The Grant Aims Accelerator Program (formerly Specific Aims), developed by the Trainee and Career Development Core Committee, pairs an early career professional with an experienced mentor to review the mentee’s Specific Aims draft (or international Specific Aims equivalent) for grant proposals.
Mentors and mentees will be matched by research interests and will meet informally at the ENDO 2026 to discuss how the specific aims draft can be improved. If unable to meet at ENDO, there is an option to meet virtually following the meeting. The Grant Aims Accelerator program is open to international participants. Endocrine Society will match mentees and mentors from the same country.
To learn more about developing and improving the Specific Aims section of your grant, view the Laying the Foundation: Specific Aims webinars, Part 1 and Part 2.
Please contact [email protected] with questions.
Webinar: Grant Writing for Translational Research: Approaches to Conventional and Alternative Funding, Plus Practical Tips for Strengthening Your Specific Aims or Proposal Summary
Watch on Demand
This webinar provides practical guidance on developing research proposals for both traditional and non-traditional funding sources. Three experts share tips, tools, and resources to strengthen early grant-writing efforts.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain major funding sources and award categories that currently support translational research.
- Create more effective Specific Aims (or concise proposal summaries) by applying practical outlining and editing methods.
- Find both institutional and external resources—such as mentorship, editing assistance, budget planning, and internal reviews—to assist with grant development.
Speakers:
- Gail Kurr Adler, MD, PhD, is an endocrinologist and Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her work focuses on diabetes and hypertension research, and she has a long-standing record of NIH funding and more than 300 publications.
- Jessica L. Fetterman, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Medicine/Vascular Biology and a basic and translational scientist. Her research examines mitochondrial physiology and genetics in cardiovascular disease, with nearly 100 publications; she will also share guidance on developing specific aims and early-stage NIH grant writing.
- Vanita Aroda, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an endocrinologist with more than 20 years of experience in diabetes research, including work related to GLP-1 therapies. She has published 200+ papers and will discuss non-traditional funding approaches, including clinical trials, both industry-sponsored and non-industry sponsored, in academia.
Moderator:
Nicole Ehrhardt, MD
Co-Medical Director
Seattle Clinical Research Center
