Biomedical Laboratory R&D Clinician Scientist Investigator (CSI) Award

Objective: To recognize and retain outstanding clinician scientists engaged in VA research while they continue to provide high quality and timely clinical care to Veterans.

Award levels: The Clinician Scientist Investigator (CSI) Award will allow for a Merit award extension of up to 2 additional years (for a total of 6 years) and up to 4 additional years (for a total of 8 years) for a Senior Clinician Scientist Investigator (SCSI) Award.

Eligibility:

• A minimum 5/8th VA paid clinical appointment with a current BLRD Merit award at the time of submission of a competitive BLRD Merit renewal application with no gap in funding.
• The PI must be the contact PI on any MPI application.
• A competitive BLRD Merit renewal application which has received an excellent to very good score (< 15th percentile).
• An outstanding record of scholarly productivity including national peer-reviewed research funding as Principal Investigator (co-investigator is not sufficient) for at least 8 years while serving as a VA clinician.
• A strong record of contribution to local and national VA research and/or clinical programs.
• In good standing with their Service Chief and/or Chief of Staff.

Nomination packet: The nomination packet should be a single pdf file with the following items:

• A cover sheet for the CSI Award
• A letter of support from the ACOS for R&D outlining how the longer-term award will be used to expand the investigator’s program and support the VA research program more broadly.
• A complete and current curriculum vitae for the nominee.
• A one-page summary of future studies that will be done if an extension is granted.

CSI Merit Extension Template

Submission Instructions: The nomination packet must be submitted by the nominee's research office as a single document to the VHABLRD-CSRD@va.gov mailbox.

Deadline:  Two weeks prior to the BLRD funding decision meeting in mid-January and mid-July.

Point of Contact: Dr. Kimberlee Potter (Kimberlee.potter@va.gov).

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