Research Awards

There will be prizes for investigators focused on basic/translational science and for those focused on clinical/population science. The prizes for Early-Career Investigators are limited to individuals at the assistant professor or associate research scientist level who have been at their institution for at least three years at the time of nomination. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

Criteria include:

• A significant contribution to the field
• Originality and independence of thought
• Outside recognition
• Collaboration
• Potential for an outstanding scientific career

Ideally, the candidate will have made at least one independent contribution meeting the above criteria. In recognition of the collaborative nature of research during the early phases of most careers, an acceptable candidate must have at the very least, been a major force behind the contribution being cited.

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch

There will be prizes for investigators focused on basic/translational science and for those focused on clinical/population science. The prizes for Mid-Career Investigators are limited to individuals at the associate professor or research scientist level who have been at their institution for at least three years at the time of nomination. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

Criteria include: 

• Significance of contribution(s) to the field
• Originality of the work
• Value of the work in shaping and furthering the field
• Productivity and collaboration
• National and/or international recognition
• Contributions to the research environment of their current institution
• Contributions as a mentor and colleague

We anticipate that successful candidates for this award may not have attained the level of leadership, collaboration, and mentoring observed in the Established Investigators.   

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch

There will be prizes for investigators focused on basic/translational science and for those focused on clinical/population science. The prizes for Established Investigators are limited to individuals at the full professor or senior research scientist level who have been at their institution for at least three years at the time of nomination. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

Criteria include:

• Significance of contribution(s) to the field
• Originality of the work
• Value of the work in shaping and furthering the field
• Productivity & collaboration
• National and international recognition 
• Contributions to the research environment of their current institution
• Contributions as a mentor and colleague  

Established Investigator nominees are expected to have made major contributions to their field and have established an important research program. In addition, to qualify for this award, the nominee must have contributed significantly to the research environment through mentoring, scientific leadership, collaboration, and service to the school/health system and scientific community. 

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch

There will be prizes to recognize those who contribute to the aLHS and actively impact health through one or more of the following: 1) Biomedical Informatics; 2) Improvement or Implementation Science; 3) System Science and Organizational Change Management; 4) Stakeholder Engagement, Leadership, and Research Management; 5) Ethics of Health System Research; and/or 6) Health Systems Research Methods. Investigators of all ranks, who have been at their institution for a minimum of three years at the time of nomination, are eligible. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.    

Criteria include:

• Impact on the health system or provision of care
• Originality of the work
• Value of the work in shaping and furthering the field or changing the way care is delivered
• Contributions to transforming our health system into an aLHS

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch

The prizes for clinician investigators are intended to recognize the research accomplishments of individuals whose primary responsibilities are clinical. Eligible individuals must have been at their institution for a minimum of three years at the time of nomination and have more than 50% effort devoted to clinical duties. 4 Investigators of all ranks and degrees are eligible (e.g., MD, PhD, ScD, DVM, DDS/DMD, PA or equivalent doctoral-level terminal degree). The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

Criteria include: 

• A significant contribution to the field 
• Originality and independence of thought
• Outside recognition
• Collaboration

Ideally, the candidate will have made at least one independent contribution, which meets the above criteria.

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch

There will be prizes to recognize an instructor, assistant professor or associate research scientist who are up and coming leaders within their field of research and the health system. These individuals should possess exemplary leadership qualities, such as integrity, curiosity, resilience, and compassion. Instructors, Assistant Professors, and Associate Research Scientists, who have been at their institution for a minimum of three years at the time of nomination are eligible. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

Criteria include:

• Participation in leadership role within health system
• A significant contribution to the field
• Collegiality

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch

There will be prizes to recognize the research accomplishments of those who contribute significantly to innovation and entrepreneurship. Individuals of all ranks, who have been at their institution for a minimum of three years at the time of nomination, are eligible. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

Criteria include:

• Recognition as an outstanding innovator
• Leadership role in either an entrepreneurial or research-focused effort to translate scholarly and creative academic work through interaction with industry or other elements of the private sector.
• History of spearheading collaborative research or scholarly efforts with private organizations that have led to an economic or health related innovation

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch

There will be prizes to recognize the research accomplishments of those who contribute significantly to Health Equity Research. Individuals of all ranks, who have been at their institution for a minimum of three years at the time of nomination, are eligible. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

 

Criteria include: 

• Recognition as an outstanding investigator focused on the field of Health Equity
• Value of work in shaping the field, with the development and evaluation of evidence-based solutions to health differences that are driven largely by social, economic, and environmental factors.
• Originality of the work

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch

Prizes will be awarded to those who have played significant roles in mentoring investigators in their trajectory in becoming highly successful researchers in the biomedical sciences. Eligible individuals must have obtained the rank of associate professor, research scientist or higher and must have been a member of their institution for at least five years at the time of nomination. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

Attributes/Components of a Successful Mentor: 

• Introduces mentee to professional contacts and networks
• Takes personal interest in the mentee
• Provides coaching, supervision, and consulting
• Models or discusses issues of professional and personal balance
• Provides encouragement and advice to mentees seeking leadership positions
• Collaborates with other investigators on scientific projects and grant submissions

Nomination Requirements: 

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV 
• Biosketch
• Two testimonials from mentees
• List of Mentees with Current Positions

The Research Educator Award will be given to an individual that excels at educating others, specifically in the realm of research. This individual is a leader in their respective field and is recognized for educating faculty, staff, and students in and outside of their department. Eligible individuals must have obtained the rank of associate professor, research scientist or higher and must have been a member of the institution for at least three years at the time of nomination. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

 

Attributes/Components of a successful research educator:

• Takes personal interest in educating those around them
• Provides research coaching, consulting, and supervision
• Collaborates with other investigators on scientific projects and grant submissions
• A significant contribution to the field

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• CV
• Biosketch
• Two research education-focused testimonials

There will be prizes to recognize the accomplishments of research staff who contribute significantly to a research team. Staff of any level, who have been at their institution for a minimum of three years at the time of nomination, are eligible. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

 

Criteria include:

• Recognition as an outstanding staff contributor to research
• Clear articulation of specific contribution to the success of a research study or program
• History of leading or contributing to collaborative research or scholarly efforts with a successful research team.

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter (from individual at or above rank of individual nominated)
• Two testimonials from other faculty working with staff member
• Biosketch

Dr. Ebony Boulware will award the Special Achievement Award to one or more full professor or senior research scientist who has significant history of contributing substantially to the research environment at their current institution through mentoring, scientific leadership, collaboration, and service to the school and/or the health system and scientific community. Individuals receiving this award will have outstanding national and international recognition in the academic community. The award consists of a framed certificate and monetary gift.

The Enterprise Integration Team Award will be given to recently formed teams of researchers to celebrate exciting, new collaborations including investigators from multiple markets (e.g., at least one from Charlotte and one from Illinois). The goal of this award is to reward a newly developed team that has leveraged the strategic partnership to further innovate and collaborate on important research topics. The award consists of framed certificates for each team member (investigators and staff).

Criteria include:

• Team must be comprised of investigators from multiple markets
• Team must include investigators working across disciplines and/or departments
• Team must demonstrate success (e.g. funding, publications) that would not have been possible without formation of this team

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter that should include a description of when and why the team was formed; members of the team; how the team is pursing research together; and how the formation of this team will lead or has led to success (e.g. funding, publications).

The Established Team Award will be given to well-formed, established, active teams of researchers working across disciplines on a project that has made highly significant research contributions with notable scientific or clinical impact. The award consists of framed certificates for each team member (investigators and staff).

Criteria include: 

• Team must be comprised of at least three current investigators/staff
• Team must demonstrate exemplary research achievement
• Team must include investigators working across disciplines and/or departments
• Team must demonstrate remarkable scientific product with high impact  

Nomination Requirements:  

• Nominating letter that should include a description of the team’s significant findings, including contributions of each member to the team’s effort, the contributions to scientific research, and the impact to their field and to the larger scientific community.

The New Team Award will be given to recently formed teams of researchers collaborating on a new project. The goal of this award is to reward early-stage, multi-disciplinary teams forming to address innovative research questions. The award consists of framed certificates for each team member (investigators and staff).

Criteria include:

• Team must be comprised of at least three investigators/staff
• Team must have been working together for no more than three years
• Team must include investigators working across disciplines and/or departments
• Team must demonstrate success (e.g. funding, publications) that would not have been possible without formation of this team

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominating letter that should include a description of when and why the team was formed; how the team is pursuing a new area of research together; and how the formation of this team has led to success (e.g. funding, publication).