For the first time, Robert A. Winn Career Development Award opens to neuropsychiatry investigator-physicians
Clinical trials training program encourages early-stage neuropsychiatry clinical researchers to apply for Cohort 6 by May 4, 2026
NATIONAL — March 19, 2026 — The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program (Winn Awards) is proud to announce that, for the first time, the Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA) program is welcoming applications from investigator-physicians specializing in neuropsychiatry. This expansion reflects the program’s ongoing commitment to training a national network of clinical trialists who are focused on ensuring that underrepresented communities have access to cutting-edge research.
Since its inception in 2020, the Winn CDA program has provided hundreds of early-stage physician-scientists with a rigorous two-year curriculum designed to improve the clinical research landscape by strengthening community engagement. Scholars receive a two-year, $240,000 award intended to protect 40% of their time for the work of the program, which supports their efforts to conduct clinical trials that are scientifically rigorous and representative of the patient populations impacted by the condition being studied.
In the past, the program’s research areas have included cancer, as well as cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease. With this expansion, the Winn CDA program now supports early-stage investigator physicians working in neuropsychiatry.
"Clinical researchers in neuropsychiatry are making outstanding progress in understanding complex disorders, however, as in many other areas, the challenges of representative clinical trial enrollment persist," said Megan Becker, Executive Director of Winn CDA. “The Winn Awards program is committed to ensuring that research benefits all communities, so every patient has the opportunity to benefit from advances in neuropsychiatric medicine.”
“We are excited to encourage a robust group of neuropsychiatry researchers to apply for Cohort 6,” said Ali Gemma, Program Director, Winn CDA. “We are particularly interested in applicants whose research focuses on Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, MS, and Schizophrenia. The goal is to train physician-scientists who can lead trials that are inclusive, community-oriented, and impactful for patients who are often left out of research.”
The Winn Awards program was founded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation in 2020. Since then, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Genentech have all joined the Winn Awards as funding partners, ensuring the program can continue its mission of promoting clinical research that reaches all patient populations.
Interested investigators are encouraged to submit applications by May 4, 2026. Questions about eligibility or application guidance can be sent at any time to winncda@vcu.edu, and the Winn CDA team is happy to provide tips and assistance to prospective applicants.
For more information about the Winn CDA program, eligibility, and application instructions, visit https://winnawards.org/winn-cda/ or contact winncda@vcu.edu.
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Since its inception in 2020, the Winn CDA program has provided hundreds of early-stage physician-scientists with a rigorous two-year curriculum designed to improve the clinical research landscape by strengthening community engagement. Scholars receive a two-year, $240,000 award intended to protect 40% of their time for the work of the program, which supports their efforts to conduct clinical trials that are scientifically rigorous and representative of the patient populations impacted by the condition being studied.
In the past, the program’s research areas have included cancer, as well as cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease. With this expansion, the Winn CDA program now supports early-stage investigator physicians working in neuropsychiatry.
"Clinical researchers in neuropsychiatry are making outstanding progress in understanding complex disorders, however, as in many other areas, the challenges of representative clinical trial enrollment persist," said Megan Becker, Executive Director of Winn CDA. “The Winn Awards program is committed to ensuring that research benefits all communities, so every patient has the opportunity to benefit from advances in neuropsychiatric medicine.”
“We are excited to encourage a robust group of neuropsychiatry researchers to apply for Cohort 6,” said Ali Gemma, Program Director, Winn CDA. “We are particularly interested in applicants whose research focuses on Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, MS, and Schizophrenia. The goal is to train physician-scientists who can lead trials that are inclusive, community-oriented, and impactful for patients who are often left out of research.”
The Winn Awards program was founded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation in 2020. Since then, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Genentech have all joined the Winn Awards as funding partners, ensuring the program can continue its mission of promoting clinical research that reaches all patient populations.
Interested investigators are encouraged to submit applications by May 4, 2026. Questions about eligibility or application guidance can be sent at any time to winncda@vcu.edu, and the Winn CDA team is happy to provide tips and assistance to prospective applicants.
For more information about the Winn CDA program, eligibility, and application instructions, visit https://winnawards.org/winn-cda/ or contact winncda@vcu.edu.
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