ICTS

Campus-Community Research Incubator Grant Program

Section 1

Overview

The Campus-Community Research Incubator Program (CCRI) is a small grant fund mechanism designed to foster collaborative research-oriented projects between university researchers and community organizations. There are two levels of grant funding available: 1. Pilot CCRI $8,000-$10,000 (for research applications) and 2. Mini CCRI $3,000-$5,000 (for capacity and partnership building applications). The estimated funding period is April 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019.

Eligibility

Grants are awarded only to teams comprised of UCI researchers and community organization representatives. Applicants can be:

  • 501c3 community organizations located in southern California
  • UCI-based researchers, including faculty, healthcare providers, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, or senior researchers

Proposals must demonstrate an active engagement between UCI researchers and community representatives. Specifically, projects must demonstrate they are co-designed and clearly state the anticipated benefits to each partner.


All projects require UCI Human Research Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or an exemption determination prior to funds being released. It is recommended that the IRB application be submitted prior to final submission of this funding application. In addition to UCI IRB approval, community organizations may have their own IRB processes.

 

All personnel on proposals must take the Human Subjects Protections and HIPAA tutorial prior to funds being disbursed.

Tutorials: Human Subject Protection and HIPAA  https://www.citiprogram.org/Default.asp 

               

All applications must be submitted electronically.


Types of Awards

Awards may be used for:

1. Research-based activities: Pilot CCRI $8,000-$10,000 (for research applications)

    • Research activities include but are not limited to data collection, analyses, and/or pilot studies.
    • An example of a pilot CCRI is a study that will generate findings to be further studied or tested in a larger follow-up research study. Typically, CCRI funds are adequate to determine feasibility. Sometimes a statistically-significant sample can be obtained, but this is not an expected outcome of CCRI-funded projects. For information on the expectations and limitations of seed grant funding, please see this article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3081994/
    • Fifty-one percent (51%) of research funds are distributed directly to the community partner.

2. Capacity- and partnership-building activities: Mini CCRI $3,000-$5,000 (for capacity and partnership building applications)

    • Capacity-building and project planning activities include but are not limited to trainings, data set organization, technology, project development for future research

Use of Funds

Two funding levels are anticipated for this round:

Pilot CCRI $8,000-$10,000 (for research applications)

Mini CCRI $3,000-$5,000 (for capacity and partnership building applications)

Funds may be used to purchase research supplies, support research assistants, or buy out an applicant's time.

At least 51% of award funds must be distributed to the community partner to support their research activities. Community partner funds may also be used to supplement academic partner’s project activities, if necessary.

Funds may not be used to purchase food, but may be used to purchase study participant gift cards.

Funds must be spent and projects completed by March 31. 2020.

Reporting Requirement

  • Awardees are required to complete documentation for a face-to-face activation meeting that takes place at the beginning of the funding, and a report with highlights, findings, and further actions, at the close of the award period, March 31, 2020.
  • Awardees are expected to develop a poster that presents their findings and display the poster at the annual UCI/ICTS Translational Science Day at the UCI Student Center. Additional information will be given in the notice of awards.
  • Awardees are expected to present their projects twice at a CCRI Presentation Breakfast, once at the beginning of the funding period, and again at the end. Additional information will be given in the notice of awards.
  • Awardees are required to acknowledge the ICTS in all publications and presentations.

 

Selection Criteria 

Awards will be made competitively. In general, proposals that demonstrate the following will be given highest priority:

  • Focus on integrating innovative community-based practices that accelerate discoveries toward better health and healthcare delivery and/or contribute to the understanding clinical translational science and the social determinants of health.
  • Have formed or established a partnership (an existing partnership prior to applying for CCRI). Partnership development and fortification are a primary mission for this grant mechanism, so a special emphasis on the nature of the academic-community partnership should be apparent.
  • Demonstrate project ingenuity/innovation
  • Have a high likelihood of meaningful positive impact (ex. changing clinical care in a positive way, future research possibilities)
  • We will preferentially consider proposals with in-kind support
  • Those with existing IRB approval

The CCRI applications for research activities are rigorously reviewed by UCI faculty and community partners. Each application will have at least one review from an academic and a community member.  Please be sure to clearly indicate to which funding mechanism you are applying.

Scoring for Research-based activities (Pilot CCRI) is based on the following:

  1. Significance and impact
  2. Qualifications of the PI and research team
  3. Innovation
  4. Approach; Scientific strength of the research design
  5. Scientific environment
  6. Translational nature of the project
  7. Project feasibility within the proposed time frame
  8. Likelihood of generating extramural funding
  9. Strength/potential of the partnership

Scoring for Capacity- and partnership-building applications (Mini CCRI) is based on the following:

  1. Significance and impact
  2. Qualifications of the PI and partnership team
  3. Innovation
  4. Scientific environment
  5. Translational nature of the project
  6. Project feasibility within the proposed time frame
  7. Likelihood of generating extramural funding
  8. Strength/potential of the partnership

Application Components

  • Biosketch (NIH new format) of University Partner and biosketch or CV of Community Partner
  • Timeline (1 Page)
    • A detailed plan for completion of the project by March 31, 2020
  • Letter of support from the university partner and the community partner
  • Budget (itemized, 1 page maximum). Must clearly state the following:
    • Total budget for the project
    • Amount requested from the ICTS
    • Breakdown of funds to be directed to the community partner vs. university partner (remember, > 51% of funds are to be sent to the community partner)
  • Budget Justification
    • Funds cannot be used to support the PI’s salary, computer purchases, or travel. Other personnel salaries are allowable.
    • No overhead will be provided for outside institutions
  • ICTS Pilot Project Implementation Plan (click link to download form)
  • UCI Financial Disclosure (For UCI Faculty: Form 800 and if required Form 810; for community members Form 800SR)

 

Note: Partnered and engaged research differs in several ways from traditional research inquiry, including the time and care it takes to create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships, and the ability for partners to understand and acknowledge the expertise, contributions, and needs of the other. If you have questions about what is meant by Community-Engaged Research, would like examples of high quality proposals, help framing your research project, and/or to discuss your idea, please contact Robynn Zender via the information below.

 

Robynn Zender, MS 

CEU Manager, Community Research 

Institute for Clinical and Translational Science

949-824-3160  E-mail: rzender@uci.edu

To apply, please use this link: HERE.