The American Society of Hematology (ASH™) Minority Recruitment Initiative (MRI) programs provide funding to engage medical trainees in the study of hematology through mentor guided research experiences. These award programs include the Minority Medical Student Award Program (MMSAP), the Minority Resident Hematology Award Program (MRHAP), and two award programs for graduate students and fellows, the Minority Hematology Graduate Award (MHGA) and the Minority Hematology Fellow Award (MHFA).
These award programs are available to medical students, residents, graduate students, and fellows who are interested in a hematology research experience. Research projects can be either clinical or laboratory based. MRI awards also cover costs to travel to the annual ASH meeting where awardees will present their research findings at the world's premier hematology event.
Applicants selected to participate in MRI programs will receive a stipend to work with the ASH member with whom they will conduct their research. Career development mentors are also paired with each participant (MMSAP and MRHAP), to provide guidance throughout the awardee's years in training and beyond.
| Minority Medical Student Award Program (MMSAP) |
Research Time | Eligibility (Medical Students) |
Stipend |
| Summer | 8-12 weeks | Years 1 &2 | $5,000 award |
| Flexible |
Up to 12 months |
Years 1, 2, 3 | $5,000 award |
| Yearlong | 1 year | Years 1, 2, 3 | $32,000 award |
| Minority Resident Hematology Award Program (MRHAP) |
Research Time | Eligibility (Residents) |
Stipend |
| Flexible | Up to 12 months | Enrolled in pediatrics, internal medicine, or pathology residency programs or applied to/matched into a heme-one fellowship program |
$5,000 award |
| Minority Hematology Fellow Award (MHFA) |
Research Time | Eligibility (MD/DO, PhD, MD/DO-PhD post- doctoral fellows) |
Stipend |
| Full-time | 2-3 years | Years 1 & 2 | $100,000 award |
| Minority Hematology Graduate Award (MHGA) |
Research Time | Eligibility (PhD Students) | Stipend |
| Full-time | 2 years | Years 1, 2, 3 | $80,000 |
MMSAP and MRHAP awardees will receive an additional $2,000 travel allowance to attend the ASH annual meeting which consists of:
- A $1,000 travel stipend to attend the annual meeting
- A $1,000 stipend for making a presentation about the research project at a special reception
In addition to stipends, dual mentorship, and covered travel to the ASH annual meeting, all MRI awardees will receive:
- Complimentary registration for the ASH annual meeting
- Online access to The Hematologist and Blood
- The opportunity to present research findings to 200+ annual meeting attendees and networking with members of the Society's Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, NIH representatives, and ASH leadership at the world's premier hematology event
For the purposes of MRI programs, minority is defined as individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related sciences in the United States and Canada, including Indigenous American Indians or Alaska Natives, Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, African Canadians, Inuit, and First Nation Peoples. Thus, all applicants must self-identify, and participants are drawn from this pool. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada, JI / H-1 B Visa holders, or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status and plan to conduct their research project in the contiguous United States or Canada.
Each year we see an increased interest our programs. This year, we are hoping to further our reach by expanding the MRI awards program to include awards that support the careers of underrepresented minority pre-and post-doctoral fellows.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please visit https://www.hematology.org/awards or awards@hematology.org.