The ASH Research Training Award for Fellows (RTAF) is an award open to both MD and MD/PhD researchers between their second and fifth year of fellowship designed to encourage junior researchers in hematology, hematology/oncology, and other hematology-related programs to pursue careers in academic hematology. RTAF provides each recipient with $70,000 for a one-year period to guarantee protected time for clinical, basic, or translational research.
Andres Chang, MD, PhD, is an Instructor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. His translational research focuses on PD-1 expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and he has more than a dozen published articles to his name. Like many of his peers, Dr. Chang applied to RTAF to provide the support he needs to acquire the research training he needs to be successful, as well as acquire data for publications and subsequent grants. The phrase “protected time” (that is, having the ability focus strictly on one’s research endeavors) comes up often when discussing ASH career and training awards, and for Dr. Chang, that was definitely key. “Having good mentors and a significant amount of protected research time is essential for anyone aspiring to become a successful researcher. This becomes even more challenging for physicians because of clinical responsibilities that oftentimes limit the time available to conduct research,” he said.
Dr. Chang also shared that RTAF has allowed him to learn and conduct new experiments, analyze data, and generate figures for presentations. For all this, he is grateful. “I have an immense feeling of gratitude towards ASH for trusting in me and supporting my career development.”
The application cycle is now open! Find additional information about RTAF including application requirements and key dates, visit the ASH website. Submit your application by January 2021
ASH Congratulates the 2020 RTAF Winners
Albert Yeh, MD, University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Amy Lin, MD, PhD, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Heart and Vascular Center
Andres Chang, MD, PhD, Emory University School of Medicine
Camille Edwards, MD, Boston University Medical Campus
Hana Lim, MD, MS, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Joselle Cook, MBBS, Mayo Clinic
Katherine Knorr, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/Rockefeller University
Kelly Schoenbeck, MD, The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco
Kirsty Hillier, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Michael Leukam, MD, MS, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Ramzi Abboud, MD, Washington University School of Medicine
Shawn Sarkaria, MD, Columbia University Medical Center
Charity Oyedeji, MD, Duke University Medical Center
Christina Caruso, MD, Emory University School of Medicine
Eugene Khandros, MD, PhD, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Peter Miller, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute