”

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. It is advisable that you contact the office to ensure all documents were received prior to the submission due date.

Richard L. Wahl Mid-Career Leadership Award

Applications Are Now Closed.  Please check back in Spring 2025.

The Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (ERF) developed this award through donations for the purpose of encouraging and funding a mid-career candidate in the advancement of his/her career in nuclear medicine/nuclear radiology.  The purpose of the award is to fund continuing education that will directly lead to the candidate’s career advancement. 

Award Information

The award provides a $7,500 one-time grant to be used for expenses toward career advancement.  This can include enrollment in courses, scientific meetings, seminars, additional training, or any other ideas you have.  Simply design a plan and budget to spend $7,500 on your own career advancement and submit it with your CV! 

Eligibility

• Applicant must hold a doctoral degree (M.D. or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
• Applicant must have a full-time employment position as an M.D., either nationally or internationally.
• The $7,500 grant will be paid in USD. Proposals may include plans offered nationally or internationally.
• Applicant must be more than 10 years beyond his/her final year of residency, and more than 10 years from expected retirement. 

• Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for a new award.

Application Contents

• Applicant Curriculum Vitae
• Advancement plan with a line-item budget detailing how the $7,500 award will be spent.

• Submissions are due 5:00 PM Eastern Time on March 8, 2024.
• Incomplete and/or packages that do now follow the submission requirements will not be accepted.
• Late submissions will not be acknowledged or accepted, regardless of the rationale.
• Submissions must be combined into one, single PDF document in the order outlined above.
• Packages that are emailed pieces at a time or as separate PDF attachments will not be accepted.
• Submit all materials electronically to: info@mierf.org, subject line: “Wahl Award Material Submission.”

Application Review

The review committee is composed of physicians with expertise in education, research, and technology in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.  Review criteria includes the applicant’s professional record, career advancement plan, and feasibility of the proposal to lead to career advancement.

Award Requirements

Each recipient of an ERF grant, as a condition of acceptance of the award, agrees to the following:

• Submission of receipt(s) to prove the award money was paid for the advancement plan as outlined.
• Updates of future advancements in the candidate’s career as a direct result of receiving the award.

Cassen Postdoctoral Mentoring Award

Applications Are Now Closed.  Please check back in Spring 2025.

The Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (ERF), through a bequest from the estates of Benedict Cassen and Mary Wiley Cassen, is offering grant support for a junior scientist faculty member to recruit a post-doctoral to support research in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The grant is intended to provide an early-career scientist with mentoring experience and the opportunity to develop preliminary data for federal or other competitive research support. The grant will provide support for the postdoctoral fellow to carry out the research under the supervision of the junior faculty member, with the assistance of a senior faculty member or principal investigator. Selection of a postdoctoral fellow from relevant disciplines outside nuclear medicine and molecular imaging is encouraged but not required. Overall administrative and research guidance for the postdoctoral fellow is to be provided by a senior mentor in the same institution.

Award Information

The Postdoctoral Mentoring Award provides up to two years of research support. The amount of the award is $50,000 per year, payable to the applicant’s institution, which is to be used for salary support (including benefits) of the postdoctoral fellow.  The postdoc candidate does not need to be nominated or identified at the time of application and can recruited after the award is made.  The award may be renewed for a second year, subject to ERF review and approval of first-year progress.

Eligibility

• Applicant must hold a doctoral degree (M.D. or Ph.D. or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
• Applicant must have a full-time position at an accredited university or medical school or equivalent in the United States.
• Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
• Applicant must be no more than 10 years beyond his/her doctoral degree or final year of postgraduate training, whichever is later.
• Applicant must have a senior mentor with significant research experience.
• Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for a new award.
• Institutions are not eligible for consecutive awards, but they are eligible for repeat awards that are not consecutive.

Application Contents

• Applicant curriculum vitae
• Research plan (five pages maximum), to include research question and significance, experimental design and methodology, role of postdoctoral fellow, relevance of research to applicant’s career objectives and development of research skills, and anticipated publications.
• Senior mentor details:
  • One-page statement of support including mentorship plan.
  • Curriculum vitae, including research support and publications.
  • Previous experience in fostering development of junior researchers.
• Description of institutional facilities relevant to the proposed research.
• Institutional commitment to 20% FTE research requirement of applicant from applicant’s department chairman, dean or other responsible administrator.

Application Submission

• Proposals are due no later than Friday, August 25, 2023, by 5 PM Eastern Time.

• Incomplete packages or packages that do not follow the submission requirements will absolutely not be accepted.
• Late submissions will not be acknowledged or accepted, regardless the rationale.
• All components of a package must be combined into one, single PDF file in the order outlined above.
• Packages that are emailed pieces at a time or several PDF’s as attachments will not be accepted.
• Submit all materials electronically to the following address: info@mierf.org, using “Cassen Grant Material Submission” as the subject line.

Application Review

The ERF Cassen Review Committee will review proposals. The Committee is composed of internationally prominent scientists with expertise in education, research and technology in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. Review criteria includes the applicant’s academic record, career development plan and potential to develop into an independent researcher in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, research plan, mentor and mentorship plan, and institutional research environment.

Award Requirements

Each recipient of an ERF grant, as a condition of acceptance of the award, agrees to the following:

• Submission of annual progress reports for each year of funding and a final report at the conclusion of the award period.
• Acknowledgment of ERF Cassen funding in all presentations and publications resulting from the award.