Pilot Project Awards for Research on Pain, Aging, and Disability

Request for Applications 2021

UF CAMPAS Logo_Horz

Application is extended to February 26, 2021

The University of Florida Center for Advancing Minority Pain and Aging Science (CAMPAS) is seeking innovative, interdisciplinary Pilot Study applications that address biopsychosocial contributions to pain and disability among older adults. Applicants must be investigators from underrepresented backgrounds (see below for eligibility), and successful applications should propose pilots project with high potential for leading to extramural research grants and/or career development awards.

All applicants must contact us at ufcampas@dental.ufl.edu or 352-273-7620 before applying.

Information Session

Purpose

UF CAMPAS is one of the 18 Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMARs) funded by the National Institute on Aging. The purpose of our center is to providing pilot grants, Core resources, and mentored training to support the research career development of early-career investigators from underrepresented backgrounds who are conducting research related to pain, aging, and disability. One goal of CAMPAS is to attract new investigators to the field; therefore, we encourage applications from investigators not currently studying pain, aging, and disability, but who are interested in incorporating this topic into their ongoing or future work. Please see the Eligibility section below for some examples of topics that would be responsive to this RFA.

Core Resources

In addition to Pilot Awards of up to $25,000 for one year, the UF CAMPAS is offering Core Resources to facilitate the applicant’s research. Applicants should incorporate one or more of the following Core services into their Pilot Application.

Please contact Maria Aguirre (ufcampas@dental.ufl.edu) to schedule any meetings with our core leaders.

  • Analysis Core (AnC), Director Sam Wu, PhD, the AnC provides:
    • Training, mentoring and research career support to CAMPAS Scientists
    • Biostatistical support in study design, proposal development, data management, statistical analysis, and research dissemination for CAMPAS Scientists’ research
    • A new methodology for adaptive design of clinical trials and simultaneous statistical inference.
  • Community Liaison and Recruitment Core (CLRC), Co-Directors, Linda Cottler, Ph.D. and Janice Krieger, Ph.D.
    • Infrastructure to support the recruitment and community engagement needs of CAMPAS scientists
    • Contribute to scholarly understanding of what processes are most effective for engaging diverse stakeholder groups

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be from one of the following backgrounds that are underrepresented in health-related research:
    • Specific ethnic/racial minority groups (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders)
    • Individuals with disabilities (i.e. those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities).
    • Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of NIH criteria
  • Must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
  • Applicants must be a faculty member or a trainee (residents, postdocs, and fellows).
    • Priority will be given to early-stage faculty members at the rank of Assistant Professor or earlier who have not received previous independent NIH funding.
    • However, mid-career faculty members may be eligible if they are transitioning to a new focus on pain, aging, and disability research.
  • Any applicants outside of the University of Florida must identify at least one faculty member from UF to be part of their mentoring committee.
  • Applications from outside of UF must include signed approval from an institutional official.
  • The proposed project must include a focus on pain, aging, and disability. Examples of topics that could be addressed include, but are not limited to:
    • Age-related differences in the prevalence or impact of pain conditions
    • Pain experiences in older adults with cognitive impairment
    • Pain associated with age-related diseases (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes)
    • Pain associated with multi-morbidity in older adults
    • Biological and psychosocial mechanisms contributing to pain in older adults
    • Impact of pain on mobility in older adults
    • Treatment strategies for pain in older adults
    • Adverse effects of pain treatment in older adults
    • Racial, ethnic and gender disparities in pain among older adults

Terms of Award

  • Awardees are expected to participate in all UF CAMPAS seminars and career development activities.
  • Awardees must be able to complete the pilot research in the proposed time.
  • Awardees must comply with IRB, UF, NIH, and other applicable policies and regulations. Awardee projects involving human subject research must receive IRB and NIH approval before funds can be released and human subject research activities can begin. Applicants whose proposals will require IRB approval should demonstrate that they have taken preliminary steps to prepare submissions to avoid delays in securing approval. Funding cannot be released until appropriate approvals are in place.
  • Awardees must submit progress reports for the project every 6 months after the notice of award is received.
  • Awardees are also expected to present the results of their research at scientific meetings and publish findings in scholarly journals.
  • In accordance with NIH requirements:  All presentations and publications resulting from work funded by a UF CAMPAS Pilot Project Award must include a funding citation. The following language should be used: “Research reported in this publication was supported by NIH/NIA Grant P30AG059297.”
  • Awardees are expected to provide updates to UF CAMPAS or the RCMAR Coordinating Center in a timely manner, typically once a year, and for several years after completing the program.

Review Process and Criteria

Scientific Reviews: Upon passing an initial eligibility review, proposals will undergo scientific review by internal and/or external reviewers. We will consider the following criteria in making funding decisions:

  • Addresses a significant topic related to pain, aging, and disability;
  • Scientific merit (i.e. significance, innovation, methodology);
  • Shows significant promise for leading to external funding;

Budgeting and Spending Requirement

  • Funds can only be used for direct costs.
  • Funds cannot be used to support faculty salaries.
  • Funds are non-transferable.
  • Funds must be used for the activities detailed in the application.
  • Continued funding during the award period is contingent on compliance with awardee requirements.

Total Available Funding and Awards

We expect to award up to 3 Pilot grants of up to $25,000 each, but the requested budget should be based on the scope of the proposed research. Matching funds from other sources to support the work are encouraged.

Budget Development and Examples

Investigators should develop budgets based on the number of subjects to be enrolled, the cost per subject, and any other services required by the protocol. All budgets will be judged on appropriateness for completing the proposed work. If you have any questions or need help, please contact Maria A. Aguirre at UFCAMPAS@dental.ufl.edu


Download the full application instructions

Application Instructions

Applications must include the following: Page limitation/Notes
Abstract/ Project Summary 30 lines of text
A five-page research proposal (0.5” margins, Arial 11 point font) that includes: Breakdown suggestion for 5 pages
-Specific Aims (1 page) 1 page
-Background/significance (including any preliminary data) ~1 page
– Description of Methods 2-2.5 pages
-Plans for future external funding 0.5 pages
References not included in the five-page limit
NIH Biographical Sketches for PI, Co-investigator(s) and mentor(s) 5 pages per Biosketch
A detailed budget using the NIH’s standard “Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period” form. Up to $25,000 total
Budget justification
Letter of support from Department Chair or Program Director Please make sure the chair or director supports your application and participation in UF CAMPAS activities
Institutional signature approving the application from applicants outside of UF This endorsement is provided in many different formats depending on the university. Please use this letter as an example or use your organization’s preferred method.

Proposals that are incomplete or otherwise do not follow instructions will be returned to the investigator without review.

Awards are expected to be made on or around July 1, 2021.

Please feel free to contact us with ANY questions. We are here to help!

Email: ufcampas@dental.ufl.edu Phone: 352-273-7620.