2021 Pilot Study Funding Opportunity
The University of Washington Implementation Science Program invites pilot study applications for funding up to $50,000 to stimulate interdisciplinary research on adopting and integrating evidence-based health interventions into public health, clinical practice, and community settings (e.g., workplace, school, place of worship).
Goals:
- To support pilot studies that will generate preliminary data for larger, extramural grant applications, and
- To support new collaborations that spark creativity and innovation in implementation science.
Responsive applications identify a know-do gap; address an implementation research question; use an implementation research theory, model, or framework; and employ an appropriate study design. Examples of relevant research topics include, but are not limited to:
- Studies of strategies to implement health promotion, prevention, screening, early detection, and diagnostic interventions, as well as effective treatments, clinical procedures or guidelines into existing care systems.
- Studies of the local adaptation of evidence-based practices in the context of implementation.
- Longitudinal and follow-up studies on the factors that contribute to the sustainability of evidence-based interventions in public health and clinical practice.
- Studies on reducing or stopping ("de-implementing") the use of clinical and community practices that are ineffective, unproven, low-value, or harmful.
- Studies of the relationship of context and local capacity of clinical and community settings to adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based practices.
- Prospective or retrospective studies of the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of health policies and their interaction with programs and contextual factors.
- Studies of strategies to impact organizational structure, climate, culture, and processes to enable dissemination and implementation of clinical/public health information and effective clinical/public health interventions.
- Development of valid and reliable D&I-relevant outcome and process measures.
Applications that focus exclusively or primarily on intervention development and evaluation will not be considered responsive. Submission instructions can be found below.
Request for Applications Timeline
Application Format
Applications must meet the following standards:
- Submitted as a single PDF file
- Paper size no larger than standard letter (i.e., 8" x 11")
- Margins of at least 0.5 inch (top, bottom, left and right)
- Single-spaced
- Eleven-point font or larger using either Arial or Times New Roman
- Smaller text in figures, graphs, diagrams and charts is acceptable as long as it is legible when the page is viewed at 100%
- We do not require a specific citation style but please use a single style consistently throughout the application
Each application must contain the following sections:
Completed cover sheet
- Project title, total budget, applicant names
Abstract
- 250 word limit
Research Plan
- Total of 3 pages, excluding references
- Specific Aims: 0.5 page limit
- Background and Significance: 1 page limit
- Methods: 1.5 pages limit
Research team, timeline and future plans
- 1 page limit
- Describe qualifications and roles of each team member, new collaborations formed and provide a timeline for the proposed work, and describe how the work will support a future grant application to federal or foundation funders.
Budget, budget justification and potential matching funds
- 1 page limit
Letters of Support:
- Letters of Support are not required, but will be accepted
- Limit of two
Review Criteria
- NIH criteria and scoring (Significance, Approach, Innovation, Investigator, Environment)
- Potential to lead to future funding (low, moderate, high)
- New collaboration (Y/N)
Post Award Requirements
- Presentation of study findings in all collaborating schools/departments
- Final report of spent funds including receipts (due dates will be communicated at the time of award)
- Visual documentation of before/after award (photos, videos, other visual communication materials if applicable)
- 2-3 sentence narrative summary of the project and two paragraph, lay-friendly description of the project, results, and next steps
- Permission to use photos/videos, project summary, and results summary on UW IS Resource Hub
- All post-award requirements to be completed within the period of performance
Submission Instructions
Submit all application materials as one PDF file to UWImpSci@uw.edu, no later than May 1, 2021 at 11:59 pm PDT
Eligibility Requirements
- Application principal investigator must be a current member of the UW faculty or a PI-eligible research scientist, primary or joint in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington Seattle Campus.
- Eligible proposals must include investigators from at least 2 distinct disciplines, departments, or schools who will be able to further the work of each through the proposed collaboration.
- Examples include, but are not limited to: behavioral science, economics, epidemiology, anthropology, health services, mental health, behavioral health, nursing, social work, and global health.
Application Guidelines
- The proposed project should provide preliminary data or proof of concept needed to seek outside funding and support.
- Pilot grant applications should not be an extension of well-established, ongoing or recently funded studies or projects.
- Pilot grant applications should not be used to bridge funding for existing work.
Budget for Proposal
- Two awards of up to $50,000 in total expenses per project are available from the UW Implementation Science Program.
- A project budget may exceed $50,000 only if the Co-PIs have secured the additional funding as a match from their school/college/department (as indicated in a letter or email from the department chair).
- All allowable expenses must adhere to applicable University of Washington policies. Please contact your department’s finance lead with any questions regarding expenses.
- An Office of Sponsored Programs review is not needed prior to submitting an application.
Allowable expenses include:
- Personnel (i.e., salaries and benefits for faculty, staff and students)
- Equipment, materials, and supplies
- Travel, including air fare, transportation, and per diem lodging, meals and expenses (subject to all UW travel policies)
- Tuition for graduate students
- Other direct costs related to the project (must detail the expense and include rationale)
Unallowable expenses include:
- Indirect/overhead costs
- Patent costs
- Office supplies
- Administrative support
- Hosting expenses (e.g., receptions, alcohol)
- Marketing efforts