Center for Improving Care Delivery for the Aging (CICADA)

The Center for Improving Care Delivery for the Aging (CICADA) is one of a national network of 18 Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) funded by the National Institute of Aging (NIA). CICADA’s essential goal is to recruit, mentor, and develop individuals into accomplished, independent research scientists.

We focus on the discipline of health services research, concentrating on the organization, financing, and delivery of health care for older adults. This process begins by funding pilot research projects undertaken by RCMAR Scientists. This is accompanied by extensive mentoring, research training, career support, and skills development opportunities. Since its founding 21 years ago, more than 400 research scholars have come through the RCMAR program, most going on to academic research careers.

“I am deeply grateful to be an alum of the CICADA program and credit it with a lot of my development as an aging researcher and assistant professor. Our mentors are top-notch and continue to be devoted to our success as researchers in both formal and informal ways. In addition to learning through formal workshops how to navigate academia, effectively present research, and secure research funding, we received feedback on research and coaching for interviews. I also found valuable the monthly meetings where fellow CICADA scientists shared research; because of our diverse research interests, I gained insight into other aspects of aging research.”

Salama Freed, PhD, MS, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management, George Washington University

“This experience not only provided the necessary research funding, mentoring, and training support, as a Penn CICADA Scientist, my peer network expanded significantly to include collaborations with health services researchers and multidisciplinary colleagues in aging that continue beyond the scholarship period. These meaningful connections and resources have been the key to achieving academic career goals, transitioning from assistant professor to tenured associate professor in the School of Nursing, and most importantly, to strengthening my current work to include sustainable and equitable approaches to HSR community-based research that impacts the lives of Latino elders and their families.”

Adriana Perez, PhD, CRNP, Associate Professor, Penn Nursing

“When I was applying for the CICADA program, I hoped to receive mentorship from knowledgeable senior scientists and funding to support my proposed research. I did receive that mentorship and funding, which served to further my career and grow as an independent investigator. What I didn’t expect was getting to become part of a compassionate, dynamic community of peers. My fellow CICADA alumni are my collaborators, co-authors, and co-investigators; they are my friends, role models, and support system. Being a part of CICADA was life changing!”

Eleanor Rivera, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago

“CICADA has been committed to my professional success from the first day that I began my tenure as a CICADA Scientist in 2018 till today, years beyond completing my tenure as a CICADA scientist. Over the years, I have received in-depth mentorship and sponsorship such as faculty search guidance, career development award application support, facilitation of networks and collaborations, and provision of important resources that I would have not had access to outside of CICADA, that have all been instrumental to the work that I do today.”

Jasmine Travers, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Nursing, New York University

What is CICADA?

CICADA is Penn’s NIA-funded Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR), a national program focused on mentoring promising scientists for sustained careers in aging and health equity research. The ultimate goal of the RCMARs is to increase the number of researchers focused on health disparities and the health and well-being of minoritized older adults.

CICADA focuses on training researchers in the priority areas of social, behavioral, and economic research on aging, addressing issues of health equity, care quality, access, and affordability using the methods of health economics and health services research, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and implementation science approaches. Because CICADA is housed within LDI, CICADA Scientists benefit from the resources available through LDI’s extensive network of mentors and scholars, research infrastructure, and translation and dissemination support.

How to Apply

Penn’s Center for Improving Care Delivery for the Aging (CICADA) has closed applications for the 2025-2026 cohort of CICADA Scientists. In collaboration with Penn’s Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics (LDI), CICADA supports promising scientists interested in a career focused on improving health equity and health care delivery for older adults.

Up to three Scientists will be accepted into CICADA for the current cycle. Each Scientist will receive funding of up to $50,000 to conduct a 1-year research project, hands-on mentoring, career development support, and networking opportunities during the award period. See the CICADA Resources tab below to learn about the full set of resources available to CICADA Scientists.

If you have any questions about the center or this RFA, please contact us at CICADA@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Candidates must be (1) MD (or equivalent) and MD/PhD clinical fellows who have completed their residency, (2) PhD postdoctoral trainees, and (3) MD/PhD, MD, or PhD early-stage faculty [defined as instructor or early-stage assistant professor for less than 3 years at time of application].

Scientists need not have conducted aging research before, but they must be committed to developing new research skills in health services research focused on aging. Applicants can be affiliated with any U.S. university and is not limited to those with Penn affiliations.

FOCUS OF RESEARCH PROJECTS

Support will be given for 1-year pilot research projects that are focused on issues of health equity, quality, access, and/or affordability for older adults using the methods of health economics or health services research.
Projects that leverage the data available through LDI and CICADA’s Analysis Core will be given priority. More details on our resources are available on our Data and Analytics Support page here.
The proposed project should lead to publication of at least one first-authored, peer-reviewed manuscript. Priority will be given to projects that will lead to subsequent funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), particularly the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

REVIEW CRITERIA FOR APPLICATIONS

Quality and rigor of proposed research
Relatedness of proposed research to CICADA’s focus and use of LDI/CICADA data resources
Likelihood that proposed research would lead to subsequent NIH-funded projects, particularly NIA-funded projects
Credentials and promise of the investigator in aging-related research

APPLICATION TIMELINE

The 2025-2026 application cycle has now closed.

Candidates will be notified if they have been selected by February 28, 2025. At that time successful applicants will be asked to supply supporting documents (including, but not limited to, IRB approval, human subjects training, enrollment reporting, and other requested materials).

Project support will start July 1, 2025.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Applicants must complete and submit the following required documents by 11:59pm ET on January 17, 2025:

Cover page including Project Title, Principal Investigator, Mentor(s), and Abstract (not to exceed 250 words)
Project Description (up to five pages, single-spaced, 11-point font minimum one-inch margins) which contains the following sections:
Specific aim(s) and significance (with specific hypotheses ~1 page)
Research plan and methodology (~2.5 pages)
- Should include a description of the data to be used or how the data will be collected; key variables and how they will be measured or defined; and a detailed analysis plan.
Project timeline and milestones (e.g., Gantt chart) (~0.5 pages) Milestones should be identified along the 1-year timeline. Milestones should be well described, quantifiable, and scientifically justified benchmarks at critical junctures. This section may also include alternative strategies should any component efforts fail to perform as expected.
How this proposal is related to CICADA’s focus (~1 page)
- How the proposed research project is related to CICADA’s research focus on improving health equity and health care delivery for older adults
- How the proposed research project will inform the applicant’s future research and how it will lead to larger funding by the NIH/NIA or another agency
- A description of the applicant, including career objectives and how CICADA support would help achieve those objectives
- Proposed mentor(s) and a statement about their involvement and the role they will play in conducting the research project and supporting the applicant’s career objectives. Applicants without mentors who have a potential project should email CICADA at CICADA@pennmedicine.upenn.edu for assistance in identifying a mentor in advance of the application deadline
Project Budget
- Proposals must include an itemized budget of up to $50,000.
- An accompanying budget justification should clearly describe and justify the specific items to be funded by the grant.
- A budget template can be accessed here.
- Research funds can support salary, research expenses, travel, equipment and/or supplies as appropriate to the project.
- Any sub-contracts (including indirect costs of up to 8%) must be included in the budgeted amount.
Applicant’s current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Mentors’ abbreviated Biosketch(es) with selected relevant experience and publications (not to exceed 2 pages)

Please contact CICADA@pennmedicine.upenn.edu with any questions.

Apply Now

CICADA Resources

RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO AWARDED CICADA SCIENTISTS

Funding of up to $50,000 to complete a one-year research project
- Research funds can support salary, research expenses, travel, equipment, and/or supplies as appropriate to the project.
- Any sub-contracts (including indirect costs of up to 8%) must be included in the budgeted amount.
Mentoring, including:
- Standardized mentoring protocols, including goal setting and group mentoring meetings, as well as personnel and collaborator management
- Professional development, including job talk or presentation preparation
CICADA-specific programming, including:
- Monthly seminars from CICADA’s expert faculty, including content on data management, statistical analysis plans, qualitative research, and giving effective presentations
- Works in Progress meetings to discuss CICADA Scientist research findings
- Academic and professional networking opportunities
- Grant writing training and resources
- Research award administration and research project management
- Participation in Penn’s Implementation Science Institute, a four half-day bootcamp delivered virtually each June (next delivery June 11-14, 2024)
Appointment to Penn LDI as a Fellow, including many data resources available to LDI Fellows
Becoming part of the growing community of CICADA Scientists with access to CICADA programming after the 1-year support period

FAQ

Who is Eligible to Apply to Become a CICADA Scientist?

Applicants must be post-doctoral researchers and junior faculty. This includes (1) MD and MD/PhD clinical fellows who have completed their residency; (2) PhD postdoctoral trainees; and (3) MD/PhD, MD, and PhD junior faculty [instructors or assistant professor for less than three years at time of application].

Applicants must be committed to developing new research skills in health services research focused on aging. Applicants can be affiliated with any U.S. university and is not limited to those with Penn affiliations.

What is the focus of CICADA pilot project?

Support will be given for pilot research projects that are focused on issues of health care quality, access, affordability, and/or equity for older adults using the methods of health economics or health services research.
Projects that leverage the data in available through LDI and CICADA’s Analysis Core will be given priority. More details on these resources are available on our Data and Analytics Support page here.
The proposed project should lead to publication of at least one first-authored, peer-reviewed manuscript. Priority will be given to projects that will lead to subsequent funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), particularly the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Who can I contact for more information?

Please contact CICADA@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.