• Candidates must be pursuing research in basic, clinical or epidemiological genetics or translational biology.
• Abstract must be submitted to one of the two categories for presentation at Scientific Sessions in which the Council of FGTB is the lead/primary sponsor.  Please view a list of early career investigator awards and their affiliated Scientific Sessions 2013 abstract categories.  Make sure that your abstract has been submitted in a category listed under the award for which you want to apply.
• Candidates include Ph.D.s and/or M.D.s (or doctoral equivalent) who are in training or have completed training only within the last four years; or Ph.D.s and/or M.D.s who are still within in the first four years after their first faculty appointment, as of the award application date.
• All applicants and applicant sponsors for the FGTB must be current members of the FGTB Council.  If you need to become an AHA/ASA Professional Member, you should do so no later than May 30 for your membership to be processed in time for the application submission deadline.  Learn more about AHA membership.
• An individual may not compete for similar young investigator awards from other American Heart Association scientific councils during the same year for the same scientific meeting. 
• Candidates may apply for one of the FGTB travel awards offered for Scientific Sessions in the same year, though any finalists selected for this award will not be eligible to receive a travel grant in the same year.
• Only one application per candidate will be considered.
• The applicant must be the first and presenting author, although the manuscript may have co-authors.
• Finalists are not eligible to re-enter the competition in subsequent years.
• There are no citizenship requirements.
• The work covered by the abstract must not have been published (manuscript or abstract) before the date and time of presentation at Scientific Sessions 2013.  Abstract data may not be presented at a national or international meeting or world congress before the date and time of presentation at Scientific Sessions 2013. The abstract must comply with the AHA Abstract Submission Guidelines as outlined by the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program.
• Abstracts/manuscripts eligible for this award must be based upon projects that adhere to the American Heart Association’s policies governing all research awards, regardless of whether the project was funded by the American Heart Association.  These policies are available here and include (but are not limited to) research using human subjects or animals and stem cell research.
• Notwithstanding the above, the AHA Officers have the discretion to determine eligibility for the award in extraordinary circumstances when there is an issue relating to AHA policy or positions or other potentially controversial issue relating to the positioning or perception of the AHA.
   

• Candidates must be pursuing research in basic, clinical or epidemiological genetics or translational biology.
• Abstract must be submitted to one of the two categories for presentation at Scientific Sessions in which the Council of FGTB is the lead/primary sponsor.  Please view a list of early career investigator awards and their affiliated Scientific Sessions 2013 abstract categories.  Make sure that your abstract has been submitted in a category listed under the award for which you want to apply.
• Candidates include Ph.D.s and/or M.D.s (or doctoral equivalent) who are in training or have completed training only within the last four years; or Ph.D.s and/or M.D.s who are still within in the first four years after their first faculty appointment, as of the award application date.
• All applicants and applicant sponsors for the FGTB must be current members of the FGTB Council.  If you need to become an AHA/ASA Professional Member, you should do so no later than May 30 for your membership to be processed in time for the application submission deadline.  Learn more about AHA membership.
• An individual may not compete for similar young investigator awards from other American Heart Association scientific councils during the same year for the same scientific meeting. 
• Candidates may apply for one of the FGTB travel awards offered for Scientific Sessions in the same year, though any finalists selected for this award will not be eligible to receive a travel grant in the same year.
• Only one application per candidate will be considered.
• The applicant must be the first and presenting author, although the manuscript may have co-authors.
• Finalists are not eligible to re-enter the competition in subsequent years.
• There are no citizenship requirements.
• The work covered by the abstract must not have been published (manuscript or abstract) before the date and time of presentation at Scientific Sessions 2013.  Abstract data may not be presented at a national or international meeting or world congress before the date and time of presentation at Scientific Sessions 2013. The abstract must comply with the AHA Abstract Submission Guidelines as outlined by the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program.
• Abstracts/manuscripts eligible for this award must be based upon projects that adhere to the American Heart Association’s policies governing all research awards, regardless of whether the project was funded by the American Heart Association.  These policies are available here and include (but are not limited to) research using human subjects or animals and stem cell research.
• Notwithstanding the above, the AHA Officers have the discretion to determine eligibility for the award in extraordinary circumstances when there is an issue relating to AHA policy or positions or other potentially controversial issue relating to the positioning or perception of the AHA.
   

Applications will be judged on the:

• Scientific merit of the abstract
• Quality and originality of the manuscript
• Letter from the candidate's sponsor and any other reference letters.   
• Candidate's curriculum vitae
• Candidate's personal statement
• Oral abstract presentation at Scientific Sessions (finalists only.)  The finalist must be the presenter of his/her submission and no alternates or proxy will be allowed.

Electronic submission through the Council Awards Application System is required.  Hard copies of any part of the application cannot be accepted. 

Your application file should contain the following documents in PDF format:

1. AHA abstract in accordance with AHA rules and regulations for submitting abstracts to Scientific Sessions 2013.  Please note that this abstract must first be submitted through the AHA's Scientific Sessions 2013 website before the abstract submission deadline.  Visit Scientific Sessions to submit your abstract by the abstract deadline and before submission of this award application.  Your abstract control number will be needed on the award application form.
    
2. An unpublished manuscript based on independent research.
    
3. Curriculum vitae and bibliography. 
    
4. Applicant’s personal statement (no longer than one page, double-spaced), outlining the following:
   (1)   Your research interests and long term career goals
   (2)   How functional genomics and/or translational biology within the cardiovascular field fit into your long term goals 
   (3)   How receipt of the FGTB’s Young Investigator Award will enhance future long-term goals
    
5. A reference letter detailing how much of the design and research work was done by the candidate and by any co-investigators.  The candidate's immediate supervisor, division head, department chairman, or institute director must write this statement.  In case of multi-authored manuscripts, the supervisor should also indicate that among all the co-authors the applicant is the most appropriate candidate for the award, and offer rationale for this opinion. Supportive statements of the candidate and his or her relevant qualifications as a researcher are also required.

Though not required, up to two additional letters of support or reference from individuals familiar with the applicant, his or her background, or his or her research may be submitted. Inclusion of additional support letters does not guarantee higher consideration of an application, but can be beneficial.

Visit the Council Awards & Fellowships Application System to complete an application. 

A username and password set up through online registration at My.AmericanHeart for Professionals will be necessary to access the Application System.  If you have not created an online profile yet, you may register as you enter the Application System by clicking "Sign Up" next to the Log In button on the sign-in page.  AHA Professional Members who are creating an online profile for the first time should make sure to register using their AHA membership identification numbers.

AHA Professional Membership is required of all applicants for this award.  If you are joining the AHA to apply, please wait on your AHA membership number to arrive from AHA Member Services via e-mail before creating an online profile and starting your application file.  We suggest that new members join the AHA no later than May 30 for the membership number to be processed and delivered in time for the application deadline. The membership number will be required on the award application form.

Finalists for the Early Career Investigator Awards competitions associated with Scientific Sessions will be announced in August. The top candidates for the FGTB Young Investigator Award will present their research results in a special oral abstract session at Scientific Sessions in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 17.  The winner will be announced at the FGTB Council Reception on Nov. 19.  Each finalist will also receive:

• Cash award: The first-prize winner will receive a plaque and $1,500; the other finalists will each receive a plaque and $500.
• Complimentary FGTB Reception ticket, along with recognition and presentation of the plaque at the council reception.

Each finalist will be designated in the Scientific Sessions online supplement to Circulation.  Acceptance for the competition does not guarantee publication in any other American Heart Association sponsored journal. However, upon acceptance of the manuscript to Scientific Sessions and upon request of the submitter, the manuscript will receive fast track review at Circulation Cardiovascular Genetics.  Those deemed meritorious will potentially be published in Circulation Cardiovascular Genetics immediately after American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.