Request for Applications: UCLA RCMAR CHIME & UCLA CTSI Pilot Study Awards 2020-21

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UCLA – Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research Center for Health Improvement of Minority Elderly (RCMAR/CHIME) and UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Pilot Project Award 2020-21

Applications are being accepted for one-year Pilot-Project Awards of up to $45,000 for the project period 07/01/2020 – 06/30/2021

Who Should Apply: Applications are being accepted from under-represented minority junior- and mid-level faculty and post-doctoral researchers. Applicants are required to have a faculty appointment between 07/01/2020 – 6/30/2021 at UCLA or at another academic institution/organization in the greater Los Angeles area. Applicants that are funded will conduct a pilot research project that focuses on minority older adult populations.

Funding Amount Available: Three (3) one-year pilot project awards are available. The maximum funding available per pilot project is $45,000: up to $25,000 from the RCMAR/CHIME (NIH/NIA Grant #P30AG021684) and up to $20,000 from the CTSI (NIH/NCATS Grant #UL1TR001881). The maximum funding available per pilot includes indirect costs; however, we strongly encourage applicants to inquire within their institutions regarding waiving this cost.

Focus of Pilot Projects: Support will be given to pilot research projects that are consistent with the goal of the RCMAR/CHIME: to provide research training and mentoring to under-represented minority junior- and midlevel faculty so they can advance their academic careers by conducting research that contributes to the reduction of health disparities affecting minority elders. Previously funded pilot projects involved primary data collection and/or secondary data analysis and addressed disparities in the healthcare of minority elders. Ideally, pilot projects should demonstrate effective inter-institutional and/or academic-community partnerships and lead to the publication of at least one first-authored, peer-reviewed manuscript plus subsequent funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), particularly the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Note: We do not fund pilot projects focused on basic science or clinical research (a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use).

Pilot project recipients will become RCMAR/CHIME scientists and will benefit from the mentorship of RCMAR/CHIME affiliated faculty. During the year of their pilot award RCMAR/CHIME scientists are expected to attend monthly Monday afternoon meetings that include a methodological seminar and a works in progress session. These meetings are held on the third Monday afternoon each month. RCMAR/CHIME scientists get feedback on their project and grant applications during these meetings. RCMAR/CHIME scientists may also be selected to present their work at biannual Scientific Retreats and the RCMAR Annual Investigators National Meeting, which provides an excellent opportunity for networking and obtaining feedback on projects and career advice. The RCMAR/CHIME also provides strong support and guidance to scientists conducting community based participatory research in the Los Angeles area.

Application Timeline:

1. By 12pm noon December 2, 2019, applicants must submit an online application on the RCMAR/CHIME website – https://chime.med.ucla.edu/apply – and upload the required supporting documents (see page 2 for required documents).

2. By December 20, 2019, candidates will be notified if they have been selected to prepare and submit a full proposal and supporting documents.

3. By February 17, 2020, selected candidates must submit the full proposal with supporting documents including a six-page, single-spaced research plan and detailed budgets and other requested documents.

4. By March 16, 2020, selected candidates must meet with RCMAR/CHIME Program Directors for an inperson interview.

5. Applicants whose proposals are selected for funding will be notified as soon as possible (April 2020). The full proposals and supporting documents will be forwarded to the NIH/NIA for final approval. The award will be disbursed after July 1, 2020.

Application Submission and Required Documents: Applicants must complete and submit the following required documents by 12pm noon Monday, December 2, 2019:

1. Complete the required online application form on the RCMAR/CHIME website https://chime.med.ucla.edu/apply and

2. Upload the following required documents as Microsoft Word files on the RCMAR/CHIME website https://chime.med.ucla.edu/apply

A. A synopsis describing the proposed pilot project. The synopsis must be single-spaced in Arial font with 11-point typeface, one-inch margins, on 8.5”x11”-size paper, limited to a maximum of two pages and must include: i. Title of project; ii. Description of proposed pilot project including brief description of the design and data to be collected or used in the pilot project; iii. A specific statement about how the proposed pilot project is related to the RCMAR goal of supporting minority junior- and mid-level faculty and post-doctoral fellows who can advance their academic and research careers by conducting a pilot research project that contributes to the reduction of health disparities affecting minority elders; iv. A brief timeline that documents the feasibility of completing the pilot project in one year; v. A specific statement about how this pilot project will inform the applicant’s future research and how it will lead to larger funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or another agency; vi. A description of the applicant and their role on the project; and vii. Proposed mentor(s) and a statement about their involvement and the role they will play in conducting the pilot project. It is strongly encouraged that at least one mentor on the team is affiliated with RCMAR CHIME. Please contact us to help make this connection with a RCMAR CHIME affiliated faculty or alumni.

B. Applicant’s NIH Biosketch in the current format.

C. All Mentors’ and/or senior key personnels’ NIH Biosketches in the current format.

D. Institutional Letter of Support. You must submit an institutional letter of support from either your department chair or division chief confirming that you will have a junior- or mid-level faculty or postdoctoral fellow appointment for the duration of the full pilot period (07/01/2020 – 06/30/2021) and adequate protected time during that period to conduct your proposed pilot project.

Please contact Cristina Punzalan or Art Gongora at rcmarchime@mednet.ucla.edu with any questions.

For more information about the RCMAR/CHIME and the UCLA CTSI visit https://chime.med.ucla.edu/ and https://www.ctsi.ucla.edu/.