The American Head and Neck Society sponsors several research grants both as an individual society and in conjunction with the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The grants are reviewed through the Academy CORE (combined otolaryngologic research evaluation) process.

2025 Grant Applications are closed and under review. Additional information is available through American Academy of Otolaryngology CORE.  

Guidelines

1. AHNS/AAO-HNSF Translational Innovator Award – Applicants must have completed residency or fellowship training in seven years or less prior to submitting application. Candidates need to have demonstrated the capacity or potential for a highly productive independent research career with an emphasis in head and neck surgical oncology. Two years, non-renewable, $100,000 maximum ($40,000 year 1, $60,000 year 2 -AHNS), one available annually.
2. AHNS/AAO-HNSF Young Investigator Research Development Award – Open to fellows and assistant professors. Must be an AHNS member (may be resident member). To support research in neoplastic disease of the head and neck. Up to two years, $50,000 maximum ($20,000 year 1, $30,000 year 2 – AHNS). One award available per year.
3. AHNS Alando J. Ballantyne Resident Research Pilot Grant – Open to Medical Students, residents or M.D, faculty members at the rank of associate professor or below residing in the U.S. or Canada to support basic, translational, or clinical research projects in head and neck oncology. One year, non-renewable, $20,000 maximum total costs. One award available per year. The top ranked pilot award will be honored as the Ballantyne Award.
4. AHNS Pilot Grant – Open to Medical Students, residents or M.D, faculty members at the rank of associate professor or below residing in the U.S. or Canada to support basic, translational, or clinical research projects in head and neck oncology. One year, $20,000.00. One award available this year.
5. AHNS Presidential Award: Novel Therapeutic Targets and Combinations in Head and Neck Cancer – Candidates for this award should reside in the U.S. or Canada, be medical students, residents, PhDs or faculty members at the rank of associate professor or below and be an AHNS member in good standing. Previous AHNS or AAO-HNS Foundation research grant recipients are eligible to compete for this grant. Candidates who have applied for support of the same research from other funding sources, and who are notified of an award from both another agency and from AHNS must choose only one of the awards. Applications submitted by ineligible PIs will NOT be reviewed by the CORE Study Section. One year, $10,000. One award available.
6. AHNS Presidential Award: Understanding Treatment Resistance in Head and Neck – Candidates for this award should reside in the U.S. or Canada, be medical students, residents, PhDs or faculty members at the rank of associate professor or below and be an AHNS member in good standing. Previous AHNS or AAO-HNS Foundation research grant recipients are eligible to compete for this grant. Candidates who have applied for support of the same research from other funding sources, and who are notified of an award from both another agency and from AHNS must choose only one of the awards. Applications submitted by ineligible PIs will NOT be reviewed by the CORE Study Section. One year, $10,000. One award available.
7. AHNS Presidential Award: Defining and Implementing Value-Based Care in Head and Neck Cancer – Candidates for this award should reside in the U.S. or Canada, be medical students, residents, PhDs or faculty members at the rank of associate professor or below and be an AHNS member in good standing. Previous AHNS or AAO-HNS Foundation research grant recipients are eligible to compete for this grant. Candidates who have applied for support of the same research from other funding sources, and who are notified of an award from both another agency and from AHNS must choose only one of the awards. Applications submitted by ineligible PIs will NOT be reviewed by the CORE Study Section.
8. AHNS Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association Award for Thyroid Cancer Research Grant -Candidates for this award should reside in the U.S. or Canada and be AHNS members in good standing. They may be medical students focusing in otolaryngology, otolaryngology residents, PhDs or faculty members in otolaryngology departments. Preference will be given to early-stage investigators (10 years or less from a terminal degree or fellowship training) or more experienced researchers pursuing a new line of inquiry for which pilot data are needed. Previous AHNS or AAO-HNS Foundation research grant recipients are eligible to compete for this grant. However, candidates who have successfully obtained funding from a private or federal funding agency for the same research are ineligible. Candidates who have applied for support of the same research from other funding sources, and who are notified of an award from both another agency and from AHNS must choose only one of the awards. Applications submitted by ineligible PIs will NOT be reviewed by the CORE Study Section.