SMSNA RFA Research Grant Fund

• Applications will be accepted from SMSNA members in good standing who reside in North America.

• Applicants must have completed their final year of formal training (e.g. fellowship, post-doctorate).

• Applications will be accepted from investigators with any academic background, including but not limited to: urology, psychology, psychiatry, gynecology, internal medicine, geriatrics, public health, physiology, genetics, molecular biology, social work, law.

• Research projects must be carried out within the United States or Canada to qualify for funding.

• Funding will vary depending on the priority topic chosen and the type of research being conducted.

• Funding may be provided for multi-institutional collaborations or single-institution research projects.

• Allowable expenses include research supplies, statistical consultation, salary support for research coordinators, and logistical support for the assessment and care of research subjects or animals. All awards must be used for the direct expenses of the program and may not be used to cover a salary for a position or activities that bill patient services or the salary of the awardee. The primary purpose of the grant is to support research-related expenses. Grant funding is not intended to be a source of funding for travel, lodging, meals, or other costs associated with attending SMSNA meetings. Overhead expenses are not allowable.

• Funds will be payable in two annual installments available for distribution, half upon commencement of the award period, and final payment upon completion of a mid-term report and approval by the Research Grants Committee. Customized disbursement of funds for projects and no-cost extensions can be arranged by request from the applicant/mentor and approved at the discretion of the SMSNA Research Grants Committee.

• The SMSNA does not withhold taxes from its grant funds (i.e., federal withholding, social security, local or state taxes, etc.). It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that appropriate federal and local taxes are accounted for.

• Awards will be paid to the sponsoring institution (e.g. medical school, hospital, university, institute). Awards cannot be paid directly to the applicant or mentor.

• Proof of grant expenditure is required upon request.

Applicants must complete the online application form by March 31 of each year prior to the SMSNA Scientific Meeting at the AUA or by August 31 of each year prior to the SMSNA Fall Scientific Meeting. Applications received after each date above will be considered in the following grant review cycle.

Applications will require the following attachments. All documents should be prepared in Arial 11 point font.

Applications will require the following attachments:

Personal Information: 

• CV (attachment)

• Career development plan: How the grant will influence future endeavors in sexual medicine (1-2 paragraphs maximum)

Research Information:

• A summary statement of 1-3 sentences detailing the importance of the work and how it aligns with the priorities of the SMSNA

• Research Proposal (maximum 3 pages), which must contain the following:

  • Specific Aims: addressing the aims of the research and scope of the grant

  • Hypothesis: stated as a refutable question

  • Background of the problem being addressed

  • Preliminary data

  • Experimental design (including an outline of the proposed investigation and potential alternatives and problems that may be encountered)

  • Estimated time to complete proposed study

• Budget (cannot include overhead or indirect costs)

• Attestation that grant funds will not be used for salary and benefits of the awardee.

• Full disclosure of any additional funding and/or request for funding of the proposed research project.

• Optional: A single paragraph on how the project addresses issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in sexual medicine

• Letter of support from an SMSNA member

*Research under a suitable mentor outside of the society may be acceptable in some extraordinary circumstances for appropriate projects. If a proposed mentor is not a member of the SMSNA, we require that they join the SMSNA prior to inception of the research project.

• Applications will be reviewed by the Research Grants Committee on a biannual basis at the AUA Annual Meeting (typically in May) and the SMSNA Annual Fall Scientific Meeting (typically in October or November). Award funding must be approved by the SMSNA Board of Directors. Awards will be announced in June and December.

• Funding decisions are based on the merit and feasibility of the study proposed.

• Funding priority is for projects that address human sexuality, sexual wellness, and gender identity. Research on fertility, gender-based medicine, or other topics not directly related to sexuality will be considered if it aligns with the priority area selected.

• The Sexual Medicine Society of North American values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Projects that address sexuality issues in historically underserved populations will be given special consideration.

• The recipient will be required to provide both a Mid-term Report and a Final Progress Report. The Mid-term Report will be due 6 months after award disbursement. The Final Progress Report is due within 30 days of the end of the award term.

• Awardees will be required to submit an abstract based on their research to the SMSNA Annual Fall Scientific Meeting, following the award term. All accepted abstracts are published in a special edition of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

• Awardees are required to submit manuscripts, videos, and other material based on the supported research to an ISSM affiliated journal (ie The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Sexual Medicine, Sexual Medicine Reviews, or the Video Journal of Sexual Medicine) prior to submission to any other journal. It is strongly recommended that the awardee indicate to the Editor in Chief of the target journal that this research was supported by the SMSNA. If the material is not accepted by the ISSM affiliated journal, it may be subsequently submitted to a non-ISSM affiliated journal.

• The SMSNA will be acknowledged as a sponsor in any presentations and publications that result from the research project.

• The SMSNA requests that the Grant’s Committee be informed of how data generated with support of SMSNA is subsequently used for essay contests or to solicit additional funding opportunities.

• The Grant’s Committee would also appreciate being informed how/if the funding research receives recognition/awards from local, national, or international institutions/organizations.