2021 Request for Proposals in Health Systems and Health Policy

Applications have now closed.

Overview

The Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) is requesting proposals for pilot research grants in the broad category of health services and health policy research. We seek proposals that investigate emerging medical, economic, social, and policy issues that influence how health care is organized, financed, managed, and delivered. Applications are due by Monday, November 1, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

This Request for Proposals Is Intended To:

• Stimulate innovative research ideas among the Penn community 
• Encourage the development of new collaborations between investigators of different backgrounds and disciplines
• Encourage cross-school collaborations
• Lead to new extramural grant funding or a new research program for the PI

Pilot proposals that help support these goals will be given preference, as will proposals that align with at least one of LDI’s priority focus areas. These areas are: (1) health care access and coverage; (2) health equity; (3) improving care for older adults; (4) the opioid epidemic; and (5) population health.

LDI Pilot Project Program Goals

The goal of LDI’s Pilot Project Program is to provide seed funding for health systems and health policy research projects to help Senior Fellows and Associate Fellows attract external support for large-scale studies. The budget for a Senior Fellow pilot project grant is limited to $20,000. The budget for an Associate Fellow pilot project grant is limited to $5,000. Proposals submitted should explain clearly how the proposed project will lead to additional external funding (specifying the funding source) or to a new program of research for the PI. 

Information about recent LDI Small Grant awards is available here and here.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

An LDI Senior Fellow or Associate Fellow must be the principal investigator for a proposal to be eligible for funding. In addition, LDI Associate Fellows applying as principal investigators must include a detailed mentorship plan. Penn faculty without LDI affiliations are permitted to be co-investigators on proposals. Potential applicants may be early-career investigators seeking to establish independent directions, or established investigators pursuing new research directions. Projects that have already received funding are not eligible under this solicitation.

Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Impact. The significance of the problem, and potential for new insights into methodological, ethical, and/or policy issues in health policy and health services.
• Investigator(s). The qualifications of the PI and the background and experience of the investigator team, with particular value placed on cross-disciplinary/cross-school teams. For junior PIs, a clear mentorship plan should be delineated.
• Methods. Appropriateness and methodological rigor of the scientific plan.
• Themes. The project’s alignment with LDI’s five priority themes (health care access and coverage, health equity, improving care for older adults, the opioid epidemic, and population health).
• Potential. The likelihood the pilot project leads to new extramural grant funding and/or a robust new research program for the PI.

Other Requirements

• All investigators selected for LDI Pilot funding must eventually submit a final report to the Leonard Davis Institute at the end of the funding period. Investigators may also be requested to present their results at a research seminar at LDI and to serve as a reviewer of pilot grant applications in the future.
• Investigators must acknowledge LDI support on all publications and other products of the program and send copies of all products to LDI.
• Projects must be completed by December 31, 2022.

Use of Grant Funds

Funds may be used to support LDI Associate Fellow and project staff salaries and benefits, consultant fees, data management, supplies, and other direct expenses. Funds may not support faculty salaries, or travel to meetings to present work. Equipment purchases are discouraged but can be allowed with sufficient justification. No indirect costs are permitted. No internal service center fees tied to faculty effort are permitted unless independently justified.

How to Apply

LDI Senior Fellows and Associate Fellows should complete the online application form, which includes a combined PDF version of the following proposal elements:

• Project Abstract (not to exceed 250 words).
• Project Description (up to four pages, single-spaced, ½” margin minimum, 11-point font minimum) that contains the following information:
  • Statement of the project’s specific aims, significance, and impact
  • Description of the research plan and methodologies to be employed
  • Clear discussion of how the data will be collected and how key variables will be measured and analyzed
  • Clear description of next steps (e.g., plans for external funding and/or a new research program)
  • Timetable for project completion (e.g., Gantt chart)

• LDI Associate Fellows must also include a detailed Mentorship Plan (limited to one page in addition to the 4-page Project Description).
• Project Budget that clearly describes and justifies the specific items to be funded by the grant (not to exceed one page).
• Principal Investigator’s (PI’s) Biosketch with selected relevant publications, current research support, and research support received during the past three years (follow current NIH biosketch guidelines).
• Other Pending or Funded Grant Proposals for the same or similar project.
• Co-Investigators’ abbreviated*  Biosketch(es) with selected relevant publications (*NIH format, but not to exceed two pages).
• Appendices (please limit these to essential information that is directly relevant to the proposal, e.g. a pilot survey form or an outside collaborator’s support letter).

Please note: Do not send this proposal to the University Office of Research Services before submitting it to LDI. As a condition of funding, PIs of all approved proposals must eventually submit a letter from ORS indicating that the project meets all regulatory standards, but these approvals need not be obtained prior to submitting the proposal to LDI.

The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, November 1, 2021. Awards will be announced by Friday, December 17, 2021.