Research is key for the anesthesiology specialty to successfully master the challenges of the future. IARS is pushing the ball with its Grants Program, supporting research and scientific advancement of the anesthesiology specialty. To date, the IARS has funded more than 230 projects, contributing more than $24 million to the anesthesia community.
“As anesthesiologists, it’s a challenge balancing between the clinical work and the research aspect of things. Having [the IARS Mentored Research Award] provides you with the necessary time to complete meaningful research.”
— Past Award Recipient
IARS Mentored Research Award (IMRA) – $175,000
This award is intended to support investigations that will further the understanding of clinical practice in anesthesiology and related sciences. Up to four research projects are selected annually, with a maximum award of $175,000 each, payable over two years. These grants help create future leaders and prepare applicants to apply for independent research funding.
IARS International Outreach Travel Grant – up to $5,000
2026 Grant Cycle to Open August 2025; Submission Deadline: November 23, 2025
Travel grant awards are now available ranging from $1,000 and up to $5,000 for abstract presenters to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA, May 1-3, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The IARS International Outreach Travel Grant supports scientists globally and will grow the richness and diversity of background, location and expertise at the IARS Annual Meeting. These IARS travel grants are designed specifically for individuals located in low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries who are involved in research related to anesthesia. The IARS travel grants aim to make it possible for individuals, who would not otherwise be able to participate in the meeting, to access the wider global anesthesiology community through meaningful engagement at our leading-edge annual meeting.
IARS Global Scholars Award – up to $20,000
The Global Scholars Award (GSA) is a two-year, up to $20,000 award to support a global mentored research initiative with the goal of providing meaningful, sustainable research initiatives for the awardee and their institution. The focus of the initiative is to support a well-defined project in perioperative anesthesiology, such as an observational study, in low- and lower middle-income countries (LMICs I & II) while promoting research training and empowering emerging researchers to unlock their scientific potential!
- GSA is designed to foster innovation, creativity, and capacity building for an early career/young investigator interested in a career in academic research.
- Projects must have direct relevance to the practice of anesthesiology.
- Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to research and the potential for leadership within their home country.
- Eligible Organizations must be located in low- and lower middle-income countries (LMICs I & II), as defined by The World Bank.
“Looking back, the award was instrumental in a very crucial part in my career. The transition from fellow to faculty is such an important few years (often times unrecognized!) that ultimately shapes the path, and subsequently, the bulk of one’s future career. With the award, I was able to have dedicated research time and pursue a Masters in Clinical Investigation to obtain additional skills in clinical design, biostatistics, and biomedical informatics.”
– 2016 IARS Mentored Research Award Recipient Eric Vu, MD
“The IARS Mentored Research Award (IMRA) was the only grant I was eligible to apply for as a postdoctoral fellow, and I am grateful for its existence. Such a grant has enormous impact on early-career researchers, and undeniably raises their chances for success. Thank you to the IARS for this incredible support for a young researcher such as myself! I will be forever grateful that the IARS could support my research.”
– 2021 IARS Mentored Research Award Recipient Catherine Duclos, PhD
“[With the IMRA], we’ve been able to really untangle how some of this pathway feeds into a nociceptive behavior or pain response. But we ended up with a really important and big question in front of us which is now trying to understand why there’s a sex difference, and how it is or where it is that males and females diverge. So that’s the work we are on the cusp of a publication with.”
– 2019 IARS Mentored Research Award Recipient Benjamin Steinberg, MD, PhD, FRCPC
International Anesthesia Research Society
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