PILOT RESEARCH PROJECTS
PILOT GRANT PROGRAM (PGP)
Investigator Development Core
The HEALTH Center for Addictions Research and Cancer Prevention is pursuing a bold research agenda to address the public health crises that health disparities inflict on our most vulnerable communities. With support from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), this national center (Research Centers in Minority Institutions, RCMI) serves as an exemplar for community-engaged research. This research aims to accelerate discovery of novel prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and intervention strategies that can be disseminated and implemented directly into underserved communities. Moreover, mentorship and professional development activities are structured to develop the next generation of health-equity scientists capable of advancing data-driven and culturally-responsive breakthroughs in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) research and cancer prevention.
This short-term (1-year) funding opportunity will support 3-5 innovative pilot grants ($30,000 to $50,000) per year through 2 calls for applications (1 in the fall, 1 in the spring). Successful applications will propose to break new ground in health-equity science while successfully leveraging the data to transition into a developmentally appropriate NIH funding mechanism (e.g., K- and R-series).
Important dates associated with the upcoming Request for Applications (RFA):
Letter of Intent (LOI) Due: January 3, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.
Complete Application Due: February 3, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.
Scientific Merit Review: March 24, 2023
Funding Decisions and NIMHD Approval: Between April 2023 - May 2023
Earliest Anticipated Award Start Date: June 1, 2023
Download: RFA Guidelines
Download: Cover Page
Please watch our 15-minute webinar to receive some background information regarding the HEALTH-RCMI’s Pilot Grant Program.
All questions regarding this RFA may be directed to Dr. Ezemenari M. Obasi (RCMI, PI), Dr. Anka Vujanovic (IDC Director), or HEALTH-RCMI Staff.
Fall 2022 PILOT PROJECTS
Transcriptome-wide association study to identify the impact of health disparities in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy among the African American and white population with triple negative breast cancer.
Dr. Kumaraswamy Chitrala, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Fatima Merchant, Ph.D., Faculty Mentor
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Venkatesh Balan, Ph.D., Faculty Mentor
SPRING 2022 PILOT PROJECTS
A mobile intervention for Cannabis-related disparities among Black Cannabis Users: A pilot study
Dr. Lorra Garey, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Brooke Kauffman, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Michael J. Zvolensky, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Michael Businelle, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Julia Bucker, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
FALL 2021 PILOT PROJECTS
Proof of concept and feasibility in podcasting cervical cancer prevention for African American women
Dr. Chakema Carmack, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Interventions to improve adherence to oral endocrine therapies for prevention of new or recurrent breast cancer in African American women of low socioeconomic status
Dr. Meghana Trivedi, Ph.D., Pharm.D., Multiple Principal Investigator
Dr. Onyebuchi J. Ononogbu, Pharm.D., Multiple Principal Investigator
Dr. Susan Abughosh, Ph.D., Multiple Principal Investigator
Dr. Robert Shimko, Ph.D., Multiple Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Keith Houk, MFA, Co-Investigator
SPRING 2021 PILOT PROJECTS
Examining Health Disparities and Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention in Syrian Refugee Women in the United States
Samina Salim, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Johanna Bick, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Mohan Chandra, Ph.D., Collaborator
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Meghana Trivedi, Ph.D., Collaborator
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Sausaun Abouharb, M.D., Collaborator
Learn more about Dr. Salim's research and her community outreach efforts.
Exploring the provider and organization level barriers to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment for Black Americans
Lauren R. Gilbert, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Steven Starks, M.D., Co-Investigator
Learn more about Dr. Gilbert's research.