Mentored Fellowship Award

Purpose:

The mission of SPARTAN is to advance research and education to improve the care of patients with spondyloarthritis. We feel strongly that laying the foundation for the next generation of researchers and leaders in spondyloarthritis is an important portal to achieve this mission. The goal is to support the early stages of a trainee-led research project to generate preliminary data that will support grant applications to funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (or equivalent) and the Rheumatology Research Foundation (or equivalent).

Applicant Eligibility:

• Applicants do not need to be SPARTAN members at the time of application, although their application to become a SPARTAN member is expected with receipt of award.
• Fellow applicants may be PhDs, or clinician MDs/DOs currently in training at the level of pediatric or internal medicine residency, rheumatology fellowship or SpA subspecialty fellowship.
• Mentors must have a strong track record in SpA research as evidenced by publications and must be a SPARTAN member (Full or Associate).

Funding:

• A total of $10,000 is allocated to cover each new grant with a maximum of $5,000 per fellow and $5,000 per mentor.
• The funding period will start August 1, 2026.

Use of funds

The funds can be used for activities directly linked to the proposal including expendables, services or salary/stipend of trainee. The funds cannot be used for salary support of the PI. Institutional indirect costs are not supported.

• Application deadline: February 28, 2026
• Notification by April 30, 2026

Adjudication

The SPARTAN Research Committee will review applications, which will be reviewed by the SPARTAN Research Committee and ad hoc reviewers with relevant research expertise, and approved by the SPARTAN Board of Directors. Applicants will be notified of decisions by [Date] and awards will be announced at the SPARTAN Annual Meeting in May.

Requirements of funding

• Grant recipients must acknowledge SPARTAN in any presentations or publications related to the project.
• In oral or poster presentations relating to the funded project, the SPARTAN logo must be displayed.
• A post activity report must be submitted via email to SPARTAN within 6 months of completion of the entire funding period.
• A post activity report must be submitted via email to SPARTAN within 6 months of completion of the entire funding period.
• The study results/progress should be presented at the annual SPARTAN meeting.
• Written progress reports provided to SPARTAN are mandatory for applicants’ continued participation in future SPARTAN grant competitions.

No-cost extensions
No-cost extensions may be requested by emailing the SPARTAN Executive Director with an attached progress report no later than 60 days prior to the end of the funding period. They will be considered at the discretion of the SPARTAN Board of Directors in conjunction with the Research Committee.