​​Marshall Klaus Perinatal Research Awards​

Applicants must be fellows in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine or pediatric residents in a training program (categorical or combined) who have confirmed plans to pursue subspecialty training in neonatal perinatal medicine. In addition, applicants must have a definite commitment for at least another year research training in an accredited program.​

The research mentor must have a research background and be knowledgeable in the specific field related to the project. The mentor's biographical sketch (in standard NIH format, limited to 5 pages), along with a letter of support, must be submitted electronically. In the support letter, the research mentor should explicitly answer the following questions:

1. How does the proposed project fit into the trainee's career plans?

2. How did the trainee select the topic?

3. What components of the proposed study will the trainee perform directly?

4. What is the trainee expected to learn from conducting the proposed research?

5. What will the mentor do in order to ensure that the trainee increases his / her research skills and successfully completes the project?

Please note that the grant sent to the institution will be used specifically for the project. No indirect charges will be paid to the institution.

​The fellowship program director must electronically submit a letter of support to the Academy. In the support letter, the chairperson/program director must state the time available for the trainee to conduct the research project

1. Complete the Marshall Klaus Application Form and grant application and submit electronically by Jan 31, 2025. Letters of support and biographical sketch also must be submitted to the AAP at this time. ONLY APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY BY THE DEADLINE WILL BE CONSIDERED. NO PAPER SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

2. Critically important: In order to correctly assign all documents to the applicant, fellow’s last and first names should be included in the file name of each submitted document as follows: fellow’s last and first names should be included in the file name of each submitted document as follows:

• LastName-FirstnameInitial- application.pdf 
• Lastname-FirstnameInitial-science.pdf 
• Lastname- FirstnameInitial- applicantbiosketch.pdf
• Lastname- FirstnameInitial-mentorbiosketch.pdf
• Lastname-FirstnameInitial-programdirector.pdf (for fellowship program director letter). 

3. All documents have to be typed, please use Arial 11 font with 0.5” document margins. Files should be submitted in pdf or Word format for ease of use. Any forms without the applicant name will be rejected. We will try to notify applicants of missing forms or letters but complete applications are is the applicant’s responsibility. All forms will have to be submitted electronically via the provided link on this website. Forms may be submitted at different times during the period but we prefer that they are submitted together at the same time. Once the forms are submitted questions should be directed to or Jim Couto at jcouto@aap.org 

4. The length of the science document is limited to 6 typed pages, excluding the biographical sketch and letters of support. 

A. SPECIFIC AIMS (Page 1): Includes main Hypothesis, overall Goals, and Study Aims. B. RESEARCH STRATEGY (Page 2-5): Includes Significance, Innovation, Rationale and Study Design. (Indicate what components of the research, such as data collection or analysis, you will be performing directly. If a survey will be used, please attach a list of key questions.)C. REFERENCES, BUDGET, AND TIMELINE (PAGE 6) (Submit a budget that outlines how the grant money will be used. Grant money can only be used for salary support or travel if critical and directly related to the research project. Please provide a detailed justification. If your budget exceeds $5,000, what will be the source of additional funding? Please describe. Submit a timeline for completion of the project. Include how you plan to fit the research project into your training.) 

5. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (NIH format, required for applicant and mentor) NOTE: The Biographical Sketch may not exceed five pages. Please follow the formats and instructions on the attached sample. Please use the NIH format for each biosketch. 

A. Personal Statement. Describe in one paragraph how you selected this topic for study and how this proposed project fits into your career plans. Include prior relevant research, clinical experience, and how the knowledge and skills you will learn will contribute to your future professional goals. B. Positions and Honors. List in chronological order previous positions, concluding with your present position. List any honors. C. Selected peer-reviewed publications (in chronological order). Do not include publications in preparation. D. Research Support. List selected ongoing or completed (during the last three years) research projects (federal and non-federal support). Begin with the projects that are most relevant to the research proposed in this application. Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and your role (e.g. PI, Co- Investigator, Consultant) in the research project. 

6. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (from mentor and fellowship program director).
 The mentor letter should detail how much of the proposed work will be executed by the applicant directly rather than the mentor’s research staff and the fellowship program director letter should specify the year of fellowship and how much time the applicant will have to complete the proposed project. One criterion applications are scored for is the likelihood that the proposed research can be successfully completed within the fellowship timeframe. 

7. Please contact Maria Moyano at mmoyano@aap.org if you have not received a confirmation of your application by March 1, 2023. 

8. Notify Jim Couto at jcouto@aap.org  of any address change. 

Please note that awards may be used only for the approved study under the supervision of the approved mentor; a request to change study topic or mentor must be approved by the AAP and will be allowed only under special circumstances. Funds can only be used for salary or travel if this directly supports the research project. If the approved project cannot be conducted or completed, the institution is expected to return all unspent funds to the AAP.

Awardees are expected to submit an abstract to the AAP NCE meeting summarizing the results of their project in the last year of their fellowship or shortly thereafter. 

A progress report is required before finishing fellowship or one year following receipt of award (whichever is earliest). The fellow and the mentor are responsible for ensuring that this requirement is fulfilled. The progress report should include details of work accomplished by the awardee during the grant, presentation(s) regional and or national and abstract summary of study design, methods, results and conclusion. If a paper has been submitted, is in preparation for submission (please indicate journal) or accepted for publication, this should be attached 

1. Application Form (please only check one (1) award type) 

2. Science Proposal 

3. NIH Biosketch Applicant

 4. NIH Biosketch Mentor 5. Mentor Letter of Support

 6. Fellowship Program Director Letter of Support

 7. Signature Page (the only form that can be scanned) 

Please collect all items and submit at the same time.