The Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science

The Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science is sponsored by American Heart Association. This award supports independent cardiovascular researchers actively working in the field of basic cardiovascular science. The prize was established in honor of Jack Sarver to "end the heritage of heart disease."

The Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science - Professional Heart Daily | American Heart Association Applications open in the Council Awards System (ProposalCentral) on April 9, 2025. To qualify for this award, you must meet the following deadlines: June 8, 2026, 6 p. m.

(CDT) – Deadline to submit an abstract to Scientific Sessions 2026 . June 8, 2026 – Deadline to have an active American Heart Association professional membership at the Premium Professional or Premium Professional Plus tier. June 10, 2026, 6 p.

m. (CDT) – Deadline to apply for this award in the Council Awards System . The Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science was established through a gift to the American Heart Association in honor of Jack Sarver who died of heart disease in 1979 at the age of 58.

The Sarver family’s struggle against heart disease began in the paternal lineage generations before his birth. Childhood memories of the young father’s struggle has motivated the family to “end the heritage of heart disease."

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Abstract Title: HELZ2 Regulates APOB mRNA Stability to Modulate Fatty Liver Disease and Atherosclerosis Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science Winner, Zhao Zhang, PhD Michelle Albert, MD, MPH, FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association, interviews Zhao Zhang, PhD, winner of the inaugural Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science.

This award supports independent cardiovascular researchers actively working in the field of basic cardiovascular science. Applicants must hold full-time faculty appointments at the instructor level or higher, or an institutional equivalent and must meet one of the following career stages to apply: Early Career: Independent researchers with their own funding and research space.

Mid-Career: Associate Professors or late-stage Assistant Professors with multiple independent grants, leading their own research programs (e.g., senior mentors, senior authors, invited speakers). To be eligible to apply, applicants must be professional members at the Premium Professional or Premium Professional Plus tier. Your membership tier will be validated during the application process.

Membership must be completed online. Please note that membership processing may take 3–5 days; do not wait until the proposal deadline to Join or Renew . Applicants must submit an abstract to one of the Basic Science categories for presentation at Scientific Sessions and provide their unpublished manuscript or manuscript in preparation at the time of application.

Make sure that your abstract has been submitted in a category listed under the award for which you want to apply (PDF) . The applicant must be the first or last author and must be the presenting author , although the manuscript may have co-authors. The presenting author of an accepted abstract must be registered for Scientific Sessions.

An individual may not compete for other award competitions during the same scientific meeting. Applicants may submit one application for either The Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science or The Jack Sarver Prize in Clinical Science. Only one manuscript per candidate will be considered.

Previous winners, runner ups, and finalists are not eligible to re-enter the competition in subsequent years. Applicants must adhere to the Embargo Policy . The work covered by the abstract must not have been presented at a national or international meeting or world congress before the date and time of presentation at Scientific Sessions .

The abstract must comply with the Abstract Submission Guidelines as outlined by the Scientific Sessions Program Committee.

Notwithstanding the above, the Association's Officers have the discretion to determine eligibility for the award in extraordinary circumstances when there is an issue relating to American Heart Association policy, positions or other potentially controversial issue relating to the Association's positioning or perception.

Applications will be evaluated by a panel of accomplished researchers, scientists, clinicians, and academicians, representing the breadth of basic cardiovascular sciences.

Policies and Guiding Values Peer Reviewer Certification Statement (PDF) Applications will be judged on the following: Scientific merit of the abstract Quality and originality of the manuscript Candidate's curriculum vitae and bibliography Letter from the candidate's sponsor Two additional letters of support If selected as a finalist, a video presentation of their research. June 4, 2026, 9 a. m.

(CT) – Deadline to submit an abstract to Scientific Sessions 2026. June 8, 2026 – Deadline to have an active American Heart Association professional membership at the Premium Professional or Premium Professional Plus tier. June 10, 2026, 6 p.

m. (CT) – Deadline to apply for the award in the Council Awards Application System. July 2026 – Finalists will be invited to submit a video presentation.

All other applicants are notified of their status. July 2026 – Finalist’s video presentation is due in the Council Awards Application System. September 2026 – Applicants are notified of their award status (winner, runner-up, or finalist).

Only those with an accepted abstract will be considered for selection. Please read these instructions carefully. The review committee will not consider incomplete applications.

Electronic submission through the Council Awards Application System is mandatory. Hard copies of any part of the application will not be accepted. Your application file should contain the following documents in PDF format: Abstract: A copy of your submitted abstract.

This abstract must be submitted through the Scientific Sessions website before the abstract submission deadline and must be submitted to one of the Basic Science categories. Unpublished Manuscript: An unpublished manuscript or manuscript in preparation based on independent research to be presented in the submitted abstract. (35-page limitation, including references, tables, and figures.)

The applicant must be the first or last author and must be the presenting author, although the manuscript may have co-authors. The work covered by the submitted abstract must not have been presented at a national or international meeting before presentation at the scientific event. If so, the abstract must be withdrawn.

Curriculum vitae and bibliography Candidate Statement: The candidate statement should outline and provide clear examples of how the candidate meets the criteria: Novelty and innovation of science Track record of the individual including peer reviewed publications How this funding will impact the individual’s career trajectory Primary Letter of Support: A letter detailing the contributions of the candidate and any co-investigators to the design and research work.

This statement must be written by the candidate’s immediate supervisor, division head, department chair, or institute director. Supportive statements highlighting the candidate’s relevant qualifications and strengths as a researcher are also encouraged.

For multi-authored manuscripts, the supervisor should indicate that the applicant is the most suitable candidate for the award among all co-authors, providing a rationale for this opinion. Letters of Support: Two letters of support or reference from individuals familiar with the applicant, their background, and research. Visit the Council Awards Application System to complete an application.

A username and password previously set up through online registration at Professional Heart Daily (PHD) will be necessary to access the Application System. Professional Members who are creating an online profile for the first time should make sure to register using their membership identification numbers. An active Professional Membership is required of all applicants for this award.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be professional members at the Premium Professional or Premium Professional Plus tier. Please note that membership processing may take 3–5 days; do not wait until the proposal deadline to Join or Renew . Click the link for the Council Awards Application System .

To apply for "The Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science," follow these steps: Create New Proposal: Start by selecting "Create New Proposal." Filter by Grant Maker: Choose "American Heart Association Council Awards." Select Program: From the Programs list, select "Scientific Sessions Established Investigator Awards."

Apply Now: Click the "Apply Now" button. Choose Award: Within the application, select "The Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science." For more detailed information on ProposalCentral, also included are additional materials on specific ProposalCentral functionality.

How to Create an Application in ProposalCentral (PDF) How to Register a ProposalCentral User (PDF) How To Add Publications in ProposalCentral (PDF) Finalists will be determined in late June and will be invited to submit a video presentation of their research.

Complimentary registration to Scientific Sessions Travel expense reimbursement for Scientific Sessions up to $6,648 $25,000 awarded to the winner’s institution to support and advance the recipient’s scientific research.

Council Awards Application System (ProposalCentral) Help Desk: [email protected] Council Awards: [email protected] Member Services: [email protected] Abstract Submitter Password/Login: [email protected] Abstract Submission: [email protected]