OUTSTANDING
INVESTIGATOR AWARD
(The extended
deadline for receipt of nominations is
November 19, 2008)
Click here to download a printable brochure honoring the most recent award winner (in pdf format).
The International Society for Heart Research invites nominations for the annual Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA). This is a very distinguished award and its presentation will be a highlight of the ISHR Section Meetings or World Congress.
Purpose of the Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding scientist who (i) is making major and independent contributions to the advancement of cardiovascular science, and (ii) is leading a growing research program likely to play a major role in the future. The main criteria for selecting awardees are scientific excellence, independence, and potential for future research contributions. While the Peter Harris Award recognizes lifelong accomplishments and the Richard Bing Award recognizes young investigators, the Outstanding Investigator Award is targeted at established investigators who are in the intermediate phase of their academic career. In this respect, the Outstanding Investigator Award is similar to the Research Achievement Award; however, the OIA (presented annually) is targeted at more junior individuals (at least Assistant/Associate Professor or the equivalent; normally < 50 years old), while the RAA (presented triennially at the World Congress) is targeted at more senior individuals (full Professors or the equivalent; normally > 50 years old).
Nature of the Prize
In non-Congress years, the Outstanding Investigator Award will be presented at the meeting of the ISHR Section to which the winner belongs. The winner will present a major lecture, and will receive $5,000 and a plaque. An announcement of this Award, along with a photograph and a biosketch, will be published in Heart News and Views and posted in the ISHR website. The winner will receive free registration and reimbursement for travel expenses up to a maximum of $1,500 (to include coach class travel and a maximum of 3 nights’ hotel accommodation) when the Award recipient delivers the lecture at his/her own local Section meeting, and up to a maximum of $3,000 when inter-continental travel is required.
Procedure for Nomination and Selection
1. Nominations for the Outstanding Investigator Award will be sought by the Secretary General from members of the International Council, members of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, and Councils of ISHR Sections. In addition, the Secretary General will publish an open invitation in the ISHR website for members to submit nominations.
2. Nominations will be processed by the Secretary General, who will be responsible for the operational logistics of the selection process.
3. Nominations will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary Selection Committee composed of at least ten individuals, representing at least four Sections of the Society, appointed by the Secretary General in consultation with the President. The Selection Committee will include the President, the Editor of the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, the Secretary General, and at least three members of the International Council. There will be at least one representative of each of four Sections. Besides the ten statutory members, the Secretary General will have the prerogative of appointing additional members (over the limit of ten) based upon the need for scientific expertise in evaluating nominees.
4. Members of the Selection Committee will declare any conflict of interest (or close relationship with any candidate) and the voting mechanism will be adjusted accordingly.
5. Members of the Selection Committee will not be eligible for consideration while serving in the Committee.
6. Candidates must be active members (or have applied for membership) of the International Society for Heart Research (membership application forms are available in the ISHR website at www.ishrworld.org or from Dr. Metin Avkiran, Cardiovascular Division, King's College London, The Rayne Institute, St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom; ph: +44 20 7188 3899, fax: +44 20 7188 0970, email: metin.avkiran@kcl.ac.uk).
7. The Award carries with it the requirement to attend the ISHR meeting at which the award is presented. Travel expenses will be reimbursed as described above. The registration fee will be waived.
8. The recipient of any Society Award (The Outstanding Investigator Award, The Research Achievement Award, The Peter Harris Distinguished Scientist Award) is ineligible to receive another Society Award for a period of 6 years. After that period of time, the winner of the Outstanding Investigator Award will be eligible for the Research Achievement Award; however, previous winners of the Research Achievement Award (more senior individuals) will not be eligible for the Outstanding Investigator Award.
9. The amount of the Award will be reviewed periodically and determined by the Council of the ISHR.
10. The Secretary General and Treasurer will keep a full and permanent record of nominations, elections, and results as well as of the finances of the scheme.
11. Nominations must include the following materials: