Latest News

A Call for Investigator-Initiated Seed Grants in Healthcare Innovation—Deadline: May 15, 2013

 

The Emory-Georgia Tech Healthcare Innovation Program (HIP), in partnership with the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute (ACTSI), Georgia State University (GSU), and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s) is pleased to announce the fourth round of research seed grants in Healthcare Innovation. Seed grants will fund multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary teams examining healthcare services and clinical effectiveness. Awards will support innovative approaches that address issues of healthcare quality, costs, and/or access that are consistent with the goals of the HIP.

PROPOSALS

  • Categories: Two categories of grants will be considered; Preliminary Study Grants and Complete Project Grants. As outlined below, each category has different requirements and funding levels.
  • Topics: Research studies in health services and clinical effectiveness will be considered involving adult and/or pediatric patients.
  • Applicants: A major goal of the Seed Grant Program is to stimulate collaboration across disciplines and organizational units. Therefore, each proposal must include:

       -a minimum of two faculty investigators from different academic units (e.g., schools or departments) at Emory, Georgia Tech, Morehouse School of Medicine(MSM), and/or GSU;

       -at least one medical or nursing staff member at Emory Healthcare, Children’s, Grady, and/or the Atlanta VAMC. The hospital staff member may be represented by one of the university faculty.

PRELIMINARY STUDY GRANTS

  • Purpose: To enable investigators to generate preliminary data that facilitates either:

        - a subsequent submission of health services research grants for external funding from Emory, Georgia Tech, MSM, GSU, and/or Children’s; or

        - a clinical effectiveness study at Emory Healthcare, Children’s, Grady, and/or the Atlanta VAMC

  • Applications: Should include the questions to be addressed, methods to be used, data sources, and how the study results will lead to subsequent external sponsorship or a clinical effectiveness study
  • Funding: Preliminary Study Grants may be provided for up to $25,000 for no more than one year.

COMPLETE PROJECT GRANTS

  • Purpose: To enable investigators to answer specific questions addressing either:

        - healthcare quality, cost and/or access; or

        - clinical effectiveness at Emory Healthcare, Children’s, Grady, and/or the Atlanta VAMC

  • Applications: Should include the questions to be addressed, methods to be used, data sources, and how the study will answer the questions being addressed
  • Funding: Complete Project Grants may be funded up to $25,000/year for no more than two years.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
The major criteria for evaluation by the review committee will be the potential innovation and impact of the proposed studies. The following criteria also will be included in the review committee’s assessment:

  • the extent of inter-disciplinary and inter-organizational collaboration;
  • the potential for subsequent extramural funding; and
  • cost effectiveness and availability of any additional support/matching funds.

FUNDING INFORMATION

  • Funds may be used for data collection and analysis, lab supplies, and student/postdoc/technical support that are directly related to the conduct of the research. Salary support for university faculty or hospital medical/nursing staff is not appropriate. Costs typically not allowed on federal grants (those that require CAS exceptions) are also not appropriate.
  • The review committee reserves the right to make adjustments to the budgets of funded projects based on the total funds available.
  • Any publications arising from a grant funded by this program is required to acknowledge the HIP and the ACTSI as a funding source.
  • IRB approval (when appropriate) is necessary before funding can commence.

DEADLINES
A letter of intent with the title of the project, the names of investigators, and the proposed total budget must be emailed no later than May 1, 2013 to Maryam Carn, HIP Program Coordinator (maryam.carn@emory.edu). The application submission date is May 15, 2013.

PROPOSAL FORMAT
The technical aspect of the proposal cannot exceed five (5) pages and all submissions should include the following sections: (Please refer to the attached appendix for additional detailed proposal guidelines.)

  1. a brief introduction outlining the general issues to be examined;
  2. the questions to be addressed by the proposed research with specific aims;
  3. a brief description of proposed study methodology including data sources;
  4. the anticipated results of the study; and
  5. a budget with uses, justifications, and any other sources of support or available funds.
  • For Preliminary Study Grants: a brief discussion should be provided about how the study results will lead to subsequent external sponsorship or a clinical effectiveness study
  • For Complete Project Grants: a brief discussion should be provided about how the study results will answer the questions being addressed

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS AND QUESTIONS
Technical questions regarding seed grant proposals may be addressed to Maryam Carn (maryam.carn@emory.edu) or Linda Burr (lburr@emory.edu). Proposals must be submitted via email by 5:00 p.m., May 15, 2013 to Ms. Carn.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES APPENDIX

Application should include:

  1. Cover page with the following information:

            a) Type of research application (T1 – T4) click here for more information

            b) Title of project

            c) Applicant Name(s), titles, email addresses

            d) Department, institution

            e) Requested award amount (direct costs)

      2. Abstract

      3. Biosketches of all key personnel (must include eRA Commons Username)

      4. All applications must include the NIH PHS 398 Budget Form with justification. (Funds may be used for data collection and analysis, research lab supplies, and student/postdoc/technical support that are directly related to the conduct of the research. Salary support for university faculty, hospital medical/nursing staff, or administrative support is not appropriate.) All federal and university rules and regulations regarding the administration of grants apply to these funds. Costs subject to CAS approval, such as computers, general purpose equipment, office supplies and the like, may not be charged to this award.

      5. Application must provide a statement on Human Subjects Protection, as outlined in the PHS 398 instructions (if applicable).

Additional information to be included in the RFA:

  1. Applicant must be able to provide the following items within 60 days from notice of award (if relevant):

           a) IRB approval letter

           b) Approved protocol

           c) IACUC approval

           d) Any additional relevant certifications (CITI, etc.)

      2. If Human Embryonic Stem Cells are being used, the applicant must include the registration number of the cell lines.

      3. Applicants must acknowledge ACTSI support (citation provided within NOA).

      4. ACTSI will rescind pilot funding of applicants whose relevant certifications have not been provided to ACTSI within the first six (6) months of the project. Exceptions may apply if the ACTSI Pilot Grants Program Director has given approval.

PROGRESS TRACKING AND REPORTING
All pilot awardees are required to submit a progress report for their pilot projects. The reporting requirements will depend on the award mechanism or program. The progress report deadline is 60 days past the award period end. Failure to submit a timely progress report will result in exclusion from other award opportunities from ACTSI.