Pilot Grants

Doctoral Student Pilot Grant RFA

Project Duration: 12 months

CHET announces an opportunity for University of Kentucky doctoral students for pilot funding to support meritorious projects that focus on identifying, reducing, and/or eliminating health disparities. All applications must address how the pilot project will (1) directly contribute to addressing health disparities for a vulnerable population and (2) advance the student’s research prospects in terms of publications, pursuit of extramural grant support, and/or job market competitiveness as a researcher who addresses health disparities. A faculty advisor is required for project oversight. Eligibility is limited to current doctoral students in any college at UK. Additional funding is available for doctoral students from the College of Arts and Sciences, so applications from that College are particularly encouraged. Pilot award winners may be asked to present their research at a future CHET event. We anticipate that three to four applications requesting $5,000-10,000 will be awarded for a period of 12 months, with a 1/16/2025 earliest start date. Specific number of awards made in this round of funding will be based on the amount of funding requested and the meritoriousness of applications received. IRB approval, if appropriate, will be required prior to funds being released. The pilot awards are open to doctoral student researchers focused on any vulnerable group or population affected by health disparities. Applications that align with UK’s health disparities research priority areas are encouraged (i.e., Substance Use, Cancer, Diabetes & Obesity, Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular/Neurological, and UNITE). However, other health disparity research topics are also appropriate for this application.

Applications will be accepted through the online form HERE. Applications must be single-spaced, at least 11-point font, and adhere to standard grant 1/2-inch margins. Proposal submission through OSPA is not required. Applications must include the following information uploaded as one PDF file through the online application. Please name the file as [Student Last name]_[Faculty Last name]_DSPilot.pdf

CHET Pilot Grant Cover Page (to be filled out online)

NIH or NSF-style biosketch for applicant (5 page limit) (see proposal resources for guidance on creating a biosketch)

Faculty advisor is required to submit:

Letter of support (1 page). As part of this letter please include departmental statement of support for pilot activities and contact information for departmental budget officer who will assist with post-award activities

NIH or NSF-style biosketch (5 page limit)

Budget and budget justification (1 page)

Include specific justifications for each budget item or category.

If not supported by an assistantship or fellowship for the entire duration of the 12-month award period, graduate or professional student stipends ($400 week maximum) are allowed with strong justification. Tuition is not an allowable expense.

Only travel costs necessary for the carrying out the aims of the research are allowable (e.g., conference travel is not an allowable expense).

Purchase of equipment is allowable with strong justification.

Publication costs are allowed for work stemming from the pilot research project.

Abstract (300 words or less)

Specific Aims (1 page)

Research plan (2 pages)

The research plan should include a clear description of the research project. The research plan should provide an overview of what is being determined, why this research is important, implications for addressing health disparities, outline the methodological approach, and articulate research products. It is suggested that the research plan include the following:

Significance, innovation, and approach including the implications of the pilot study for addressing health disparities.

Anticipated scholarly products, future research trajectory, and how the pilot helps the student with career development as a researcher who addresses health disparities (e.g., presentations, publications, future grant applications, award applications, etc.).

Timeline (1/2 page)

Include a timeline with milestones for accomplishments described in the research plan including deliverables. The timeline should span 1/16/25 through 12/31/25.

References (no page limit)

Letter(s) of support (Optional, 2-3 max, 1 page each max) (e.g., community partners, consultants, data or facilities access needed to complete study).

Reporting Requirements: All publications, presentations, and other creative activities resulting from this award must include the following acknowledgement: “Funding was provided, in part, by the Center for Health, Engagement, and Transformation (CHET) at the University of Kentucky.”

One (1) page final report due no later than April 1, 2026, detailing study enrollment, results, dissemination, and plans for future funding. In addition, recipients are expected to be responsive to ongoing contact from the CHET to assess progress and outcomes from the award.

Application deadlines and key dates:

Applications due: November 8, 2024

Selected Applicants notified: Mid December, 2024

Project period: 12 months from project start date (project start date dependent on IRB approval and disbursement of funds, but must be no later than 1/16/2025).

Please address specific application questions to Shyanika Rose, PhD, MA (s.rose@uky.edu).

Review Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by the CHET Research Committee as well as by selected external reviewers. Scoring of proposals will be based on the standard NIH 9-point scoring system (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/review/rev_prep/scoring.htm). Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Significance: (i.e., Does the project address an important problem or critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the study have potential to generate knowledge relevant to addressing health disparities?)
Innovation: (i.e., Does the proposal utilize novel theoretical concepts, approaches, methodologies, instrumentation or apply existing concepts to new populations or problems?)
Approach: (i.e., Are the intended research activities well-described and likely to be feasible? Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are study limitations acknowledged/addressed?)
Investigator(s): (i.e., Does the PI have the potential to be an investigator in the area of health disparities research?, Does the PI/faculty advisor have the required expertise and experience to conduct the proposed research study?)
Evidence of future research and funding potential: (i.e., Does the proposed research show clear evidence of future potential in research to address health disparities)?

The review committee will also assess whether the proposed budget and timeline are appropriate for the scope and nature of the project and whether there are any human subjects' considerations that may affect study implementation.