E.W. "Al" Thrasher Awards focus on projects that are changing pediatric clinical care. Each award is a novel approach to problems plaguing pediatrics. The award is open to applications focusing on any disease or topic within the umbrella of pediatrics, both in and outside the United States.
Ideal applications for the Thrasher Award address significant health problems, offering the potential for practical solutions to these problems. Typically, the primary outcome is a health outcome in children. Solutions should be innovative and have the potential for broad applicability with low barriers to implementation. Projects with a shorter distance to clinical applicability are given priority. Hypothesis-driven research is critical, exploratory, or hypothesis-generating research will not be competitive.
For projects focused on improving disease diagnosis, please ensure that there are well researched, effective treatment options available to patients upon diagnosis.
The first step in applying for a grant is the submission of a 2-page concept paper.
Interested applicants at Duke can contact Rich Kells, Associate Director, Duke Health Foundation Relations & Strategic Partnerships (rich.kells@duke.edu).
Deadlines for Concept Papers: Jan. 14, 2025; July 14, 2025
Principal Investigators must be qualified in terms of education and experience to conduct research. A doctoral-level degree is required. There are no citizenship or residency requirements. The Fund is open to applications from institutions both inside and outside the United States.
The grant amount is based on the actual budgetary needs of the project. The duration of the project can be up to three years. Indirect costs are no more than 7% of direct costs. In 2012-2016 the median grant was $370,000. Grants are not given over $550,000.
Investigators and co-investigators in need of salary support may apply for no more than 20 percent, based on a 40-hour work week. The Fund limits the maximum salary upon which an individual can request salary support. The maximum amount will be based on the NIH guidelines for salary support. Salaries for support staff, students, and others do not have the 20% restriction.