*Update for 2022 - the deadline for the 2-page concept proposal has been extended from Feb 1st to Feb 15th!*
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
2022 Pilot Grant Application Cycle
The cycle for 2022 Pilot Projects is open as of Wednesday, December 1st! We anticipate funding 2-3 applications of up to $20,000 each. UAB faculty and fellows with advanced degrees (MD, PhD, DrPH, etc.) are eligible to apply. Click the buttons below to download the Request for Applications (RFA) Announcement, the Concept Proprosal Packet, and the Full Application Packet.
Timeline:
o RFA Released: December 1, 2021
o Deadline for 2-page Concept: February 15, 2022
o Full Application Applicants Announced: March 1, 2022
o Deadline for Full Applications: May 1, 2022
o Awards Announced: by May 31, 2022
o Funding Start: June 1, 2022
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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
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2021 Pilot Projects
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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