Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity (CAHPE)

Rutgers-New York University Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity (CAHPE)

Call for Pilot Proposals: Request for Applications

Applications being accepted for one- year NIH/NIMHD-funded Pilot-Study

Awards $35,000-$60,000 each

Intend to fund up to five awards in this cycle across 3 funding mechanisms

 (A1, A2, & B)

*See Eligibility Section for detailed definition of ESI/NI, Community Researcher, P50 Center Faculty and Advanced-stage EST/NI

Key dates:

Letter of Intent Deadline: April 26, 2024, by 11:59 PM EST

Deadline for Consultation Summary: May 15, 2024, by 11:59PM EST

Deadline for Application Submission: June 17, 2024, by 11:59 PM EST

Earliest Anticipated Award Date: September 2024

Overview and goals:

Several chronic health diagnoses disproportionately impact US Asians, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Many Asian subgroups have a higher prevalence of cardiometabolic disease than non-Hispanic white counterparts^{. 1-6} However, health disparities are disguised due to aggregation of Asian racial category; thus, there is a call for research to use disaggregated data.^2,7 The goal of our P50 Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity (CAHPE) is to improve cardiometabolic and mental health-related research involving U.S. Asian adults. This will be accomplished through supporting both large-scale and small-scale projects on cardiometabolic and mental health among US Asians. Through these pilot projects, we aim to develop a pipeline of qualified researchers focused on Asian health disparities in cardiometabolic and mental health. Pilot Project Awards will support collaborative projects conducting innovative research that focuses on the intersection of cardiometabolic disease and mental health among Asians (comparative research between U.S. Asian adults and other populations also qualify). This research can span the disciplines of basic science, population studies, or social science. Projects can focus on primary data collection or secondary data analyses. Projects that include a diverse sample of Asian ethnicities and include sub- group analysis to reflect the heterogeneity of U.S. Asian adults are encouraged. For more information about the Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity (CAHPE, pronounced “cape”) and aims, please refer to our project description found here: https://reporter.nih.gov/search/hmnNx6TX_UGX5iXfEd9rrQ/project- details/10437453. Pilot projects are expected to address determinants of health at two or more levels of influence (individual, interpersonal/organizations, community, societal; see NIMHD Research Framework, https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/overview/research-framework/ for more information) that are relevant to cardiometabolic disease and mental health disparities among Asians in NJ/NY. All investigators will be strongly encouraged to use common data elements and measures that have been vetted through the NIH PhenX-Toolkit process, especially for social determinants of health (www.phenxtoolkit.org). Please see the appendix for a list of common data elements in our Center.

Eligibility:

ESI/NI: All advanced post-doctoral fellows or early-stage or new investigators (at instructor, assistant, or associate professor level; see NIH definition at link: http://tinyurl.com/3x5czzrw) who are not only interested in becoming an independent investigator, but also in pursuing research regarding health disparities among U.S. Asian children or adults are eligible to apply. Principal investigators who have previously received or who are current recipients of NIH R01-level or equivalent funding are not eligible for this funding mechanism. Minority scholars are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be academic or clinical researchers preferably based in the New York/New Jersey area. Applications which include a Letter of Support from a Community stakeholder or Community Based Organization will be prioritized.

Community Researcher: A community member who has experience as a community stakeholder and leader with Asian populations or a community member who is experiencing cardiometabolic and/or mental health disorders as a patient or patient’s family member and are interested in pursuing health disparities research among U.S. Asian children or adults are eligible to apply. Community members who are interested in applying must complete Community-Investigator training through NJ ACTS as described here: https://njacts.rbhs.rutgers.edu/community-scientist/. Applications from Multiple Principal Investigators (MPI), specifically an ESI/NI who provides leadership in developing specific aims, methodology and data analysis paired with a Community-Investigator who leads community engagement and dissemination of results are highly encouraged. Community members who are interested in applying should contact us before the LOI deadline to be paired with an ESI/NI and Center Faculty Member and to register for Community-Investigator Training at cahpe@rutgers.edu.

Center Faculty Member: A faculty member who is a member of the administrative, investigator development, or community engagement cores of the Rutgers-NYU Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity. A list of eligible faculty members can be found here: https://cahpe.rutgers.edu/?page_id=50

Advanced-stage EST/NI: All advanced post-doctoral fellows or early-stage or new investigators (at instructor, assistant, or associate professor level; see NIH definition at link: http://tinyurl.com/3x5czzrw) who are not only interested in becoming an independent investigator, but also in pursuing research regarding health disparities among U.S. Asian adults and have received prior P50 pilot or equivalent intramural or extramural pilot funding are eligible to apply. They must have completed significant data collection for the pilot study or a manuscript from the pilot study must be submitted for publication by the time of application. Principal investigators who have previously received or who are current recipients of NIH R01-level or equivalent funding are not eligible for this funding mechanism. Minority scholars are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be academic researchers preferably based in the New York/New Jersey area.

Letter of Intent (LOI) Guideline (All Mechanisms): By the date listed in this announcement, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

• • Descriptive title of proposed activity

• • Abstract of proposed pilot project

• • Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PI(s)

• • Names of other key personnel including primary mentor

• • Participating institution(s)

• • Title of this funding opportunity

LOI should be emailed to: cahpe@ifh.rutgers.edu

Community Consultation Summary Guideline (Mechanisms A1 & B): After receiving the Letter of Intent, potential applicants to these 2 funding mechanisms will be provided a one-hour consultation with a member of CAHPE’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) to provide recommendations on the research protocol to encourage more community-engaged research participation. Consultations can include the following: proposal development, study design, finding & developing community research partnerships, addressing project sustainability, reviewing budget proposals for community components, providing mentorship & training, providing support for study translation, addressing language access and diversity, identifying community samples, recruitment of diverse populations, reviewing survey instruments, reviewing data collection methods and consent procedures/instruments, and creating research staff trainings. After the consultation, a summary of recommendations that will be incorporated into the proposal will be required to be sent to cahpe@ifh.rutgers.edu by May 15, 2024.

Full Application Guideline (All Mechanisms): The application must include all sections outlined below. Cover Page and Abstract: On the cover page please include 1) the title of the project; 2) names, faculty ranks, and institutions of PI and all other co-investigators/collaborators/mentorship team; and 3) the PI’s contact information (phone number and email address). Additionally, provide an abstract description of the proposed research project in layman’s terms (250 words or fewer).

Research Proposal: The proposal should describe the research plan and should include 1) specific aims; 2) scientific significance and innovation; 3) preliminary studies; 4) research design and methods, including any analytic procedures; 5) limitations; 6) information on how the proposed project will lead to peer-reviewed funding; 7) plans for the PI’s career development and mentorship; and 8) the added value that the proposed research brings to the Rutgers-NYU CAHPE and the U.S. Asian adult population. This section is limited to 3 pages (Mechanism A1 & A2) excluding figures, tables and references (The large pilot grant application (Mechanism B) is limited to 5 pages) excluding figures, tables and references. Appendix material will not be accepted. Proposals should be submitted using 11-point Arial font and no less than 0.5” margins.

Biosketches: Current NIH Biosketches (this should include all other funding sources) are required for the PI (co-PI, if any) and their primary mentor. Biosketches should be submitted on the current NIH Biographical Sketch Format.

Budget: Requests NOT EXCEEDING the award amount should be submitted on the NIH budget form (can be accessed here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/fp4.pdf), and budget justifications should be submitted to match the budget form. Outline major divisions of funds (personnel/effort support, equipment, supplies, other, etc.; and include adequate rationale in the budget justification). Funds should be used for research-related activities, excluding travel expenses for conferences. All budget estimates include direct costs only. Indirect costs are unallowable. Please consult with the Office of Sponsor Program of your Institution to confirm what the grant submission requirements are. Institutional matching funds are preferred, but not required, to cover additional effort or research related costs. Human Subjects portion: The applicant will provide written study protocols that address risks and protections for human subjects in accordance with NIH’s Instructions for Preparing the Human Subjects Section of the Research Plan and specific plans for data and safety monitoring, if applicable. If IRB approval is necessary for the proposed research, approval will be required prior to receiving funding (IRB approval is not needed for the pilot application review).

Letters of Support: Your primary mentor must provide a letter of support for your application to show his/her commitment to your proposed study. In addition, if you are working with any community partners to recruit participants or collect data, please also include letter(s) of support from the relevant community partners.

Format: All items must be compiled and submitted as a single PDF file. Please number each page. All application submissions can be submitted by the investigator to our email: cahpe@ifh.rutgers.edu or through the Institution’s Office of Sponsored Program. All inquiries related to this request for proposals should also be directed via email to cahpe@ifh.rutgers.edu.

LOI Deadline: April 26, 2024, by 11:59 PM EST

Consultation Summary Deadline: May 15, 2024, by 11:59 PM EST

Application Deadline: June 17, 2024 by 11:59 PM EST

Pilot Proposal Review Criteria:

Applications will be reviewed by designated review committees. Reviewers will assign a score on the overall application based on the following review criteria:

Significance: The project addresses cardiometabolic and mental health outcomes involving U.S. Asian adults or comparative research between U.S. Asian adults and other minority populations. The aims of the project advance scientific knowledge, technical capability, and have near-term impact.

Innovation: The application utilizes novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.

Investigator(s): The PI, collaborators, and other key personnel have the necessary experience and expertise to accomplish the goals of the proposed research project. The investigators have complementary and integrated expertise.

Approach: The overall strategy, methodology, and analyses is well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project.

Career Development: There is a well thought-out and reasonable plan for career development of the junior investigator. Mentor(s) have been identified and the appropriate mechanisms are in place to achieve career development goals outlined. Potential for External Funding: There is a high likelihood that the proposed research project will lead to NIH or other types of foundation funding. There are common data elements (CDE) that should be incorporated as much as possible. These will be shared with awardees. Inquiries regarding our CAHPE and or this funding opportunity should be submitted via email cahpe@ifh.rutgers.edu.

References

1. Heron M. Deaths: Leading causes for 2017. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2019;68

2. Holland AT, Wong EC, Lauderdale DS, Palaniappan LP. Spectrum of cardiovascular diseases in Asian-American racial/ethnic subgroups. Annals of epidemiology. 2011;21(8):608-614.

3. Abesamis CJ, Fruh S, Hall H, Lemley T, Zlomke KR. Cardiovascular Health of Filipinos in the United States: A Review of the Literature. J Transcult Nurs. Sep 2016;27(5):518-28. doi:10.1177/1043659615597040

4. Gadgil MD, Anderson CA, Kandula NR, Kanaya AM. Dietary patterns in Asian Indians in the United States: an analysis of the metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America study. J Acad Nutr Diet. Feb 2014;114(2):238-43. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2013.09.021

5. Mukherjea A, Modayil MV. Culturally specific tobacco use and South Asians in the United States: a review of the literature and promising strategies for intervention. Health Promot Pract. Sep 2013;14(5 Suppl):48S-60S. doi:10.1177/1524839913485585

6. Chen M, Hu J. Health disparities in Chinese Americans with hypertension: A review. Int J Nursing Sci. 2014;1:318-322.

7. Adia AC, Nazareno J, Operario D, Ponce NA. Health Conditions, Outcomes, and Service Access Among Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Adults in California, 2011-2017. Am J Public Health. Apr 2020;110(4):520-526. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.305523