The purpose of this call for proposals is to encourage small-scale pilot research projects addressing racial/ethnic health disparities that can be completed within 12 -16 months and have the potential to lead to a larger federally or foundation funded award application. We are interested in a variety of research topics from ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genetic research to community-based participatory research approaches.

NOTE: This request for pilot grant applications is separate from the NC TraCS Institute Pilot Award Program.

Eligibility:

1. Principal investigator must be on faculty at one of the following institutions:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• North Carolina A&T University
• St. Augustine College
• Johnson C. Smith
• North Carolina Central University
• Fayetteville State University
• Elizabeth City State University
• Shaw University
• UNC Pembroke
• Winston Salem State University

2. Priority will be given to new investigators who have not yet been the lead investigator on a federally funded research project. All new investigators are required to have a faculty mentor for the project and a description of the mentoring relationship should be included in the grant application.

3. Senior faculty who are changing their current research focus to address racial/ethnic health disparities are also eligible for funds. The requirement to have a mentor identified may not be applicable; however, a statement describing the change in research focus to health disparities should be included.

4. Involvement of graduate students and post-doctoral students is encouraged, but the requirement that a faculty member be the PI is firm.

Budget Guidelines:

We anticipate awarding $40,000 in pilot grants this year, with 3-4 awards. Thus we anticipate that the budgets will range from $10,000 to $13,000. Projects must be completed within sixteen months. This time frame includes a lead time of 4 months to receive IRB approval and 12 months for project implementation.

Award funds may be used for data collection, mailing of surveys, analyses of any type, interventions, or for other resources necessary to complete the project. However, award funds cannot be used to pay for university overhead, clinical patient care, for the purchase of computer hardware, or investigator travel to conferences or meetings. While funds can be used to pay for a non UNC Chapel Hill faculty investigator's ‘release time' from courses, it is important to note that the award size is small and research often involves the need for surveys, supplies, analyses and support for a research assistant. Funds cannot be used for salary support of UNC-Chapel Hill faculty.

Important Dates:

Optional letter of intent deadline: up until November 04, 2009 by 5:00 pm
Full proposal deadline: January 22, 2010 by 5:00 p.m.
Proposal review: Mid-February 2010
Notification of award: Notification letters will be mailed early March 2010
Anticipated start date: end of March 2010

Guidelines for Optional Letter of Intent:

The optional letter of intent will enable early concept and methodological feedback on the proposal and will aid the ECHO program in planning the review session.

The one-page optional letter of intent should include:

• Brief rationale and significance of the project. Clearly indicate how the proposed study addresses a racial or ethnic health disparity topic;
• Specific Aims
• Summary of methods or plan of action to accomplish each aim;
• A statement on how the proposed project fulfills applicant's long range research plans in terms of application for external funding; and
• A statement on who the faculty mentor or collaborator will be and there role on the project

In addition to the contents of the letter outlined above, applicants are asked to provide a NIH Biosketch (2 pages maximum). This biosketch may be submitted on the PHS398 biosketch form. A template and sample form can be obtained within the PHS398 instruction packet at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html

If submitted, the optional letter of intent can be submitted to Randall Teal at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at any time prior to November 4, 2009 before 5:00 pm.

Guidelines for Proposal:

One electronic copy of the completed, ten page proposal will be due by 5:00 p.m. on January 22, 2010.  Your proposal must conform to the ECHO proposal template.

The proposal should include the components listed below and should not exceed 10 double-spaced pages (minimum of 1 inch margins; font size of at least 11-point):

Title Page (not included in 10 page limit):

• Project Title
• Name, professional title, department, institution, address, work telephone number(s), e-mail address and fax number
• Abstract of Proposed Research
• PI Research Biography (50 words maximum)
• Authorization from Institution's Research Official

o   If non-UNC Chapel Hill PI: Signature and contact information of Institution's Research Official or Director of Sponsored Research and department chairperson 

o   UNC Chapel Hill PI: signature and contact information of Department chairperson

Research Plan (maximum of 10 double-spaced pages)

• Specific Aims and Rationale; clearly state how the proposed study addresses a racial/ethnic health disparity issue (1 page)
• Background and Significance (about 1.5 - 2 pages)
• Research Design and Methods  (about 5-6 pages)

Study population
Data collection & measurement
Detailed analysis plan

• Summary(about 1 -2 pages)

Strengths and limitations
Significance of proposed research, including potential impact and innovation
In addition to the title page and the contents of the 10-page research plan outlined above, the following items should also be included within the proposal template:

• A list of references cited in the proposal;
• Proposed project timeline;
• Human subjects section (about 1-2 paragraphs); Although, IRB approval is not required prior to submission, briefly describe human subjects issues;
• Appendices, ONLY if necessary and must be submitted electronically;
• Budget and budget justification;
• Two-page NIH biosketch;
• Letter of support from department Chairperson  [Attention HBCU faculty: Chairperson letter should include a statement indicating approval of release time, if necessary, and any other resources that will be provided by the home department in support of research project.];
• Faculty-mentor's biosketch and letter of support, if required; and
• Additional letters of support if necessary

*NOTE: Please include all of the above items (including appendices, references, budget, budget justification, CV and faculty-mentor biosketch) within the ECHO template as one document. Items such as letters of support and the cover page will need to be scanned and copied to the template as well.

Please use the ECHO proposal checklist to make sure you submit a complete proposal.

Review Criteria:
Applications will be evaluated based on scientific merit. It is the researcher's responsibility to present the proposal in a clear and logical fashion, to make a convincing case for the significance of the work and to present sufficient detail about the research plans so that an adequate evaluation of the proposal can be made.

Included in the consideration of merit are:

1) relevance of the proposed study to racial/ethnic health disparities;

2) significance of the work;

3) soundness of the proposed methods;

4) feasibility of accomplishing the stated goals of the project within 12-16 months study period;

5) potential for contributing to or fostering further research in the area;

6) potential for leading to additional external funding; and

7) PI status as a new investigator, collaborative projects, or a senior researcher changing research focus.

Funded Investigator Responsibilities:

All pilot award recipients are required to (a) obtain IRB approval prior to the conducting of the research and file a copy of that approval in the ECHO office, (b) conduct the research as proposed and further guided by reviewers' comments, (c) manage their budgets and expend the grant funds in accordance with budget guidelines, (d) submit a six month progress report and complete a final evaluative survey (e) acknowledge funding source of pilot grant on all related manuscripts and presentations (acknowledgement information will be provided), (f) agree to provide evaluative feedback to the ECHO program after project has ended, and (g) be willing to present funded research at an ECHO-sponsored event. Grant recipients will also be encouraged to participate in the monthly Health Disparities Seminar Series sponsored by ECHO and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.


Applications are due electronically before 5:00 p.m. on January 22, 2010 to Randall Teal at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For questions regarding this pilot RFA, Please contact Randall Teal at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (919) 966-7129.

Proposal Template

Download a copy of the proposal form here.

Proposal Checklist

Format: 10 double spaced pages, minimum of 1 inch margins, and font size of at least 11-point font size

• References or Literature Cited
• All Signatures (UNC faculty - department chairperson; non-UNC faculty - department chairperson and sponsored research official)
• Budget
• Budget Justification
• Curriculum Vitae/Biosketch of PI
• Mentor Letter of Support (for New Investigators Only)
• Biosketch of Mentor (for New Investigators Only)
• Letter of Support from Collaborator, if necessary
• Other Letters of Support