Purpose

The purpose of this award is to support STS Database Participant User File (PUF) research expenses, or other standalone research projects of a similar nature. The award is intended to cover data access costs and other direct costs.

Eligibility

This award is open to cardiothoracic surgeons certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, or other researchers with a project focused on CT surgery. In order to apply for this award for support of an STS Database Participant User File (PUF) project, candidates must have an approved PUF Application already secured (June 1, 2024 or later). The applicant should have received a formal notification letter of approval for their PUF application from the PUF Task Force, but should not be in receipt of data at the time of applying for this award.

NOTE: Prospective PUF program applicants are strongly encouraged to review and consider the following in advance of formally submitting an application:

• PUF program description;
• List of Current Projects and Published Research; and
• PUF application web form, which includes lists of available data fields for study.
• Proposal submissions focused on Volume-Outcome relationships research will no longer be considered via the PUF program. Investigators interested in Volume-Outcomes analyses must submit a proposal via the Access and Publications (A&P) or Task Force on Funded Research (TFR) programs (not eligible for Catalyst Award consideration).

‍

For information about codes and values for each data variable in the final PUF sent to investigators, please visit the following links:

• Adult Cardiac: Adult Cardiac Surgery Database Data Collection
• General Thoracic: STS General Thoracic Surgery Database
• Congenital Heart: STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database
• Intermacs: Intermacs Users Guide; De-identified Intermacs Data Set‍

• Pedimacs: Pedimacs Users Guide; De-identified Pedimacs Data Set

‍Award Amount

Support of up to $10,000 awarded in one lump sum for one year. ‍

No additional funds will be paid out for indirect, fringe, or other expenditures.

Required Application Materials

• Project Description
• Personal Statement
• Budget
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Letter of Recommendation

Timeline

Application Open: July 1, 2025
Application Deadline: September 15, 2025
Applicants Notified of Award or Regrets: December 2025 - January 2026
See full award timeline here.