Funding Opportunities

More investigators are exploring ways to improve the health of minority and underserved populations. Since 2005, the MHRC has provided $4.1 million in seed money to 88 investigators through pilot research awards. This investment has resulted in a return of $118.5 million in extramural funding (1:29 ratio).

Current Funding Opportunities

Request for Applications:
Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) (P30AG031054)
Invites Letters of Intent to Apply for One-Year Pilot Grants Focusing on Minority Aging & Health Disparities in the African American Population

The Deep South RCMAR focuses on health issues for which disparities between older African Americans and whites have been established, giving special emphasis to issues related to rural elders; intervention research addressing exercise, diet, or preventive health strategies; and studies addressing socio-economic, discrimination, trust, or bioethical issues impacting physical or mental health. Proposals must demonstrate relevance to minority aging and health disparities in the African American population, and should focus upon specific social, cultural, or behavioral mechanisms to improve physical and mental health or cognitive function. Further description is included in the full RFA

Available Funds: Up to $25,000
Number of Awards: Three pilot developmental projects may be funded
Award Project Period: One year: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021
Eligibility: Faculty members at Morehouse School of Medicine, Tuskegee University, University of Alabama, or UAB, at the rank of Instructor to Associate Professor are eligible. Minority faculty members are encouraged to apply.

Key Dates
Letter of Intent (LOI) Due: On or before Monday, December 9, 2019
Applications Due: On or before Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Response to Reviews Due: March 27, 2020
Project Start Date: July 1, 2020

Letters Of Intent and Applications Must Be Submitted Electronically at: www.uab.edu/MHRC.

No paper submissions are accepted.

Please click here to see the full RFA for more information on the LOI and application process.

Please click here to submit an LOI and application 

Request for Applications:
Projects on Obesity- and Health Disparities- Related Pilot Feasibility Studies
(RFA-OHDRC-20-001)

The Obesity Health Disparities Research Center (OHDRC) led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham in partnership with Jackson State University, University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Louisiana State University, invites applications for pilot feasibility studies to support new research initiatives in any area related to obesity and health disparities. Pilot funding will be up to $50,000 for 1-year. Pilot feasibility funding is intended to provide initial project support for new investigators, allow exploration of possible innovative new directions for established investigators in obesity research that represent a significant departure from ongoing funded research, and stimulate investigators from other areas to use their expertise for obesity and health disparities research.

Available funds: up to $50,000
Number of Awards: three pilot projects may be funded
Award Project Period: one year
Eligibility: Applicants must have a faculty appointment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Jackson State University (JSU), Louisiana State University (LSU), or University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC).

Full RFA

Key Dates
LOI Due: Friday, January 31, 2020
Application Due: Friday, March 13, 2020
Announcement of Recipients: Friday, May 1, 2020
Projected Start Date (estimated): Monday, June 1, 2020

Interested faculty should submit a Letter of Intent in a single PDF file that includes the following:

• 1-page Letter of Intent including the project title, names of the PI and mentor;
• Abstract (<500 words) highlighting background & significance, hypothesis, specific aims, experimental design, and procedures of the project including relevant statistical analyses;
• PI’s NIH biographical sketch

Please submit electronically in a single PDF file to Kaitlyn Waugaman, kjwaugaman@uabmc.edu by Friday, January 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. The review committee will review all submissions and select the most competitive for development of a five-page application plus supporting materials for a final round of selection. Specific instructions will be provided to those selected. The full application will be due Friday, March 13, 2020 by 11:59 p.m.