Introduction

The A.P. Ulbrich Research Award in Dermatology is an educational grant sponsored by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) and funded through the AOCD Educational Research Fund. The grant is intended to enable the recipient to conduct a basic science or clinical research project that will make a significant contribution to osteopathic medicine and dermatology. The grant is offered to encourage resident member physicians in good standing of the AOCD to engage in dermatologic research.

Eligibility

Applications will be entertained from resident physicians in postdoctoral training programs and research fellowships in dermatology, who are members in good standing of the AOCD. Each grant supports one individual. Not more than two consecutive or non-consecutive grants may be awarded to an individual.

The grant is not exclusive and the investigator may seek additional funding from other sources such as the AOA Bureau of Research, governmental agencies, other outside agencies, college or hospital, etc.

The grant provides financial support for the completion of a clinical or basic science research project. Various types of research are eligible for consideration.

For example:

1. The resident may contribute to or take responsibility for a portion of a research project that is ongoing.
2. The resident may seek support for conducting novel research after developing a feasible research proposal.
3. The resident may seek support to develop a research idea. In this case, the resident should first conduct a complete literature search to determine the feasibility and need for the project. A research proposal must be developed by the end of the grant timeline.

All resident research must be conducted under the guidance of a research advisor (i.e. sponsor).

Submission Information

Applications must be typewritten or printed and contain all of the following:

• AOCD Form A-1 grant application (attached).
• Curriculum vitae:
  • Limited to four pages. Include the following, listed in chronological order: employment, positions and honors, selected peer-reviewed publications (do not include publications submitted or in preparation), research experience.
• Research proposal containing the following:
  • Introduction: Include description of the general concepts of the project, background information, preliminary work and observations or reference to existing literature.
  • Hypothesis: A statement of the hypothesis to be tested. List specific questions posed to test the hypothesis.
  • Major Methods: A detailed description of the research plan including methods and controls. Include a description of the proposed experiments or procedures; the techniques to be used; the number and type of subjects; the control population; the types of data expected to be generated; and the means by which the data will be analyzed and interpreted.
  • Analysis of Results: Present an overview of the planned analysis and summary of the data.
  • Conclusion: Provide a description of the significance of this research to the field of dermatology and osteopathic medicine (philosophy or practice) in general.
  • References: List, in chronological order, complete references to all publications during the past three years and to representative earlier publications pertinent to this application.
• List of all personnel involved in the study.
  • Attach curricula vitae for professional personnel and job descriptions for technicians. Estimate the percentage of each individual’s efforts devoted to the project.
  • Attach contact information for the principal investigator, including email address.
• Copy of project approval from your Institutional Review Board (IRB).
  • Include documentation of current completion of ethics training (e.g. UW Human Subjects Training Certification and Human Participants Protection Education for Research Teams Certification).
  • If there are any special ethical problems in the proposal, an explanation should be included of the means being used to protect the welfare of the subjects. Other considerations include the use of hazardous procedures or materials. When such procedures or materials will be used, a discussion of how any problems will be handled should also be included. (see also paragraph 4 below)
• Funding Data Sheet
  • A list of all research or educational grants applied for or received in regard to this project. Include name of grant, date of application or receipt and the amount of the grant.
• Project Summary
  • The summary should provide a concise overview of the project (limited to one page). Information on details or explanations will be obtained from the research proposal (see paragraph 3 above). The summary will be used for releases to the AOCD newsletter to explain your project.
• A letter of commitment to supervise the project from the applicant’s sponsor.
• A 4″ X 5″ black and white glossy (or photo quality image) portrait (head and shoulders) of the applicant.

Reference information is available in the AOA Research Handbook.

Note that each applicant has the option of recommending three potential reviewers for their application. To exercise this option, include the name, address and phone number of suggested reviewers on a separate page entitled Recommended Reviewers. Potential reviewers shall not: be employed at the applicant’s current institution; have trained with the applicant; or currently be conducting research with the applicant.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applications received after the deadline date will be returned unread.

Download Application Form 

Deadline For Submission

Applications must be received by March 30 to be eligible for consideration of award during the following academic year (July 1 – June 30).

Administrative Information

Applications will be reviewed by the research evaluation panel. The panel will forward its recommendations to the AOCD. The AOCD notifies the applicants of the panel’s action. The grant will begin July 1 of that year and end June 30 of the subsequent year.

All correspondence concerning the program and/or awarded grants should be directed to the AOCD home office.

The Award

Distribution of the award will occur as follows:

1. $500.00 when the official notification of the award is made.
2. $250.00 upon receipt, and approval, of a mid-year progress report.
3. $250.00 upon receipt, and approval, of a final progress report, and paper suitable for publication.   

Winners of the award will be honored at the subsequent Annual AOCD meeting.

Required Reports

Grant recipients are required to submit the following reports: The mid-year report is due 31 January, six months after the start of the grant year. The report must be signed by both the resident and the sponsor.

The final report is due 1 September, 60 days after the completion of the grant year. It must include a manuscript suitable for publication.

The recipient must submit an abstract for oral presentation of their project results at the AOCD Spring Conference.

Approved final reports will be submitted for consideration for publication to an appropriate dermatology or professional journal. Grant recipients shall acknowledge support of the research by the AOCD Ulbrich Award in any and all publications or oral presentations of the research.

All reports should be sent to:

American Osteopathic College of Dermatology
P.O. Box 7525
Kirksville, Missouri 63501