Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Foundation Announces 2009 Research Grant Recipients and First Ever Roizen Grant.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Foundation announced the awarding of $260,000 in research grants; including the first Roizen Anesthesia Research Foundation New Investigator Grant in the amount of $100,000. The research grant program of the SCA Foundation provides monetary support for research projects to those beginning their work in the field of cardiovascular anesthesiology and to those in mid-career; these awards are one portion of the $4.8 million the Foundation has raised over the past two years. Grant submissions for 2009 tripled as a result of increased grant awards that were available and the Foundation is pleased to support the work of the four recipients (see also Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Foundation).

The grants are also made possible through donations from the International Anesthesia Research Society, the Clinical Practical Enhancement and Anesthesia Research Foundation, and Michael F. Roizen, M.D.

The introduction of the Roizen Anesthesia Research Foundation New Investigator Grant comes as a result of Roizen's experience as a researcher and his desire to continue this important work. "I believe in mentoring a great deal, and that is what a research grant does," he explains. "The SCA helped me develop as a researcher." The Roizen grant doubles the awarded amount of the Starter Grant program which allows new investigators more time to perform research. "Without the support that these types of grant programs provide, fundamental advancement in understanding problems facing the patient undergoing cardiovascular and thoracic surgery could not be made," said Hilary P. Grocott, chair of the SCA Research Committee.

The 2009 Grant recipients are: SCA/IARS Starter Grants ($50,000 over two years) Mark A. Lovich, M.D., Ph.D.Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University Medical CenterPericardial Inotropic Therapy: a new paradigm for studying heart contraction Martina Nowak-Machen, M.D.Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolCD39 modulates NKT cell-induced oxygen toxicity in the lung SCA/IARS Mid-Career Grant ($80,000 over two years) Qing Ma, M.D.Duke University Medical CenterPPAR gamma as a novel therapeutic target in perioperative cerebral injury following deep hypothermic circulatory arrest Roizen Anesthesia Research Foundation New Investigator Grant ...