Jin Ho Han, MD, MS, Professor of Emergency Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is considered a research expert in the field of emergency and critical care medicine, particularly in the study of sedatives used for critically ill patients.

The Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) calls him one of its biggest success stories.

Dr. Han and Co-Principal Investigator Matthew Semler, MD, MS, secured a $7 million, five-year research funding award last summer from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to compare two sedatives used to place breathing tubes in the emergency department or intensive care unit—ketamine and etomidate.

Dr. Han is a recipient of an EMF Pilot Grant Program, and he gives EMF credit for his PCORI grant award. First, he was able to share pilot program data and demonstrate that the research was possible and valuable in his PCORI proposal.

The value of EMF’s Pilot Grant Program goes beyond one victory.

That’s why EMF has decided to expand it for the upcoming year.

This year marks a notable shift in its funding strategy. Traditionally, EMF funded a single pilot grant of $50,000 annually. However, recognizing the growing demand and the potential impact of early research, the Foundation has dramatically increased its commitment. Starting from July 1, EMF will fund six pilot grants, each valued at $100,000.

This substantial investment is aimed at fostering the credibility of researchers, enabling them to secure larger grants from institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The EMF Board’s decision to enhance funding stems from the highly competitive nature of previous grant applications. By allocating more resources, EMF aims to support a broader spectrum of research projects and early-stage researchers. This strategy not only aids in the development of new research within the field but also assists seasoned researchers exploring new topics.

Pilot Research Grants are intended to provide “starter” or pilot funding for preliminary data to help initiate a successful line of research that will ultimately lead to a more comprehensive project. This grant’s goal is to lay the groundwork for a project that will meaningfully impact emergency care research and to fund a variety of research areas, including clinical, basic science, translational, and health policy topics.

EMF encourages application partnerships between research universities and community emergency departments along with the engagement of operational and policy partners. All applications must identify and justify the primary EMF priority to which they are focusing their proposal.