Applications being accepted for three (3) one-year NIH-funded Awards up to $40,000 each, with a study period from 07/01/2013 to 06/30/2014 

Who Should Apply:Minority, junior faculty researchers in academic institutions in Southern California, who are interested in conducting pilot research on minority elderly populations. We are particularly interested in researchers proposing to study African-American and Latino elders either in participatory research within local communities and/or using secondary data analyses. Funding Amount Available: There are three (3) one-year pilot-study awards available of up to a total of $40,000 each -- $20,000 funded from the UCLA / Charles Drew University (CDU) Resource Center for Minority Aging Research / Center for Health Improvement of Minority Elderly (RCMAR/CHIME) and $20,000 funded from the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).

Focus of Proposals: Support will be given to pilot-study proposals that are consistent with the goal of the UCLA/CDU RCMAR/CHIME, to provide a research infrastructure of training and mentoring junior-level minority faculty who can advance their academic careers by conducting pilot-study research that contributes to the reduction of health disparities affecting minority elders. Typically, pilot studies that are selected involve developing the evidence base or providing preliminary data for intervention trials that aim to address disparities in the health care of older minority populations. Ideally, these pilot studies will also demonstrate effective inter-institutional and/or academiccommunity partnerships. These pilot studies may involve both primary data collection and secondary data analyses.

Application Submission Timeline and Selection Process: By 12pm noon, Monday March 11th, 2013, email a MICROSOFT WORD version of the following required documents to the attention of This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

1. A cover letter that includes
• the applicant’s name, degree(s), academic title, department, institution, address and telephone number(s);
• Race/ethnicity with which applicant identifies self;
• Descriptive title of proposed pilot study research;
• Name(s), title(s), contact information of at least one potential mentor to oversee career development and/or supervise the pilot-study; and
• Name(s), title(s), contact information of community partner(s) (if relevant).
2. A two page letter of intent, double-spaced using Arial font 11-point typeface, with one-inch margins, on 8.5”x11”-size page. The letter must include:
• Specific aims of pilot study research;
• Description of proposed study including brief description of study design, and data to be collected or used in the pilot study;
• A specific statement about how the planned project is related to the RCMAR goal of supporting junior-level minority faculty who can advance their academic careers by conducting pilot-study research that contributes to the reduction of health disparities affecting minority elders;
• A timeline that documents the feasibility of completing the project in one year;
• A specific statement about how this pilot work will inform the applicant’s future research and how it will lead to larger NIH or foundation funding;
• A description of the proposed project investigators and their roles on the project; and
• A statement about the involvement of a mentor and the role that mentor will play in the work.
3. Applicant’s CV, plus the CV or NIH Biosketch of mentor(s).

Selection Process of Letters of Intent: Applicants’ Letters of Intent will be selected based on:

1. Meeting race/ethnicity and junior level faculty requirements;
2. Credentials of applicant to conduct the proposed research;
3. Qualifications of mentor(s) to assist the applicant with career development and/or research;
4. Quality of proposed pilot-study research and feasibility of it being completed within one year;
5. Relatedness of proposed pilot-study research to the RCMAR/CHIME goal of supporting research that contributes to the reduction of health disparities affecting minority elder populations; and
6. Likelihood that proposed research will lead to publication of at least one (1) first-authored, peerreviewed manuscript plus subsequent funding from the National Institutes of Health, particularly the National Institute on Aging.

Application Process of Letters of Intent and Proposals:

1. By 12pm noon Monday, March 11th, 2013, applicants must submit above-listed required documents;
2. By Monday April 1st, 2013, selected candidates will be notified to prepare full proposals, including a six-page research plan and detailed budget as well as other documentation to submit by 12pm noon Friday April 19th, 2013. Additional instructions will be given to invited candidates.

About UCLA/CDU RCMAR/CHIME & the UCLA CTSI

The UCLA/CDU RCMAR/CHIME and the UCLA CTSI are based in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. RCMAR/CHIME is currently in its 11th year of NIH/NIA/RCMAR funding under NIH/NIA Grant Number 2P30AG021684, and the UCLA CTSI is currently in its 3rd year of NIH/ funding under NIH/NCRR/NCATS Grant Number UL1TR000124.
For information about UCLA/CDU RCMAR/CHIME, go to: http://www.chime.ucla.edu
For information about the national RCMARs, go to: http://www.rcmar.ucla.edu
For information about the UCLA CTSI, go to: http://www.ctsi.ucla.edu

Pilot Project Funding Available for Aging-Related Research

Pilot grant awards in aging-related basic, clinical and health services research are sought for inclusion in a competitive renewal application for the UCLA OAIC.  The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a UCLA faculty member or a faculty member from another institution who is collaborating with a UCLA faculty member.  PI's who have had a pilots funded previously are eligible to apply (because, if the OAIC is awarded, this will be a new funding cycle). Funding level is dependent on scope of work, described on the following page.  Funding for pilots would begin in July 2013.  Because these pilots will be part of a competing renewal application, funding is contingent upon the OAIC grant being awarded to UCLA.

For more information, please click here.