Pilot Studies Application Information Sheet
EL CENTRO Center of Excellence for Hispanic Health Disparities Research is seeking applications for pilot studies. The purpose of the pilot studies program is to facilitate the development of new or the adaptation of existing prevention or treatment interventions that are culturally-tailored for Hispanics in the areas of substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, family/intimate partner violence, and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Eligibility – All University of Miami faculty members may apply.
Application and Selection Process. There is a two-stage application process.
Stage 1 consists of abstract submission. Applicants should submit their c.v. and an abstract (maximum 1000 words) including aims, background, preliminary studies, and methods by March 15, 2008.
Submitted abstracts will be screened for completeness and their fit within El Centro’s research framework (El Centro target health conditions and culturally-tailored treatment development for Hispanics) by El Centro’s Research Core Director, Victoria Mitrani. The abstracts that pass this first review will be further reviewed by El Centro’s Steering Committee for selection of those investigators who will be invited to the 2nd application stage.
In Stage 2 of the application process, selected investigators will be invited to submit a 5-page application covering aims/hypotheses, background, preliminary studies, and detailed methods (including plans for recruitment, measures, and analyses). Not included in the 5 page limit are the abstract, literature cited, proposed budget and justification. The full applications will be due May 15, 2008.
Full applications will be reviewed by a scientific review committee headed by Dr. Mitrani, who will screen applications for completeness and assign two primary reviewers. Reviewer critiques and guidelines for reviews will follow a similar format as for NIH grants. The applications will be assigned scores and applicants will receive critiques within two weeks after the review.
Selection criteria at both stages will include: 1) significance: the study’s potential for advancing a culturally-tailored intervention that focuses on reducing health disparities among Hispanics in one or more of El Centro’s health conditions; 2) approach: soundness of the methodology, clinical framework and analysis; 3) feasibility: the investigator’s ability to carry out the plan within the proposed budget and 4) potential: the study and investigator’s potential to develop the pilot study into an application for independent funding that would contribute to a program of research on developing an intervention that is culturally-tailored for Hispanics. Preference will be given to applications that have an interdisciplinary approach and which cut across two or more of El Centro’s health conditions.
Budget Information. Funding for the 1-year pilot studies is anticipated to begin on July 1, 2008 for a maximum of $40,000 per study. Budgeted items may include laboratory expenses, participant reimbursement, and investigator and personnel salaries.
Use of El Centro Core Resources. Investigators will have access to El Centro’s web-based data management resource, measures, and translation services. These core resources are provided at no cost to the study. Investigators must agree to use El Centro’s common measures (demographics, familism, acculturation and Hispanic stress) as appropriate for their study design and population, and to submit to El Centro’s quality assurance and research practice standards.
Technical Assistance for Junior Investigators. The development of a pilot proposal is an opportunity to train junior investigators in grant preparation. Investigators who are invited to submit full proposals will be offered methodological and technical support for developing their pilot applications.
Additional Information. Investigators must show proof of IRB approval prior to being awarded funding. Awardees must sign a statement assuring that the study is not funded by any other source.
Please submit all application materials electronically to tlopez1@miami.edu. In fairness to other applicants, we cannot except late applications. We will not accept hard copy applications.
For further information call Tania Lopez at 305 284-6207.
