Month: September 2025

Take action for federal funding of research

Posted on by John Hawley

Dear members of the ASCI community,

The ASCI has produced a campaign to highlight the critical importance of federal funding of scientific and medical research. “Fund Research / Save Our Cures” is available here:

https://fundresearch.org

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The key campaign goals are to reach beyond our community to make the case for government investment in research and to prompt citizens to contact their Congressional representatives to support this investment.

Share the links freely and follow the campaign on the social platforms you use. If you haven’t already, take a moment to urge your representatives to support federal funding of science.

The campaign stems from internal and community conversations about the impact of the administration’s actions taken toward the NIH – well-known to us: the reduction of indirect costs earlier this year, the suspension or cancellation of grants already awarded, NIH campus workforce reductions and reorganization, and more recently the administration’s request to cut the NIH budget by an astounding 40%.

While the US House of Representatives agreed to the cut, the US Senate expressed its support for a stable NIH budget. At present it appears that the next US fiscal-year budget may not see a devastating reduction for the NIH or other agencies that support the scientific and biomedical enterprise. However, it takes only a quick read of the day’s headlines to see that America’s status as a scientific powerhouse is in the crosshairs.

To formulate our campaign, we undertook a survey of the general population to find out what people knew and which messages resonated with them. Among the findings, only 52% of respondents were aware that the government funds research. At a time when this research is producing amazing results and is poised to address significant challenges presented by major diseases, it’s unfortunate that awareness isn’t greater. However, it’s an opportunity for us, this campaign, and others like it: to engage with the tax-paying members of the public about the great work they’re supporting, to grow their understanding, and to have them join us in advocating to continue the progress research has made for many decades.

Priscilla Y. Hsue, MD
President, 2025-2026
The American Society for Clinical Investigation
https://the-asci.org
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Nominations Open for the 2026-2027 ASCI PSSF Fellowship

Posted on by Lizzy Easter

The ASCI is pleased to call for nominations for the 2026-2027 ASCI PSSF Fellowship. The fellowship program provides MD-only medical students with a 12-month immersive and mentored gap-year training experience in basic, translational, or applied biomedical research.

The fellowship includes a $42,000 stipend and an additional allowance of $8,000 for health insurance and travel expenses.

The medical school dean’s nomination deadline is Monday, October 13, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern.

The final application deadline is Monday, January 6, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern.

Instructions to Nominate:

Applicants must be nominated by their medical school dean, who may submit only one applicant per competition year. Deans will send the applicant’s name and email address to programs@the-asci.org. The ASCI will start the application and email candidates with access to upload materials, including their:

  • brief biographical statement and headshot (to be published only if accepted),
  • comprehensive research plan (1,000-word limit, not including references),
  • research mentors’ recommendations,
  • curriculum vitae, and
  • undergraduate and medical school transcripts.

Fellowship candidacy will be evaluated based on the feasibility and scientific rigor of the proposed research projects, as well as the candidate’s strength of commitment and potential to successfully advance as a physician-scientist. Quality of training will be evaluated through the research plan and information provided in the mentor’s endorsement, including the mentor’s research qualifications, i.e. expertise and publication record in the research area, and external grant support to fund the research project for the entire proposed fellowship term.

The ASCI PSSF Fellowship includes:

  • a $42,000 stipend and an additional allowance of $8,000 for health insurance and travel expenses.
  • access to a monthly seminar series with ASCI PSSF Advisory Committee mentors and special guest speakers.
  • a mid-year celebration to present fellowship research findings.
  • complimentary registration to the AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting and programmatic access, including invitations to the:
    • Early Career Award Welcome Reception,
    • ASCI Dinner and New Member Induction Ceremony,
    • Food & Science Evening, and
    • Small Group Dinner with the ASCI PSSF Advisory Committee.
  • Access to ASCI’s virtual community programming, including our:
    • ASCI Scientific Sessions – a virtual spotlight, held every two months, on distinguished investigators and their contributions to the field of biomedical research,
    • peer review groups and near-peer mentoring opportunities, and
    • activities on various biomedical topics led by established physician-scientists.

Eligibility:

The ASCI PSSF Fellowship is open to United States citizens and U.S. permanent residents only. Prior laboratory research experience is not required. Candidates may apply during any year of their medical school studies; applicants in the last year of school must defer graduation until the completion of the fellowship year. They may not be enrolled in a combined MD/PhD program, a PhD program, a PharmD, an ScD program, or have completed a PhD, PharmD, or an ScD in a laboratory-based science.

Important Dates:

  • Dean Nomination Deadline: October 13, 2025
  • Application Deadline: January 5, 2026
  • Finalist Interview Period: March 9, 2026 – March 13, 2026
  • Award Notification Date: March 16, 2026
  • Award Acceptance Deadline: March 23, 2026

Contact

For information or questions, contact us at programs@the-asci.org.

Nominations open for the 2026 ASCI / Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award

Posted on by John Hawley

Nominations for the ASCI’s 2026 ASCI / Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award are now open.

This prestigious recognition, first called the ASCI Award, was renamed in 2006 in honor of Dr. Korsmeyer, the first recipient of the Award in 1998, who passed away in 2005. The Award recognizes individuals for their advancement of knowledge in a specific field and for mentoring future generations of life science researchers. Information on all past honorees is available here.

The Awardee delivers the Korsmeyer Award Lecture at the 2026 AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting, April 17-19, and receives an unrestricted $20,000 honorarium.

Current Active and International ASCI members are eligible for nomination. Prior nominees who remain eligible may be re-nominated. However, current ASCI Council members and prior Award recipients may not be nominated.

The deadline for receipt of nominations is October 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm Eastern. Nominations will be screened to ensure they are complete and fit the nomination criteria. The Council reviews nominations, with the outcome of review expected toward the end of November 2025.

Nominators:

  • may be any ASCI member in good standing, including members of the Council;
  • must provide a statement (250-word limit) regarding the nominee; and
  • must comment regarding other investigators who have significantly contributed to the discoveries related to the nomination.

Nominees:

  • must currently be an Active or International member (age 55 or younger);
  • must provide a biosketch, full curriculum vitae, and a trainee table;
  • must identify a former mentee to provide a statement of support (500-word limit);
  • must complete the ASCI’s demographic survey; and
  • must identify their research domain(s).

To start a nomination:

Nominations may be started by the nominator or the nominee:

  • Access your member account
  • Go to the “Activities / nominations” tab
  • Go to the section for “ASCI / Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award”

For the nominator:

  • Select “I’m the nominator” option
  • Search for your nominee
  • Click on “Start nomination”
  • If the nominee has not already claimed her/his part of the nomination, click on “Send nominee information to access the nominee’s part of the nomination” to send the nominee an email to access and edit her/his aspect of the nomination (see above).
  • Supply the required information (see above)
  • Submit this aspect of the nomination

For the nominee:

  • Select “I’m the nominee” option
  • Supply the required information (see above)
  • Submit this aspect of the nomination

Nominations open for the 2026 ASCI / Scharschmidt~Crawford Distinguished Lectureship and Award

Posted on by John Hawley

Nominations for the ASCI’s 2026 Bruce F. Scharschmidt & Peggy S. Crawford Translational Medicine Distinguished Lectureship and Award are now open.

The Award recognizes those who have made important contributions to the development of high-impact diagnostics or therapeutics for patients. The Awardee delivers the Scharschmidt~Crawford Distinguished Lectureship at the annual AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting and receives an unrestricted $20,000 honorarium. Drs. Scharschmidt and Crawford have pledged a very generous philanthropic gift to the ASCI to fully endow the Award.

Any person with an MD or equivalent, regardless of ASCI membership, is eligible for nomination. However, current ASCI Council members may not be nominated.

The deadline for receipt of nominations is October 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm Eastern. Nominations will be screened to ensure they are complete and fit the nomination criteria. The Council reviews nominations, with the outcome of review expected in December 2025.

Nominators:

  • may be any ASCI member in good standing, including members of the Council, and
  • must provide a statement (250-word limit) regarding the nominee.

Nominees:

  • may be any person with an MD or equivalent, regardless of ASCI membership, but excluding members of the Council;
  • must be able to attend the 2026 Joint Meeting, April 17-19, in Chicago;
  • must provide a 500-word-limit description of their contributions to the development of high-impact diagnostics or therapeutics for patients;
  • must provide a full curriculum vitae;
  • must complete the ASCI’s demographic survey; and
  • must provide information regarding their research domain(s).

To start a nomination:

Nominations may be started by the nominator or the nominee:

  • Access your member account
  • Go to the “Activities / nominations” tab
  • Go to the section for “ASCI / Scharschmidt~Crawford Distinguished Lectureship and Award”

For the nominator:

  • Select “I’m the nominator” option
  • Search for your nominee
  • Click on “Start nomination”
  • If the nominee has not already claimed her/his part of the nomination, click on “Send nominee information to access the nominee’s part of the nomination” to send the nominee an email to access and edit her/his aspect of the nomination (see above).
  • Supply the required information (see above)
  • Submit this aspect of the nomination

For the nominee:

… if the nominee is an ASCI member:

  • Select “I’m the nominee” option
  • Supply the required information (see above)
  • Submit this aspect of the nomination

… if the nominee is not ASCI member, the nominee can email staff@the-asci.org to have a nomination set up by staff.

ASCI Scientific Session: Funda Meric-Bernstam, MD – September 17, 2025, 1-2pm E

Posted on by Colleen McGarry

Portrait of Dr. Funda Meric-Bernstam
Funda Meric-Bernstam, MD

September 17, 1-2 pm Eastern

Funda Meric-Bernstam, MD, Chair of the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics – the Phase I Program, Medical Director of the Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, and The Nellie B. Connally Chair in Breast Cancer at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, will present:

Optimizing therapy with antibody drug conjugates

Watch the video

This session will be moderated by Rajan Jain, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, and Founding Co-Director, Penn Measey Scholars in Molecular Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Jain is a member of the ASCI Council and the Physician-Scientist Development Committee.

Thank you for your participation!

Click here for more information and to view past ASCI Scientific Sessions.