The Steve Cullen Healthy Heart Scholar Award is made possible by the 2021 and 2022 Steve Cullen Healthy Heart Walk/Run through MCW’s CVC. This award honors the memory of former Milwaukee Alderman Steve Cullen who died suddenly of a heart attack at age 40. The goal of this funding mechanism is to allow a faculty member (assistant, associate, or full professor) to acquire pilot data in a novel and innovative cardiovascular research area that will lead to the successful submission of an extramural grant application within the next two years. Research deemed innovative may introduce a new paradigm, challenge current paradigms, look at existing problems from a new perspective, or exhibit other unique qualities. Applications related to COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease are highly encouraged but not required. This is a one year, $50,000 grant. One award is available.

The Michael Keelan, Jr., MD, Research Foundation Award is for early-stage investigators (assistant professors without current R01-equivalent funding). This award is made possible by a generous gift, managed by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, to the CVC by the Tendick Family in honor of Dr. Michael Keelan. One award is available. This is a one year, $50,000 grant. Previous Keelan Scholars include Caitlin O’Meara, PhD, Jacquelyn Kulinski, MD, Brian Smith, PhD, Carmen Bergom, MD, PhD, Oleg Palygin, PhD, and Tammy Kindel, MD, PhD. Over the last five years, the Keelan Award has leveraged over $10 million in funding.

The T32 Pilot Awards allow postdoctoral fellows (sponsored by CVC member) who are appointed to the CVC’s T32 Program at some point between March 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 to acquire preliminary data, reviewer-requested data, to fund high risk/high reward projects, early-stage ideas, proof-of concept, and/or answer important research questions related to cardiovascular health or disease. These awards are funded by a grant given to the Cardiovascular Center by the A. O. Smith Foundation for the A. O. Smith Fellowship Scholars Program, a program designed to support talented cardiovascular researchers and physicians to overcome the barriers that exist in launching and sustaining a successful research career. Up to 6 one-year awards are available for awards up to $5,000 each.

The Sally Bentley ESI Pilot Awards supports early-stage investigators, allowing assistant professors without R01-equivalent funding to acquire preliminary data, reviewer-requested data, to fund high risk/high reward projects, early-stage ideas, proof-of concept, and/or answer important research questions related to cardiovascular health or disease. Funding is made possible by the Sally Bentley Endowed Cardiovascular Venture Fund for New Researchers. The fund was established in 2011 with a gift to the CVC from Ms. Bentley and We Energies. Up to 2 one-year awards are available for awards up to $10,000 each.

The Pilot Awards allow a postdoctoral fellow (sponsored by CVC member), clinical fellow or resident (sponsored by CVC member), or faculty to acquire preliminary data, reviewer-requested data, to fund high risk/high reward projects, early-stage ideas, proof-of concept, and/or answer important research questions related to cardiovascular health or disease. Funding is made possible by generous donations of community members and select business sponsors of the 2018 and 2019 MCW and Froedtert Heart of the Matter Food and Wine Event, the CVC and DOM-CV’s signature summer fundraising event, and Dean’s FY23 DPD 109 funds. Up to 7 one-year awards are available for awards up to $15,000 each.