This is the home page for the ASTS-iMDx Research Grant for Understanding the Health Economics of in-house vs send-out diagnostics. Please visit the Grants Home Page to learn about a different grant. 

Please review these eligibility, submission and other requirements carefully before submitting your application.   

As new diagnostics become available to the transplant community, the development of in-house expertise and infrastructure vs send out testing becomes a critical decision.  In-house diagnostic testing provides faster results, improving immediate patient care and reducing follow-up visits, while send-out testing (reference labs) is better for complex, rare, or high-volume specialized tests.  This grant will support health econometric research projects comparing in-house vs outsourced testing and the potential impact on patient care.  The output of this research would show a model of the costs and benefits of diagnostic testing in transplantation to educate transplant centers and labs on their choice of assays.

Amount: $100,000 fpr 12 months.

Funds Support:  No more than 25% of grant can go towards the individual applicant’s salary; no indirect costs, but salary support for post-docs and collaborators are permitted at the NIH cap. Funds for this grant are being supplied by Insight Molecular Diagnostics (iMDx).

Eligibility

• Be an ASTS member
• Must reside in the U.S. or Canada
• Not concurrently receiving any other financial support for similar proposed research from ASTS, AST, ACS, SUS, AAS, or other society or industry.
• Health economics expertise in study team required, as evidenced by CV or formal training

Submission Requirements

• A brief synopsis of your research (250 words maximum)
• Narrative: 3-page maximum plus 1 page of graphics permitted. State the reason for applying, specific objectives for the grant duration, expected outcomes, and future plans and goals.  Proposed studies are encouraged to utilize advanced econometric modeling (e.g., Markov models, decision-tree analysis, or instrumental variable approaches) to address:  Total Cost of Care, Return on Investment (ROI), Clinical Outcomes, Operational Efficiency. References are included in the 3 page limit.
• Summary of study team qualifications: 1-page maximum explaining applicant’s and collaborators’ educational background and experience in health economics and transplantation
• Budget: 1 page maximum
• Autobiography: 1 page maximum explaining your educational background, choice of career, and interest in transplantation and research.
• Department Chair Nomination Letter confirming committment from institution to conduct research
• Letter from Collaborator, if applicable.
• CV
• Collaborator's CV, if applicable.

Other Requirements

• An abstract must be submitted for presentation at an ATC or ASTS Winter Symposium during the grant period or within 6 months of completion.
• A final report to the ASTS National Office must be submitted at the end of the funding period.

Font & Page Recommendations - There are no specific requirements for font size and margins. ASTS recommends the following:

• Size 11 or 12 font
• Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri
• Normal margins

Other

• 1 grant is available in 2026 and is supported by Insight Molecular Diagnositcs (iMDx).
• By submitting an application, you confirm that you understand any funding received may be subjected to any relevant Sunshine Act reporting. 

Once you have read the requirements and have determined you are eligible, please Click Here to Submit your Application.