Strategic Investment Fund
Bring Forward Ideas to Shape the Future of Our Field
The ISHLT Strategic Investment Fund is a targeted investment program providing up to $250,000 to support high-impact ideas from the Society’s global community. The Fund is designed to identify and launch ISHLT-led initiatives that advance the field of advanced heart and lung disease therapies, deliver meaningful value to members worldwide, and strengthen the Society’s leadership, programs, and long-term impact.
Getting started is simple: Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) outlining the problem or opportunity, proposed solution, alignment with ISHLT priorities, anticipated impact, and a preliminary scope and budget range. Selected concepts will be invited for further review.
Submissions are currently closed. The 2026 application cycle will open in June 2026—start preparing your ideas.
What We’re Looking For
We invite bold, practical ideas that could become:
- New ISHLT programs, platforms, or services
- Field-shaping data, education, or collaboration initiatives
- Scalable models that extend ISHLT’s global reach and influence
- Not a traditional research grant program
- Not funding for independent, member-run projects
- Not support for pharmaceutical or device trials
How Can I Submit a Proposal?
Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) outlining your idea. Letters should describe the problem or opportunity, proposed solution, alignment with ISHLT priorities and mission, anticipated impact, and a preliminary scope and budget range.
ISHLT will review Letters of Intent to assess alignment, potential impact, and feasibility. Based on this review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. These proposals will undergo a structured review process, including evaluation by relevant ISHLT committees for scientific, operational, and financial considerations, followed by Board review and final decision.
What is Considered a Proposal?
Proposals should introduce new ISHLT-led programs, services, or initiatives that address meaningful needs in heart and lung transplantation and align with the Society’s strategic priorities.
The Strategic Investment Fund supports a range of ideas—from focused, practical initiatives to larger, collaborative efforts—provided they demonstrate innovation, feasibility, and the potential for meaningful, scalable impact. Examples may include programs that:
- Strengthen global collaboration
- Expand access to transplant and advanced therapies
- Foster innovation in clinical practice, education, or care delivery
- Enhance data collection, analysis, or shared infrastructure
Who Can Submit a Proposal?
The Strategic Investment Fund is open to all ISHLT members. ISHLT encourages participation from its global community, representing diverse regions, disciplines, and perspectives. Submissions are welcomed from clinicians, researchers, and leaders across the transplant field at any career stage, including individuals and member-led groups.
Submission & Review Process
- Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI): Begin with a brief 2–3 page Letter of Intent outlining your idea.
- Initial Review: ISHLT will review Letters of Intent to assess alignment, potential impact, and feasibility.
- Invited Full Proposal: Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal with a more detailed plan, including scope, milestones, and budget.
- Structured Review Process: Full proposals will undergo a multi-step review process, including evaluation by relevant ISHLT committees (e.g., Interdisciplinary Steering Committees, Oversight Committees, Finance Committee) to assess scientific merit, feasibility, and strategic alignment.
- Board Review and Decision: Final proposals will be reviewed by the ISHLT Board of Directors for approval. Following approval, a project plan and timeline will be finalized for implementation.
FAQs
Any ISHLT member may submit a Letter of Intent, including individuals or member-led groups across all career stages, disciplines, and regions. Nonmembers may not apply.
Proposals should introduce new ISHLT-led programs, services, or initiatives that address meaningful needs in heart and lung transplantation and align with ISHLT’s strategic priorities. ISHLT is seeking innovative, high-impact ideas with the potential to advance the field in tangible ways—whether through new collaborations, new models of care or education, or new approaches to longstanding challenges.
The Strategic Investment Fund is not a traditional research grant program and does not support individual research projects, research grants, standards or guideline documents, consensus conferences, endorsement requests or programs run independently by individual members or third parties. All funded initiatives will be ISHLT-led programs, with support focused on program development, collaboration, and infrastructure rather than the direct funding of large-scale research or clinical trials.
Up to $250,000 in funding over a maximum of three years is available per selected initiative.
No. The process begins with a Letter of Intent, and full proposals will be invited for selected concepts. Early-stage ideas are welcome at this stage. However, applicants invited to submit a full proposal are expected to provide a well-developed plan that addresses program requirements. ISHLT will provide guidance and feedback during this stage, but proposals should reflect a clearly defined concept with a feasible path to implementation, including defined objectives, governance and milestones.
Strong Letters of Intent will present innovative, high-impact ideas that address meaningful gaps and align with ISHLT’s strategic priorities. At the Letter of Intent stage, submissions should outline the problem or opportunity, proposed solution, alignment with ISHLT priorities, anticipated impact, and a preliminary scope and budget range. Invited full proposals should provide a well-developed plan with defined objectives, milestones, governance, and a feasible approach to implementation.
Yes. Collaborative initiatives, including those involving external partners, are encouraged where appropriate and aligned with ISHLT’s role as a convener and coordinating body. Funded initiatives must be ISHLT-led programs.
No. ISHLT funding supports program development, collaboration, and infrastructure. Clinical trials and large-scale research activities must be supported through external funding.
No. As part of its mission and through the support of the ISHLT Foundation, ISHLT offers a variety of grants and awards to support research training in heart and lung transplantation as well as end-stage heart and lung diseases to encourage the development of clinical or basic science research implications. For more information, email Sue Bessner at sue.bessner@ishlt.org.
No. There are separate proposal mechanisms for these types of projects. For more information, email Megan Barrett at megan.barrett@ishlt.org.
Letters of Intent are reviewed by ISHLT to assess alignment with the Strategic Investment Fund, potential impact, and overall feasibility. Based on this review, a subset of applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals undergo a structured, multi-step review process, including evaluation by relevant ISHLT committees for scientific, operational, and financial considerations, followed by Board review and final decision.
ISHLT will acknowledge your Letter of Intent upon receipt. Letters of Intent are reviewed in late summer, with selected applicants invited to submit full proposals in the fall.
The Strategic Investment Fund follows a structured, multi-stage review process. Letters of Intent are reviewed in late summer, with selected applicants invited to submit full proposals in the fall. Full proposals then undergo a staged review process—including evaluation by ISHLT committees—through the winter and spring, followed by Board review and final decision in mid-year. From Letter of Intent submission to final decision, the process typically takes approximately 10–12 months.
Email ISHLT Chief Operating Officer Aaron Adair at aaron.adair@ishlt.org or call +1-312-224-1261.