California Behavioral Health Center of Excellence at UCLA
and UCLA Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI)
Rapid Research Advances for Progress
in Disparities (RRAPID) Mental Health Awards
OVERVIEW: The California Behavioral Health Center of Excellence at UCLA is collaborating with the UCLA CTSI to stimulate rapid progress in addressing mental health disparities through quick turnaround, high-yield research projects and innovative approaches that foster community and stakeholder partnerships to advance fundamental science, services and outcomes with a focus on those suffering mental illness and populations facing disparities in mental health services access, quality or outcomes.
The goals are to produce a research product and build partnerships through two-way knowledge exchange between researchers and stakeholders (systems, providers, clients/families).
The research should have relevance or potential relevance for the California Mental Health Services Act (MHSA; prevention, early intervention, services innovation and full-service partnerships for mental disorders; addressing mental health disparities; suicide prevention and criminal recidivism) or for the CTSI more broadly for behavioral disorders (ie., including neurodevelopmental disorder and degenerative disease). The awards may support research and partnership development across a broad range of science, from basic and translational to clinical, behavioral, services, community engagement and policy.
The mechanism supports publications and partnership development for early stage investigators as defined by NIH (see NIH definition here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm#earlystage). For example, papers from dissertations or other existing data, or pilot data on partnership development and documentation of strategies to address challenges of research engagement, to increase feasibility, external validity and success of a proposal with stakeholder input, collaboration, and community translation. Please include in your proposal a description of how the proposed work will enhance your research career.
The disparity populations featured to date by the MHSA include: African American, Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, Native American, LGBTQ and rural communities. Inclusion of MSHA-relevant stakeholders in basic and translational science projects can increase the capacity to understand and utilize such advances in underserved populations. Because disparity populations are often under-represented in research, the provision of developmental support will be considered for projects focusing on populations with little prior MHSA-relevant research.
Projects should:
1) have relevance or potential relevance to issues of importance to the MHSA;
2) promote stakeholder input/capacity building and researcher knowledge of stakeholder-relevant issues;
3) result in a research paper, research proposal or stakeholder workshop or other activity within 1 year;
4) lead to a presentation or poster for the Center Research & Stakeholder Advisory Board and CTSI;
5) feature a lead role for an early stage investigator;
6) describe how the proposed work will enhance the early stage investigator’s research career;
7) identify a senior faculty mentor from a UCLA CTSI institution (no compensation); a consultant or co-mentor from a Semel Institute research center is preferred to facilitate fund management and coordination. A consultant or mentor from another CTSI institution (e.g., UC Davis, USC) is encouraged but not required.
Eligible applicants must submit a “letter of intent” summarizing the proposed work and identifying a mentor. This concept piece should be limited to 400 words and e-mailed as a pdf to liz7@ucla.edu. Selected applicants will be notified by 1/31/16 and invited to submit a full application.
KEY DATES:
“Letter of Intent” Due Date: 1/15/16 by 5PM
Application Due Date: 3/15/16 by 5PM
Earliest Start Date: 4/1/16
Budget Period: 4/1/16 – 3/31/17
Award Budget: Direct Costs are limited to $25,000 (This mechanism does not fund Indirect Costs)
Funds can be used for an early stage investigator investigator and support staff salary, consultation from partners/methodologists, participant payments, community events, supplies or travel. At least 10% of the budget should facilitate stakeholder involvement, such as consultant, community workshop.
Eligible Applicants: Junior faculty, psychiatry residents in training, pre or post-doc fellows at UCLA Semel Institute or CTSI-affiliated institution (Cedars, Harbor, Charles R Drew) but preferably collaborating with a Semel Institute research center to facilitate fund management and coordination.
The Center is developing relationships with diverse stakeholders across Los Angeles County relevant to MHSA goals, with a focus on public sector agencies serving under-resourced populations. These stakeholders can be available as community mentors for RRAPID Awards upon request.
The Center with CTSI support will support up to 10 awards (4/1/16 – 3/31/17).
Application Instructions
Beginning February 1, 2016, invited applicants will be able to submit an application via the following link: https://hss.semel.ucla.edu/rrapid. Complete the information requested online and attach the items described below in the order listed as a single pdf document. Formatting requirements for the attachments includes use of Arial font size 11 or larger and .5 inch margins all around.
Research Plan:
The research plan consists of the following sections:
Specific Aims – limited to 1 page
The specific aims should summarize the expected outcomes of the research proposal.
Research strategy – limited to 5 pages
The research strategy should articulate how the proposed work is relevant or potentially relevant to the MHSA and specify the approach being proposed. The Investigator team including stakeholders should be identified and a brief description of their role should be included. A description of how the proposed work will enhance the early stage investigator’s research career should also be included. In addition, the specific end product should be described along with a timeline for carrying out the work.
References – limited to 1 page
Provide a bibliography of any references cited in the research plan following the AMA citation style.
Other Required Sections:
NIH biosketch – limited to 4 pages
An NIH biosketch is required for the early stage investigator and senior mentor.
A resume is required for the stakeholder partner. If no stakeholder is identified at the time of proposal submission, please check “Request for Stakeholder Assignment” box.
Budget and Budget Justification – no page limit
A PHS 398-style detailed budget is required along with a budget justification describing how the funds requested directly support the proposed work.
Letter of Recommendation – limited to 2 pages
A letter of recommendation from the senior mentor describing the junior investigator’s qualifications is required. The letter should include a statement regarding the mentor’s commitment to protecting time for the early stage investigator to conduct the proposed work and describe resources available to him or her.
IRB Approval Letter
Attach a copy of the IRB approval for the proposed work.
Please direct any questions regarding this funding opportunity to Elizabeth Lizaola, liz7@ucla.edu.
Submit Your Application Below:
(Application should be uploaded as one PDF document)