Explore UAB


Bench to bedside, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) seeks to improve well-being and health equity in communities across the Deep South through collaborative partnerships and scientific innovation. Aligned with this mission, the CCTS seeks applications proposing the development of novel statistical and computational approaches and related methodologic innovations that bridge the gap between data and clinical application.


Key Dates

  Cycle I 

Cycle II

Earliest Submission Date

April 1

October 1

Application Due Date*

May 25

November 25

Award Period

July 1 – October 31

January 1 – April 30

*The CCTS anticipates continuing to make calls for this funding opportunity through October 2030.


  • Proposals

    The CCTS seeks to support the development of novel, translationally applicable, statistical or analytical methods (e.g. statistical models, clinical trial design, statistical genetics, integration of quantitative and qualitative data analysis (i.e. mixed methods), clinical informatics, bioinformatics, and beyond). Proposals should address how the proposed methods may be utilized by other researchers and/or projects (ongoing or planned). Priority will be given to applications that develop methodologies addressing health challenges pertinent to the CCTS mission (e.g. barriers to access, adoption, adherence). Projects are required to utilize extant (i.e. preexisting) data. Utilization of extant data derived from major CCTS-connected enclaves (e.g. National COVID Cohort Collaborative (NC3), All of Us, Alabama Genomic Health Initiative, ENACT, TriNetX, OneFlorida) is encouraged but not required. Proposals focusing on the use of pre-existing methods and/or generation of new dataset(s) will not be reviewed or considered for funding.

  • Eligibility

    Full-time faculty, especially early career scholars, from any of the CCTS Partner Network institutions may apply. Trainees are encouraged to be members of the research team. More than one proposal may be submitted per faculty member serving as PI, but the faculty member is only eligible to receive one award as PI during a given funding cycle. 

  • Funding

    Applicants may request up to $5,000 (Direct). The CCTS plans to support up to two (2) proposals per funding cycle contingent on merit, funds requested and feasibility. Indirect costs will be made available to subawarded sites. Awards are competitively renewable via subsequent application cycles up to two times for a total of $15,000 (direct). However, no cost extensions/carryover beyond award periods will not be made available.

  • Regulatory Considerations

    All regulatory approvals (e.g. IRB, IACUC) must be in place at the start of the award.

    Applications requiring external data that would necessitate Data Use Agreements are expected to initiate the agreements well before the start of the award.

  • Application Instructions

    Applications should be prepared as a single PDF document using 11-point Arial font, ≥ 0.5” margins and contain the following elements:

    1. Project Abstract (30 lines max)
    2. Research Plan (2 page max). Succinctly explain a problem or critical barrier to progress. Address the work, if any, that has been done to address the problem. Present a research plan or solution(s) as testable hypotheses. If available, provide preliminary data. Clearly explain your research approach without using jargon. Define outcomes and the analysis plan that will be used to assess the outcomes. Address how the outcomes of the proposed work fit into a longer, larger research plan.
    3. Project Timeline (1 page max). Please address how the proposed work will be carried out during the award period (i.e. 4 months).
    4. Budget Justification (1 page max)
      1. Allowable costs include:
        1. Salary/Fringe: Up to 10% effort for PI (or cumulative 10% for MPIs), up to the NIH Salary Cap. Other personnel as needed to fulfill the project aims. Graduate student effort (and tuition according to the accounting policies of the PI’s institution).
        2. Supplies
        3. Other Expenses
      2. Unallowable costs include travel, equipment, software licenses, consultant costs, alterations, renovations and inpatient/outpatient care.
  • Review Criteria

    Awards will assessed on aspects of significance, rigor and feasibility, and expertise and resources. Additional review criteria address Human Subject/Animal Protection, Budget and Timeline, and Extramural Competitiveness.

  • Award Responsibilities
    1. Award Selections - Selected investigators will receive a Notice of Award (NoA). Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. Awards resulting from this RFA are subject to NIH grant terms and conditions (Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants). Awards made to partner institutions will be amended to the existing UM1 consortium contract.
    2. Project Team Meetings - The CCTS will work with you to set up a Project Team Meetings. These teams will meet with you to discuss progress and help troubleshoot any barriers.
    3. NIH Progress Reports - In addition to meeting with your Project Team, you will be asked to submit scientific progress reports – a template and the deadline(s) of such reports will be provided in the NoA.
    4. Citing the CCTS - Anticipating the dissemination of results, publications that result from this award must include a specific acknowledgment of grant support (https://www.uab.edu/ccts/about/cite-ccts)
    5. NIH Public Access Policy - Publications resulting from this award must fulfill expectations aligned with the NIH Public Access Policy.

Please submit applications by 5pm CT on the posted deadline via RED-ASSIST.

Questions?
General inquiries can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 934-7442. More specific questions can be posed to:
Scientific/Research Contact, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                      
Grants Management Contact, Anne Russell, PhD

Click here to view past recipients from 2022 and 2023.