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In 2019 the Sparkman Center began providing funding for internal UAB pilot grant applications that propose research projects, public health practice, and global health & development projects that support the Sparkman Center’s mission of promoting global health.

All projects should have a strong research or evaluation component. Only those applications that are aligned with the Sparkman Center mission will be considered for funding through this mechanism. Scroll down to see current & recent pilot projects that were funded.

Questions? Please contact Anna Helova, UAB Sparkman Deputy Director; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone: (205) 975-7770

2023 Pilot Grant Application Cycle

The cycle for 2023 Pilot Projects is now open. 

Timeline:

o RFA Released: December 1, 2022

o Deadline for 2-page Concept: February 15, 2023

o Full Application Applicants Announced: March 1, 2023

o Deadline for Full Applications: May 1, 2023

o Awards Announced: by May 31, 2023

o Funding Start: June 1, 2023

pilot projects announcement  pilot projects concept packet  pilot projects full app packet  

In November 2020, the Sparkman Center hosted an Application Workshop for those interested in the Pilot Grant program. We highly recommend that you review the slides from that workshop here and/or watch the recorded session here as you prepare your concept proposal.

 

Pilot Grant Awardees

  • 2022 Pilot Projects

    The Sparkman Center is excited to announce the awardees in the fourth cohort of Pilot Project Grantees.

    The request for applications for the Pilot Grant Funding initiative was posted in December of 2021. A first application of a 2-page concept was due in February, after which top applicants were selected to submit a full application by May 1st. A panel of reviewers convened to select the top proposals to receive funding to start on June 1, 2022. 

    Congratulations to the Principal Investigators and teams selected this year!

    MacCarthy/Bruxvoort

    MacCarthy/Bruxvoort

    1. "PrEP Implementaion among Adolescent Key Populations in Brazil"

    Principal Investigators: Sarah MacCarthy, ScD & Katia Bruxvoort, PhD, MPH- School of Public Health

    Co-investigators:

    In-country partner: CCollective Health Institute of the Federal (Brazil)
    Gutnik

    Gutnik

    2."Breast Cancer Survivors as Enablers of Change: A Pilot Feasibility Study of an Education and Stigma Reduction Intervention" (Jointly funded by SCGH & Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health)  

    Principal Investigator: Lily Gutnik, MD - UAB Heersink School of Medicine

    Co-investigators:

    In-country partner:Kilamanjaro Christian Medical College (KCMC) (Moshi, Tanzania)
    Piyathilake

    Piyathilake

    3. "A novel evidence-based approach to increase the accuracy of cervical cancer screening in HIV infected"

    Principal Investigator: Chandrika Piyathilake, BDS, MPH, PhD- School of Health Professions

    Co-investigators:

    In-country partner: Warmadeva University (Indonesia)
    Ritcher

    Ritcher

    3. "Outcomes for Obstetrics Fistula Services with Social Reintegration in Burkina Faso"

    Principal Investigator: Holly Ritcher, MD, PhD - Heersink School of Medicine

    Co-investigators:

    In-country partner: ARENA NGO (Burkina Faso)

     

  • 2021 Pilot Projects

    pilot 2021 map

    The Sparkman Center is excited to announce the awardees in the third cohort of Pilot Project Grantees.

    The third request for applications for the Pilot Grant Funding initiative was posted in December of 2020. A first application of a 2-page concept was due in February, after which top applicants were selected to submit a full application by May 1st. A panel of reviewers convened to select the top proposals to receive funding to start on June 1, 2021. 

    Congratulations to the Principal Investigators and teams selected this year!

    Manga

    Manga

    1. "Sociocultural and Structural Inequities Affecting Women's Health among Female Sex Workers in Cameroon: A Qualitative Pilot Study"

    Principal Investigator: Simon Manga, PhD - Heersink UAB School of Medicine, Division of Obstetrics & Gynecology

    Co-investigators: Margaret Liang, Isabel Scarinci, Alan Tita, & Warner Huh

    In-country partner: Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services; Horizons Femmes
    Switchenko

    Switchenko

    2. ""Low-Cost Pulse Oximetry for Oxygen Saturation Measurement in Neonates in Zambia" 

    Principal Investigator: Nora Switchenko, MD - UAB Heersink School of Medicine

    Co-investigators: Wally Carlo, Albert Manasyan, Colm Travers, & Kunda Mutesu-Kapembwa

    In-country partner:University Teaching Hospital | Lusaka, Zambia
    Bjornstad

    Bjornstad

    3. "Rapid Detection of Pediatric Trauma-related Acute Kidney Injury in Zambia"

    Principal Investigator: Erica Bjornstad, MD - UAB Heersink School of Medicine

    Co-investigators: David Askenazi, Gary Cutter, Gower, Albert Manasyan, Aggrey Mweemba, & Michael Saag

    In-country partner: University Teaching Hospital & Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia | Lusaka, Zambia

  • 2020 Pilot Projects

    pilot 2020 map

    The Sparkman Center is excited to announce the awardees in the second cohort of Pilot Project Grantees.

    The second request for applications for the Pilot Grant Funding initiative was posted in December of 2019. A first application of a 2-page concept was due in February, after which top applicants were selected to submit a full application by May 1st. A panel of reviewers convened to select the top proposals to receive $15,000 each. 

    Congratulations to the Principal Investigators and teams selected in 2020!

    B Turan

    B Turan

    1. "Stigma and health among refugees in Istanbul, Turkey" 

    Principal Investigator: Bulent Turan, PhD - UAB CAS

    Co-investigators: UAB - Kaylee Crockett & Ibrahim Yigit; Koc University - Ceren Zeynep Acarturk & Sibel Sakarya
    Arora

    Arora

    2. "Characterizing the burden of congenital cytomegalovirus in Uganda" 

    Principal Investigator: Nitin Arora, MD - UAB SOM

    Co-investigators: UAB - Drs. Suresh Boppana, Lynn Matthews, Lisa BeBell; Mbarara University of Science and Technology - Drs. Julian Adong and Joseph Ngonzi

  • 2019 Pilot Projects

    World map marked with locations of 5 pilot projects from 2019

    The first request for applications for the Pilot Grant Funding initiative was posted in December of 2018. A first application of a 2-page concept was due in February, after which top applicants were selected to submit a full aplication by May 1st. A panel of reviewers convened to select the top proposals to receive $20,000 each. 

    Congratulations to the Principal Investigators and teams selected in 2019!

    In October of 2019, the UAB Reporter highlighted this new initiative. The article entitled "35,000 miles, $100,000 and 5 paths to global change" outlines the central questions, background, and innovations of each project. Read the full article here

    Kempin-Reuter

    Kempin-Reuter

    1. "The Health Situation, Access, and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Lima, Peru" 

    Principal Investigator: Tina Kempin Reuter, PhD - UAB Institute for Human Rights & UAB CAS

    Co-investigators: Courtney Andrews, Shane Burns
    Bateman

    Bateman

    2. "Examining a culturally relevant patient-level intervention to promote colorectal cancer screening in Egypt" 

    Principal Investigator: Lori Brand Bateman, PhD - Preventive Medicine, UAB SOM

    Co-investigators: Mona N. Fouad, Isabel Scarinci
    Shrestha

    Shrestha

    3. "Epidemiology of Head and Neck Cancer in Nepal" 

    Principal Investigator: Sadeep Shrestha, PhD - UAB SOPH

    Co-investigators: Ravi Paluri, Sudip Shrestha, Pema Lhaki, Amrita Mukherjee, Sanjeev Acharya  
    Tipre

    Tipre

    4. "Fly ash exposure and infant neurodevelopment in Sri Lanka" 

    Principal Investigator: Meghan Tipre, DrPH - UAB SOPH

    Co-investigators: Nalini Sathiakumar, Rajitha Wickremesinghe, Pavithra Godamunne
    Rocque

    Rocque

    5. "Incidence and Risk Factors of Pediatric Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida in Vietnam" 

    Principal Investigator: Brandon Rocque, MD - UAB SOM

    Co-investigators: James Johnston, Jacob Lepard, Dang Do Thanh Can, Steven Schiff, Le Quang My, Tran Van Si