AFS GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

 Research Grant

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The AFS Research Committee is excited to announce the AFS Research Grant, offering $10,000 to support pioneering research in foregut disease. This grant is open to any young principal investigator who are within five years of completing their training and are current AFS members, aiming to foster advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of foregut conditions. 

 Motility and pH Testing Equipment Grant

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The AFS in collaboration with Laborie is launching a Motility and pH testing equipment grant. This grant will provide one compact motility system and one alpHaONE wirless pH receiver for up to three sites.

Laborie contribution to up to 3 sites:

  • Motility system x1
  • AlphaOne system x1

Institution contribution:

  • Purchase 1 reusable motility catheter (at minimum)
  • Purchase Alpha One capsules as needed
  • Commit/train sufficient GI lab personnel to conduct testing as detailed below

AFS contribution:

  • Review and choose up to 3 sites to participate in the grant program
  • Facilitate communication between chosen sites and Laborie for execution of the grant
  • AFS Mentorship- during the 2-year grant, participants will have a remote mentor assigned to be available for non-urgent questions regarding editing, reporting, interpreting motility and pH studies.

Criteria for Eligibility:

  • Surgeon or GI to be primary supervisor of motility devices
    • Supervise operator of the motility testing for high quality tests and reading
    • If Surgeon or GI has no experience with manometry / pH reading, need to prove having been to at least one training or proctoring session for pH and manometry or to have been fellowship trained with exposure to manometry and pH reading
  • Surgery / GI collaboration 
    • Preference for Foregut trained surgeon and motility / advanced GI with AFS membership
    • Preference given to programs demonstrating GI/Surgeon collaboration
  • No current access to reflux / manometry testing
    • These devices will be new to the institution
    • Needs to show a commitment to receive training for the operator and supervising parties (IE Laborie clinical education to all parties involved with the devices)
  • Must hold AFS membership in good standing.
    • Both the GI and the Surgeon involved to be a member
  • Provide data entry to the AFS database.
    • Participants agree to enter appropriate data into the AFS QIP database.
  •  Institution support to provide personnel for operating the testing devices
    • AlpHaOne devices are deployed with endoscopy. Must have access to endoscopy suite or ambulatory surgery center with endoscopy access.
    • pH devices require a space available to house the tower, buffer solution, catheters and tubes and processing for sterilization.
    • Personnel identified as the operator for testing IE APP or dedicated endo/GI RN with physician supervision.
    • Personnel identified to follow and replenish inventory
    • *Can consider a commitment letter from the Division chief or Department chair to provide support for developing a foregut testing center.
  • Provide a business plan to show intended use and growth once devices are in place
  • Provide an intended timeline to max growth with alphaOne and motility devices once in place
  • Provide a written summary at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years to show progress of motility center and how it impacts care in their system for patients with foregut disease.
  • *Will consider having the hospital leadership also provide written summary for how introduction of this system affects their healthcare system or hospital. 

Laborie to provide to each of the chosen sites:

  1. On-Site Installation and Training:
    When a Solar GI system is ordered, a technical representative will visit the center to install the equipment and ensure everything is set up correctly.
  2. Clinical Training with Live Cases:
    Following installation, we coordinate with the center to schedule live cases. During these sessions, a clinical representative provides hands-on training for the physicians, focusing on both performing the cases and utilizing the system software effectively.
  3. Remote Support and Education:
    To supplement on-site training, we offer the capability to remotely log in to the system. This allows us to provide additional training, troubleshooting, and ongoing support as needed.