Research Grant Program

2025 Research Grant Recipients

Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, MBA

Hospital for Special Surgery

The Use of Platelet Rich Plasma for Prevention of Post-Operative Lumbar Radiculopathy After Microdiscectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Juan Uribe, MD

Barrow Neurological Institute

Immersive Virtual Reality Training for Endoscopic Spine Surgery: A Scalable Solution to Advance Minimally Invasive Education

Grant Description

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

• New or novel ideas or concepts in or around the field of minimally invasive spine surgery

Grant Amount

Two (2) grants will be awarded with a maximum value up to $20,000 USD each.

Grant Conditions

• Project duration can be up to two years.
• Funds may only be distributed to an active SMISS members’ institution.
• An active SMISS member must be listed as the Principal Investigator OR as a Co-Investigator.
• Funds will be distributed on a timeline:
  • 50% at signature
  • 25% at mid-point with a report required
  • 25% at completion of research with final report submitted to SMISS and proof of manuscript submission.

A report EVERY 6 months to the SMISS Research Committee is required. The authors should be prepared to present their research at the SMISS Annual Forum or an update until research is complete.

Eligible Expenses

Grant funds may be used for direct research costs, including but not limited to:

• Laboratory supplies and reagents
• Statistical analysis and data management
•  Research-related software
• Equipment essential to the research project (subject to approval)
• Salary support for research assistants or technicians (not to exceed 25% of total award

Ineligible Expenses

Grant funds may not be used for:

• Principal investigator (PI) or co-investigator salary support
• Institutional overhead or indirect costs
• General office supplies or furniture
• Publication fees unless pre-approved and directly related to grant-funded research
• Travel and meeting registration fees
• Computers or other capital expenses
• Membership fees or professional society dues

Questions? Contact nhenkel@broad-water.com