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Award Categories/Descriptions and Criteria

2025 MHSRS Awards

  • Distinguished Service Award
    • Recognizes individuals who, over the years, have contributed significantly to the success of military medical research as it impacts the (deployed) warfighter.
    • This individual's research/research support contributions should reach back over a career or series of years.
    • "Contributions" can be interpreted broadly. However, they should:
      • Be directly linked to improvements in the health, well-being, injury treatment and/or recovery of the (deployed) warfighter.
      • Have promoted the visibility and importance of DoD-sponsored medical research.
      • Have demonstrated impact beyond the Department of Defense.
    • Submit the nomination narrative in a paragraph (not bullet) format, not to exceed the stated character limit. In the narrative:
      • Succinctly state the individual's impact and any supporting medical research accomplishment(s).
      • Provide a time frame for the accomplishments/impact cited in the narrative.
      • Note the source(s) of research funding.
    • Eligibility:
      • Senior U.S. Active Duty military, federal government civilians, academia, international partners.
      • Industry and Contractors are not eligible for this award.
  • Outstanding Research Accomplishment (Individual)
    • Recognizes outstanding medical research contributions by an individual research scientist with the focus on significant accomplishment(s) of high impact achieved since the 2024 MHSRS abstract deadline (since February 2024).
      • The high impact accomplishment must be (deployed) warfighter-related and fit into one of the 2025 abstract submission categories.
      • Research must have been supported in part by Department of Defense or Congressional Special Interest funding.
      • Submissions by international partners and supported by their government will be accepted.
      • The research supporting the accomplishment can reach back five years, but the impact of the research must have been realized since February 2024.
        • Non-research accomplishments will not be considered.
      • Submit the nomination narrative in a paragraph (not bullet) format, not to exceed the stated character limit. In the narrative:
        • Succinctly state the high impact and supporting medical research accomplishment(s).
        • Provide supporting evidence of the impact/significance of the accomplishment (e.g., publication of the data in a high impact journal, contribution to/adoption as a new clinical practice guideline, etc.)
        • Describe how previous research contributed to the high impact accomplishment(s).
        • Provide a time frame for the accomplishments/impact cited in the narrative.
        • Note the source(s) of funding.
    • Eligibility:
      • U.S. Active Duty military, federal government civilians, academia, international partners.
      • Industry and Contractors are not eligible for this award.
  • Outstanding Research Accomplishment (Team)
    • Recognizes outstanding medical research contributions by a team of research scientists with a focus on significant accomplishment(s) of high impact achieved since the 2024 MHSRS abstract deadline (since February 2024).
      • The high impact accomplishment must be (deployed) warfighter-related and fit into one of the 2025 abstract submission categories.
      • Research must have been supported in part by Department of Defense or Congressional Special Interest funding.
      • Submissions by international partners and supported by their government will be accepted.
      • The research supporting the accomplishment can reach back five years, but the impact of the research must have been realized since February 2024.
        • Non-research accomplishments will not be considered.
      • The award is focused on advancements in basic or applied research. The nomination can focus on research associated with materiel products, knowledge products, or both.
      • Submit the nomination narrative in a paragraph (not bullet) format, not to exceed the stated character limit. In the narrative:
        • Succinctly state the high impact and supporting medical research accomplishment(s).
        • Provide supporting evidence of the impact/significance of the accomplishment (e.g., publication of the data in a high impact journal, contribution to/adoption as a new clinical practice guideline, etc.)
        • Describe how previous research contributed to the high impact accomplishment(s).
        • If multiple teams are involved (e.g., from different organizations), note how the work of each contributed to the overall accomplishment.
        • Provide a time frame for the accomplishments/impact cited in the narrative.
        • Note the source(s) of funding.
    • Eligibility
      • Teams can be intramural (within the government), extramural (government funded academic and/or industry research, collaborations with international partners) or combination of both, with favorable consideration being given to an integrated approach.
        • There is no maximum team member number, but the team members should be restricted to the major contributors.
        • U.S. Active Duty military, federal government civilians, contractors, academic, industry and international partners are eligible as team members.
        • Industry and Contractors are not eligible as team leads for this award.
      • Mandatory Attachment
        • List of team members who are major contributors to the accomplishment, their organization and e-mail addresses. DO NOT submit a list of 100+ names as team members. The list should be restricted to key players.
        • Nominations not including a list of team members, their organization, and their email addresses will be eliminated from consideration.
  • Outstanding Program Management (Team)
    • Recognizes outstanding medical product Program Management (PM) with a focus on significant accomplishment(s) of high impact achieved since the 2024 MHSRS abstract deadline (since February 2024).
      • This award is focused on the program management of mature research and development efforts by addressing and minimizing developmental risks, managing cost, schedule, and performance, and adhering to all applicable regulatory requirements. The goal is the fielding/delivery of a product to the (deployed) warfighter that contributes to filling a military medical capability gap.
      • This award is not focused on advancements in basic or applied research. It applies to programs in Advanced Technology Development that are scheduled to transition, or which have transitioned to a Service or Component Project Management Office, and projects currently managed by a Service or Component Project Management Office.
    • The high impact accomplishment(s) must be (deployed) warfighter-related and fit into one of the 2025 abstract submission categories.
    • Efforts must have been supported in part by Department of Defense or Congressional Special Interest funding.
    • Submissions by international partners and supported by their government will be accepted.
    • The product development effort supporting the accomplishment can reach back over a several years, but the impact must have been realized since February 2024.
    • Submit the nomination narrative in a paragraph (not bullet) format, not to exceed the stated character limit. In the narrative:
      • Succinctly state the accomplishment and its impact.
      • Provide supporting evidence/significance of the accomplishment (e.g., completion of Phase 2 clinical trials, Food and Drug Administration clearance/approval, filling a capability gap, fielding by the military, industry partner commercialization).
      • Describe how previous efforts contributed to the accomplishment.
      • Provide a time frame for the accomplishments/impact cited in the narrative.
      • Note the source(s) of funding.
      • Note the team composition and their contribution to the accomplishment (Product managers, S&T researchers, regulatory personnel, etc.)
    • Eligibility
      • Teams can be intramural (within the government), extramural (government funded academic and/or industry research, collaborations with international partners) or combination of both, with favorable consideration being given to an integrated approach.
        • There is no maximum team member number, but the team members should be restricted to the major contributors.
        • U.S. Active Duty military, federal government civilians, contractors, academia, industry and international partners are eligible as team members.
        • Industry and Contractors are not eligible as team leads for this award.
      • Mandatory Attachments
        • List of team members who are major contributors to the accomplishment, their organization and e-mail addresses. DO NOT submit a list of 100+ names as team members. The list should be restricted to key players.
        • Nominations not including a list of team members, their organization, and their email addresses will be eliminated from consideration.
  • Warfighter Medical Research Public Communication Award
    • This award is presented to recognize an individual who has made a major contribution to broadening the general public's awareness of Department of Defense-sponsored Warfighter-related medical research through any aspect of public communications. Entries are judged on scientific accuracy, initiative, originality, clarity of interpretation and value in fostering a better understanding of Warfighter-related medical research by non-science audiences.
      • The focus is on communications since the 2024 MHSRS abstract deadline (since February 2024).
      • The communication must be in English.
      • The content must encompass one or more of the four MHSRS focus areas - Warfighter Readiness, Expeditionary Medicine, Warfighter Performance and Return to Duty.
      • Eligible: Examples of nominated communications may be brochures, continuing education courses, databases, extension bulletins, magazines, newspapers (local or national), public presentations, public forums, radio and television scripts, reports, or public workshops.
      • Not eligible: Books, studies from scientific journals, blogs, or videos on websites or YouTube and social media.
      • Research cited in the communication must have been supported in part by Department of Defense or Congressional Special Interest funding.
      • Submissions by international partners and supported by their government are also acceptable.
    • Submit the nomination narrative in a paragraph (not bullet) format, not to exceed the stated word limit.
      • Succinctly state the communication and a brief description of the topic, date of release, scope of audience reached, any measurable impact, and the source of funding of the original research.
      • Only a single communication from any one individual or team is eligible. A series of articles will not be accepted; however, a single article from a series may be submitted for judging as standalone work and that series can be cited in the write-up.
      • Provide a searchable link to the communication. DO NOT provide attachments to the package. They will not be referenced by the judging panel.
    • Eligibility:
      • U.S. Active-Duty military, federal government civilian, and members of academia executing government funded research and international partners are eligible for this award.
      • Contractors publishing through their companies and industry organizations are not eligible for this award