School of Medicine

School of Medicine - Research Enhancement Program (REP)

GRANT FOR RESEARCH ON HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES APPLICATION

The School of Medicine Research Office invites all faculty, staff, fellows, residents and students to apply for an intramural grant in response to the national call of awareness to and elimination of healthcare disparities and the understanding and movement toward healthcare equity.  These grants are intended to support the education, analysis, improvement and innovation in reducing healthcare disparities within our teaching hospitals/academic centers and our communities, and how we can improve the working and training spaces we occupy. Funds may be used to undertake new projects or to expand current projects.  The goal of this program is to provide institutional support for project initiatives that can directly affect our patient care communities and hospital systems.  

Background

When we speak about health disparities, we should think about how marginalized or disadvantaged groups experience suboptimal or greater health risks due to their differences.  These disparities systematically and systemically exist within our work, social and community settings and thereby create great difficulty in creating opportunity, access and oftentimes, hope. Through our understanding and awareness of how these exist and how they impact the lives of many of those around us, we can possibly begin to affect change and offer our voices and skill to transform policy and advocacy.

Purpose

Encourage scientific research within the areas of disparities and inequities to inform and transform policy makers, healthcare professionals, and health systems.

Objectives

1. Change how we think about health disparities.
2. Advance science around marginalized groups that are challenged by healthcare access inequities and resulting in health disparities.
3. Increase the number of researchers interested in health disparities.

Areas of Research Interest/ Examples of Projects

• Social and Economic Determinants of Health
• Social Networks, Culture, and Chronic Illness Management
• Physical activity: Environmental, social, and familial influences
• The need for green space: How our communities look for vulnerable populations
• Geographic, age, language as barriers to adequate healthcare

Please note that these projects can be directed toward process improvement actions and educational efforts to identify, eradicate, reduce, and create effective change of a community’s disparities.  Therefore, projects can be both qualitative and quantitative in nature.  Projects submitted by students, fellows, and residents would require a letter of support from a faculty sponsor.  Faculty members who submit an application for funds will need a signature of support from the department head.   

Applications will be reviewed by the GRHD Committee and will be awarded based on the goal of improving the environment in the LSU Health Sciences Center and/or our training facilities.  The duration of these grants will be one year.  An applicant can resubmit an additional year of support, which will be critically evaluated based not only on its outcomes, but also on the continued need for funding and likelihood of being competitive for extramural funding.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted three times a year: March 15, July 15 and November 15.   When the deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, applications will be accepted on the next business day.

Application Format

1. Title Page
   1. Title of the project
   2. Applicant information (name, position within LSU Health Sciences Center, degree, campus address, email address and telephone number)
   3. Signature of applicant
   4. All applications from students, staff, residents, and fellows must be accompanied by the identification of a faculty sponsor. The sponsoring department will need to provide a signed statement from the Department Chair ensuring an equal match to the grant award. 

2. Project Proposal. Sections a-d below should be no more than 5 pages and should include the following:
   1. Specific Aims. Provide a concise statement of the project aims to be addressed in this project.
   2. Background and significance
   3. Statement of Research Intent.  This statement of intent (no more than 500 words) will describe how the proposed project will advance thinking, action, and/or innovation with respect to reducing disparities.  It may also describe ways in which the proposal will support the advancement of equity research in relation to healthcare within vulnerable communities. 
   4. Project design and methods
   5. References (not to be included in the page count of the proposal).
   6. Biosketch for all key personnel (NCI biosketch 2025)
   7. Budget outline (Budget)
   8. Budget justification

Funding Amount

The amount of funding will be recommended by the committee, and decided by the Dean of the School of Medicine.  Funding can be up to the designated amounts:

Unallowable Costs

Due to the limited funds available, some research-related costs are not supported by this funding mechanism, they include:

1. Publication cost: It is not intended solely for publication costs. Publication costs are permitted only as part of the project.
2. Faculty Salaries: Not allowable.
3. Travel is not allowable unless it is part of the project (e.g., travel to a remote site to collect data). The departmental contribution to the award can include travel to a meeting to present research that is the result of the project.
4. Patient care costs: Costs associated with performing a diagnostic test that is necessary for the research project but not covered by normal patient care is an allowable expense. It is also allowable to include any patient incentives that are integral to participation in the project.
5. Office equipment: Not allowable.

Funding can be used for personnel support with data collection, equipment needs, educational materials, lecturers, etc.

Final Reports

Within 3 months after completion of the project, a short report (1 page recommended) on the result of the project must be submitted to Dr. Kristi Anderson, Assistant Professor of Research. This report is the joint responsibility of the primary signatory of the project and the co-signed faculty sponsor and department head. 

The report should include 1) a description of the findings, 2) a discussion of whether the initial aims were met and 3) and how the sponsoring department can/may utilize the findings of this project to affect their patient population or greater community.  The report should also include any manuscripts or grant proposals related to this project. 

If you have any questions, please email Tara Castellano, MD at tcaste@lsuhsc.edu

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question: When can I expect to hear back from the committee about whether our submission has been approved?

Answer: The committee will try to get decisions back to the applicants within 6-8 weeks.  Please note that this does not ensure that funding will be given at that time.  This is simply for the approval or request for additional information. 

Question: Do I need to have IRB approval before submitting my application? 

Answer: You do not need to have IRB approval prior to submitting your application, however, funding will not be released until IRB approval has been provided.

Question:   Will the committee provide me with information once a decision is reached?

Answer: Yes, the committee will provide all applicants with an explanation of their award or why the project could not be considered for an award at that time.

Question: What should I include in my Biosketch?

Answer: You should include a personal statement that speaks to your experience qualifications; your current position and honors, publications, previous research history and any relevant information that gives the committee the understanding of why you are suited to receive this award.  We want to know why you and why this project should be funded.    

Question: Who do I send my completed application to?  What if I have a question?

Answer: Your application should be submitted to Tara Castellano. at tcaste@lsuhsc.edu Please make sure all of the necessary components are included. It would be extremely helpful if the application was submitted as one PDF document. Additionally, if you have any questions during your application process, please reach out to Dr. Castellano