The AGA Research Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), plays an important role in medical research by providing grants to young scientists at a critical time in their career. The foundation’s mission is to raise funds to support young researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology.
The research program of the AGA has had an important impact on digestive disease research for the last 30 years:
• More than $43 million has been provided in research grants.
• More than 780 scientists have been awarded research grants.
• Ninety percent of investigators who received an AGA Research Scholar Award (RSA) over the past 10 years have stayed in gastroenterology and hepatology research.
• Over 85% of RSA recipients in the past 10 years received NIH funding subsequent to their RSA with over 50 percent receiving $1 million or more in NIH grant support.
Dr. Anne E. Powell
AGA grants have led to discoveries, including new approaches to down-regulate intestinal inflammation, a test for genetic predisposition to colon cancer and autoimmune liver disease treatments. The importance of these awards is evidenced by the fact that virtually every major advance leading to the understanding, prevention, treatment and cure of digestive diseases has been made in the research laboratory of a talented young investigator.
“This award provided me the support to examine aspects of colonic stem cell homeostasis and tumor initiation using super resolution microscopy, perhaps affording a physical visualization of colonic cellular processes, which has not been previously possible,” said Anne E. Powell, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, 2014 AGA Research Scholar Award Recipient. “My long-term aim is to be an independent investigator and a leader in the field of colonic stem cell biology and this award is a critical step toward that goal. Undoubtedly, without the generous support from this research scholar award from the AGA Research Foundation, this work would not be possible.”
At a time when funds from NIH and other traditional sources of support are in decline, the AGA Research Foundation is committed and ready to support young investigators and fund discoveries that will continue to improve GI practice and better patient care.
The AGA Research Foundation provides a key source of funding at a critical juncture in a young researcher’s career. By joining others in donating to the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work.
