The Surgical Infection Society Foundation for Education and Research primarily funds investigator-driven clinical and translational research on surgical infections and related perioperative topics, channeling mid-sized awards to surgeon-scientists at academic medical centers. Grants are awarded to individual investigators or research teams at universities and medical centers across the U.S., supporting specific medical research projects rather than broad operational support.
A defining feature of the Surgical Infection Society Foundation for Education and Research is its repeated support for investigator-led medical research at the same academic institutions across multiple years. The foundation backs surgical infection studies and related perioperative infectious complications through project-specific awards, with recent grants concentrated at universities and medical centers rather than to individuals or operating support. One recurring award went to Ohio State University for Anahita Jalilvand MD PhD in both 2024 and 2025, showing a multi-year relationship with the same investigator and institution. Another recent award supported the University of Louisville for Christie Buonpane MD in 2025, reflecting the foundation’s emphasis on surgeon-scientists working within academic medical centers. The grantmaking pattern centers on clinical and translational research tied to infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and surgical outcomes. Awards are issued in a uniform amount in the recent record, and the recipient list shows grants flowing to university-based research programs in several states across the U.S. The foundation’s work is narrowly oriented toward surgical infection research rather than broad health philanthropy, with support directed to specific studies and investigator awards.
The foundation’s core focus is clinical and translational research on surgical site infections and perioperative infectious complications. In 2024, it awarded $35,000 to the Univ of Texas Health Science Center for Krislynn M Mueck MD Mph, a project-based grant tied to medical research. The same amount supported Vanderbilt Univ Med Ctr for Irving Zamora MD in 2023, again through a research award rather than general support. Another strand of its giving reaches early-career surgeon-scientists and investigator awards. Western Michigan University received $35,000 for Adil Akkouch Ms Phd in both 2023 and 2024, indicating support for continuing research activity at the same institution. The foundation also funds university-based surgical research programs at academic medical centers, as shown by its support for Ohio State University for Anahita Jalilvand MD PhD in 2024 and 2025.
$100K
$3.2M
$344K
$163K
Most grants fall between $35K and $35K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$35K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$35K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MI.
PHILIP S BARIE
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Concentrated, project-based support: a small number of mid-sized grants ($30k–$70k) to academic investigators, with some repeat funding to prior awardees; distributed geographically across U.S. medical schools rather than focused on a single region.
Notable grantees: Western Michigan University — Adil Akkouch, The Ohio State University — Anahita Jalilvand, University of Louisville — Christie Buonpane, Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Irving Zamora, UT Health Science Center — Krislynn M. Mueck / Lillian Kao
Recent grants are uniform: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are all $35,000, with one recent award at $30,000. That points to a tightly standardized grant size rather than a wide range of award levels. The recent list also shows repeat support across years, including the same investigator at Ohio State University in 2024 and 2025 and the same Western Michigan University researcher in 2023 and 2024. The foundation does not fund individuals directly; grants go to universities and medical centers. It operates as a research grantmaker, with project-based support for peer-reviewed medical studies rather than unrestricted operating grants.
Grant recipients are entirely in the U.S., and the giving footprint is regional rather than national in practice. Ohio is the top state by grant count, helped by repeated awards to Ohio State University in Columbus. Other recipient cities in the recent record include Louisville, Kalamazoo, Houston, and Nashville. No grants in the recent set went to recipients in New York, despite the foundation’s East Northport headquarters. The recipient country distribution shows 8 grants, all in the United States.
It supports investigator-driven clinical and translational research on surgical infections, including surgical site infections and perioperative infectious complications. Recent awards also align with infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship in surgery.
The recent grant pattern is highly standardized at $35,000: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are all $35,000. One recent award was $30,000.
No. The foundation’s recent grants go to universities and medical centers, with awards attached to named investigators or research teams rather than to individuals as direct recipients.
Yes. Ohio State University received grants for Anahita Jalilvand MD PhD in both 2024 and 2025, and Western Michigan University received grants for Adil Akkouch Ms Phd in both 2023 and 2024.
Recent grants are all in the United States. Ohio is the top state by grant count, with repeated awards in Columbus, and other recipient cities include Louisville, Kalamazoo, Houston, and Nashville.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY-ANAHITA JALILVAND MD PHD | COLUMBUS, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE- CHRISTIE BUONPANE MD | LOUISVILLE, KY | $35,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIV OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER- LILLIAN KAO MD | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY- ADIL AKKOUCH MS PHD | KALAMAZOO, MI | $35,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIV OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER- KRISLYNN M MUECK MD MPH | HOUSTON, TX | $35,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY-ANAHITA JALILVAND MD PHD | COLUMBUS, OH | $35,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH |
| WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY- ADIL AKKOUCH MS PHD | KALAMAZOO, MI | $35,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH |
| VANDERBILT UNIV MED CTR- IRVING ZAMORA MD | NASHVILLE, TN | $35,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH |
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY-ANAHITA JALILVAND MD PHD
$35,000MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH
MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIV OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER- LILLIAN KAO MD
$30,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIV OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER- KRISLYNN M MUECK MD MPH
$35,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY-ANAHITA JALILVAND MD PHD
MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH
MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH
MEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCHMEDICAL RESEARCH