The 2026 SGJIA application period is now OPEN.
All applications must be received by 4:00pm EST February 16, 2026.
Please email Mary Miller at marym@isbd.org with any questions.
To honor Samuel Gershon's vision to advance research in psychiatry, we will accept applications for this award from any individual engaged in the pursuit of understanding and improving outcomes for bipolar disorder.
Eligible applicants must:
Applicants from around the world, irrespective of age, nationality, sex, or race are encouraged to apply.
Winners from previous years are NOT eligible to apply.
New for 2026 - you may apply for either the Samuel Gershon Junior Investigator Awards OR the EMC Travel Awards, but not both. Individuals who submit applications for both awards will not be considered for either.
Developing Country Criteria
In order to promote research interest in bipolar disorder in developing countries, two of the awards will be reserved for those from low and middle-income countries, as defined by the current year World Bank Classification. You can find the current list here
In order for your application to qualify as a developing country submission, a statement from an advisor/mentor certifying that the research was conducted in a developing country must be submitted with your application. This statement can be included in the letter of support as requested in the Application Instructions.
A manuscript focused on a key aspect of bipolar disorders must be included in the application package. The manuscript should be based on original work that has not been published elsewhere and demonstrates a significant contribution from the author submitting for this award (reflected by first/last authorship on the paper). Papers can be submitted or under review but cannot be published. The paper should be submitted as an article formatted for publication according to style guidelines of Bipolar Disorders.
Paper will be accepted in the following categories:
Review Articles: These papers provide a timely and useful synthesis of a topic within psychiatry. They may have a clinical and/or research focus.
Original Articles: These are papers that report original high-quality research. Examples include articles illustrating novel findings, innovation and clinical trials.
| Article Type | Max Word Count | Max # or references | Abstract/Keywords |
| Review Article | 4000-7500 | 100 | Yes |
| Original Article | 5000 | 50 | Yes |
This information was taken directly from the Bipolar Disorders website. For more information, click here.
IMPORTANT- The BDJ manuscript format guidelines are used to provide consistency across all SGJIA applications. The manuscript that is submitted for the SGJIA will NOT be published in BDJ as part of the award process. All authors must independently and separately submit their manuscript to BDJ should they wish it to be considered for publication. The SGJIA application and/or review process has no influence on any future BDJ submissions and/or reviews.
Winners will be notified in May 2026. All winners will be expected to attend the 28th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders taking place September 28-30, 2025, in Vancouver, Canada.
Please contact Mary Miller, MSW, ISBD Program Manager at marym@isbd.org.