Bayer HealthCare

Bayer Award in Basic Science Research

Purpose
This award supports promising research in basic, laboratory, or animal science. This can include ongoing or new investigations. These typically involve laboratory measurements as primary outcomes, as opposed to clinical outcomes (e.g., infection, operating time, relief of pain). Studies with clinical outcomes in humans may be eligible for a Bayer Droegemueller Award in Clinical Research.

Eligibility
The award is limited to obstetrician/gynecologists permanently living and working in the United States. Applicants must have an M.D. degree and have completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology. Since this award is designed to support early career development, candidates should be either in the last year of fellowship training, eg. 3^rd year of 3 year program or 4^th year of 4 year program, or in the first five years of a full-time faculty position.

Selection Process
The application is available on this web site. As part of the application, a letter from the Department Chair is required to confirm that the candidate will have an academic position during the period of the award. The letter also confirms that the requirement for protected time will be honored. A second letter from a research mentor or laboratory director is required as well.

Terms of the award
The total amount for each award is $110,000 for a period of 24 months. It will be paid out in two installments of $55,000 with the second installment being subject to the completion of a written report by the end of the first year of research. The award is effective as of January 1 of the year of the award until Dec. 31 of that same year. The award is made to the institution at which the candidate will conduct the research. Use of the award funds is up to the discretion of the Awardee but must be stipulated in the submitted budget. None of the funding can be used for the institution’s indirect costs. The award requires that a minimum of 20 hours per week be protected for the research project. One site visit is usually done during the first year of support; this visit helps the recipient trouble-shoot problems, monitors research progress and assures Bayer that the required protected time is being provided.

Reporting requirements
A short progress report is required at six months after award receipt and a full report at year’s end. Recipients are encouraged to publish their results in a peer-reviewed journal.