The JCR Editorial Board and PANLAR Board of Directors have chosen to name this award after Dr. Schumacher in recognition of his many accomplishments and of his dedication to the betterment of Rheumatology in Latin America. This award is funded jointly by Mrs. H. Ralph Schumacher and PANLAR.

H. Ralph Schumacher Award for PANLAR Projects Criteria:

• Available to investigators in the countries served by PANLAR who have completed their training in the specialty up to 15 years prior to the submission of this application.
• Intended to stimulate valuable research that will produce results relevant to the region. 
• The grant is designed to support the development of projects that are PANLAR research priorities. These priority areas are: 
  o    Epidemiology of Rheumatic diseases in Latin America
  o    Real world data on new and old treatments for the rheumatic diseases in Latin America
  o    Infections and rheumatic diseases in Latin America
  o    Artificial Intelligence 
  o    Social determinants of health.
• The results of the research grant should lead to one or more manuscripts and must be published in JCR.
• An explicit recognition of support from the award should be referred to in the published paper.

The complete application should be written in English and will consist of the following components:

1. Curriculum Vitae or Bio sketch (page limit: 4)
2. Letters of support (2)
3. A brief presentation Letter from the national society supporting application.
4. Personal statement.
5. Previous research relevant to the current grant (page limit: 2)
6. Research Proposal as per this format (page limit: 10, excluding references):
   - Specific Aims
   - Background and Significance
   - Preliminary work (pertinent to study being proposed),
   - Study design methods, (including Statistical Analysis techniques and sample size calculations, Anticipated Results, Anticipated Limitations, Timetable).
7. Budget: a complete budget description.

 

Evaluation
 
Applications will be evaluated by a team of jurors from different PANLAR countries under the direction of Dr, Graciela S. Alarcón (US/Perú). The final ranking of the applications will be based on a pondered scoring system previously developed and agreed upon in which the project itself will weigh more than the other components of the application.

Award Ceremony
 
The winner will receive a USD 20,000.00 cash award. The award intends to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to clinical investigation in Latin America. 

The award will be distributed in the following way: 50% at the beginning of the project, 25% after the first advance report has been sent and approved, and 25% when the finished report is sent and approved.
 
Timeline:
 
Opening of the call: August 12, 2025
Submission deadline: October 19, 2025
Award Announcement: December 4, 2025.
 

The prize will be awarded at the Annual Pan American Congress of Rheumatology PANLAR 2026 to be held in Panama City, Panama on April 27, 2026.
 

Complete applications should be submitted electronically on the following link before October 12, 2025

Submit your application in English here.

PANLAR