Research
In 2001, investigators engaging in health disparities work on campus at UNC-Chapel Hill recognized the diverse and extensive nature of health disparities research and initiated the campus-wide Program on Ethnicity, Culture and Health Outcomes (ECHO). ECHO believes one of its key aims should be to facilitate the conduct and development of new research by supporting the career development of young researchers interested in health disparities.
In support of this mission, the pilot award program was developed. The program began with 2-3 small pilot awards to junior faculty and has evolved into an annual call for proposals that supports multiple, high quality pilot projects led by junior faculty across the state of North Carolina. There have been 38 ECHO pilot grants awarded since its inception in 2002 for a total funding amount of $411,116. Since the founding of the pilot program, there have been 13 pilot grants awarded to Historical Minority Institution (HMI) faculty for a total funding amount of $109,680. There have been 25 pilot grants awarded to UNC-CH faculty for a total funding amount of $301,436.
Furthermore, ECHO is also fully committed to the importance of research partnerships and collaboration. ECHO facilitates inter-institutional research partnerships and collaborative activities (e.g. seminars, workshops, and conferences) to develop new, and to sustain existing health disparities research initiatives.
