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Micah Batchelor Award

Department of Pediatrics
The Micah Batchelor Award for Excellence in Children’s Health Research (Micah Batchelor Award) was made possible by a $5 million gift to the Department of Pediatrics by George E. Batchelor, a visionary philanthropist with a passion to improve the lives of children. The purpose of the Micah Batchelor Award is to support significant and innovative research in the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. The research should be aimed at improving the health and healthcare of children, and preference will be given to those projects most likely to lead to future extramural funding. Any University of Miami full-time faculty member with a primary appointment in the Department of Pediatrics may apply for the Micah Batchelor Award and the new awards described below.

The Micah Batchelor Award is a competitive, peer-reviewed research prize of $300,000. Of this amount, $225,000 is to be used in accordance with UM policies for research on a project that has a significant impact on children’s health and healthcare. In keeping with Mr. Batchelor’s wishes, the remaining $75,000 is designated as a personal prize awarded to the principal investigator to be used at his or her sole and absolute discretion.

Applications considered for the Micah Batchelor Award will be reviewed and scored by a Review Panel. The Review Panel will consist of both internal and external expert reviewers, based on established Micah Batchelor Award guidelines. Scoring is based on three broad categories. These include: 1) impact on child health and healthcare (30%), 2) scientific merit (50%), and 3) the applicant’s qualifications, including training and expertise (20%).

As of 2016, in lieu of applying for the Micah Batchelor Award, faculty may apply to be named a Micah Batchelor Scholar (providing up to two awards of $50,000). In subsequent years, the Department developed the Micah Batchelor Fellow, an additional award of $100,000. The Chair of the Department of Pediatrics will appoint an internal review panel to review applications submitted for the Micah Batchelor Scholar and Fellow competitions.

Recipients of Micah Batchelor Awards will be required to provide annual progress reports for the duration of funding. All applicants will prepare posters and summarize their proposals for Department of Pediatrics faculty. Applicants are expected to meet with members of the Batchelor Foundation at the award reception. Award recipients additionally are required to deliver a presentation at the Micah Batchelor Awards Program.

Faculty will be advised via email of the entry deadline for the next Micah Batchelor Awards.