PILOT RESEARCH PROJECTS
PILOT GRANT PROGRAM (PGP)
Investigator Development Core
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The HEALTH Center for Addictions Research and Cancer Prevention is pursuing a bold research agenda to address the public health crises that health disparities inflict on our most vulnerable communities. With support from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), this national center (Research Centers in Minority Institutions, RCMI) serves as an exemplar for community-engaged research. This research aims to accelerate discovery of novel prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and intervention strategies that can be disseminated and implemented directly into underserved communities. Moreover, mentorship and professional development activities are structured to develop the next generation of health-equity scientists capable of advancing data-driven and culturally-responsive breakthroughs in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) research and cancer prevention.
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This short-term (1-year) funding opportunity will support 3-5 innovative pilot grants ($30,000 to $50,000) per year through 2 calls for applications (1 in the fall, 1 in the spring). Successful applications will propose to break new ground in health-equity science while successfully leveraging the data to transition into a developmentally appropriate NIH funding mechanism (e.g., K- and R-series).
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Important dates associated with the upcoming Request for Applications (RFA):
Letter of Intent (LOI) Due: August 30, 2024, at 5:00 pm CST
Complete Application Due: October 4, 2024, at 5:00 pm CST
Scientific Merit Review: Tentatively scheduled for December 22, 2024
Funding Decisions and NIMHD Approval: Between January – February 2025
Earliest Anticipated Award Start Date: February 3, 2024
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Download: RFA Guidelines
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Download: Cover Page
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Download: LOI Template
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We encourage you to attend one of our PGP Q&A sessions via Zoom to learn more about and maximize your proposal’s responsiveness to this request for applications. Please click on the boxes below for a direct link to the scheduled Zoom meetings.
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PGP | Q&A Session 1: Monday, July 15 from 11 am – 12 pm CST
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PGP | Q&A Session 2: Thursday, August 1 from 11 am – 12 pm CST
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PGP | Q&A Session 3: Friday, September 6 from 9 am – 10 am CST
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All questions regarding this RFA may be directed to Dr. Bettina Beech (RCMI, PI), Dr. Stacey Gorniak (IDC Director), or HEALTH-RCMI Staff.
SPRING 2024 PILOT PROJECTS
Transcriptional Profiling of Spheroid Formation and Metastatic Potential in Ovarian Cancer
Maram Quttina, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
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Project Team:
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Fatima Merchant, Ph.D., Co-Faculty Mentor
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Tasneem Bawa-Khalfe, Ph.D., Co-Faculty Mentor
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Kumaraswamy Naidu Chitrala, Ph.D., Significant Contributor
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Community-Based Assessment of Factors Associated with Medication Assisted Therapies (MAT) and Medications for Opioid Use Disorders (MOUD) in Harris County among Black/African Americans
Dipali Rinker, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Michael J. Zvolensky, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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J. Doug Thornton, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Steven Starks, M.D., Co-Investigator
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Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer, Ph.D., Co-Investigator​​​
FALL 2023 PILOT PROJECTS
Improving the Design of Immunotherapies for Underrepresented Minorities
Dinler Amaral Antunes Ph.D., Principal Investigator
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Project Team:
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Preethi Gunaratne Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Martiela Vaz de Freitas Ph.D., Other
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Human Model for Early Detection of Postpartum Breast Cancer in At-Risk Minorities
Samaneh Karami Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Tasneem Bawa-Khalfe Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Fatima Merchant Ph.D., Consultant​​​
SPRING 2023 PILOT PROJECTS
Development of Ultrasensitive Smart Bioelectronic Sensors for Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Health Disparities Reducing among Black Americans
Zhengwei Li, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Identifying Opportunities for Interventions to Prevent Overdose Deaths Associated with Homelessness
Benjamin King, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
FALL 2022 PILOT PROJECTS
Transcriptome-wide association study to identify the impact of health disparities in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy among the African American and white population with triple negative breast cancer.
Dr. Kumaraswamy Chitrala, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Fatima Merchant, Ph.D., Faculty Mentor
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Venkatesh Balan, Ph.D., Faculty Mentor
SPRING 2022 PILOT PROJECTS
A mobile intervention for Cannabis-related disparities among Black Cannabis Users: A pilot study
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Dr. Lorra Garey, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
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Project Team:
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Brooke Kauffman, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Michael J. Zvolensky, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Michael Businelle, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Julia Bucker, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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FALL 2021 PILOT PROJECTS
Proof of concept and feasibility in podcasting cervical cancer prevention for African American women
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Dr. Chakema Carmack, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Interventions to improve adherence to oral endocrine therapies for prevention of new or recurrent breast cancer in African American women of low socioeconomic status
Dr. Meghana Trivedi, Ph.D., Pharm.D., Multiple Principal Investigator
Dr. Onyebuchi J. Ononogbu, Pharm.D., Multiple Principal Investigator
Dr. Susan Abughosh, Ph.D., Multiple Principal Investigator
Dr. Robert Shimko, Ph.D., Multiple Principal Investigator
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Project Team:
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Keith Houk, MFA, Co-Investigator
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SPRING 2021 PILOT PROJECTS
Examining Health Disparities and Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention in Syrian Refugee Women in the United States
Samina Salim, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
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Project Team:
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Johanna Bick, Ph.D., Co-Investigator
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Mohan Chandra, Ph.D., Collaborator
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Meghana Trivedi, Ph.D., Collaborator
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Sausaun Abouharb, M.D., Collaborator
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Learn more about Dr. Salim's research and her community outreach efforts.
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Exploring the provider and organization level barriers to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment for Black Americans
Lauren R. Gilbert, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Project Team:
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Steven Starks, M.D., Co-Investigator
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Learn more about Dr. Gilbert's research.
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