Assessing the success of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons research awards

The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons supports early research and career development of junior members through 2 research awards each year. This study aimed to determine the impact of American Association of Endocrine Surgeons funding on academic productivity.

Measures of academic productivity of award applicants (2016-2022), including peer-reviewed publications, Hirsch index (h-index), and National Institutes of Health funding, was obtained from PubMed and SCOPUS databases and compared between award recipients and nonrecipients. In addition, a survey was sent to all award recipients since inception (2010-2022) to assess self-reported ability to complete project aims, publish manuscripts, and obtain subsequent funding.

Award recipients (n = 26) had a higher post-award h-index (median 20 [interquartile range 16, 26] vs 15 [interquartile range 10, 20] P < .01) and almost twice as often obtained National Institutes of Health funding (21% vs 12%) compared with nonrecipients (n = 51). By self-report, every respondent (n = 22) indicated that they achieved at least some of their proposed aims, and 63.6% had published or were in the process of publishing their results. Most respondents (15, 68.2%) stated that their research would not have been feasible without the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons award, and 13 (59.1%) stated that their award led to subsequent grant funding, totaling $13.7 million, including $10.3 million of federal grant funding.

Recipients of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons research awards boast high rates of achieving project aims, publishing findings, and obtaining additional grant funding. The return on investment is already greater than 3,000% and is expected to continue to grow as these scientists pursue their research goals.