Institute for Health Equity Research

Request for Proposals

The Institute for Health Equity Research’s (IHER) Catalyst Center is pleased to invite Early Stage Investigators (i.e., post-doctoral fellows and assistant professors) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to apply for internal funding to conduct research projects that focus on health disparities. Proposed pilot projects must:

• Focus on racial/ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, and/or sexual and gender minorities
• Use a conceptual framework that addresses the complex and multi-faceted nature of disparities, as described in the NIMHD Research Framework
• Use principles of Community-Engaged Research (CEnR)
• Include a senior faculty member from the applicant’s home department or institute
• Be designed to inform a planned future application for an NIH K or R01 Award addressing minority health or health disparities.

Opportunity: Three Scholars will be selected.  One “Career Development Pilot” grant will be awarded. Career Development Pilot grants will have a budget of up to $50,000 and will be used to support pilot studies to support a NIH K Award application. Two “Independent Researcher Pilot” grants will be awarded.  Independent Researcher Pilot grants will have a budget of up to $100,000 and will be used to support pilot studies to support a NIH R01 application.  All pilot grants will be for a one-year period.

Each Catalyst Scholar will:

• Be paired with an Equity Mentor from Mount Sinai’s IHER
• Create an individual development plan
• Attend the Catalyst Center’s Health Equity seminars and research methods workshops
• Present their proposal to the Catalyst Center’s Community Board
• Learn effective research project management
• Prepare manuscripts for publication
• Work with the CCB on dissemination strategies
• Present at the Catalyst Center annual research showcase
• Submit an application for an NIH K or R grant within 12-months of completing the award

Eligibility:

• Be a full-time Mount Sinai fellow or faculty member.
• Early-Stage Investigators who have completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever date is later, within the past 10 years and who have not previously competed successfully as PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award (i.e., R01).
• Are on a clear trajectory to a successful independent research career in health equity science.
• Show evidence of strong research training and
• Demonstrate a compelling case for why the funds will help them obtain a NIH K (Career Development) or NIH R01 or R01 equivalent (i.e., U01) grant as PD/PI and submit a grant within 12 months of completing the award.

Application Components.  Please use the SF-424 R&R Form:

• Personal Statement (1 page): A statement of career goals that explains how the research program is independent from their mentor’s and how this award will help enhance productivity.
• Research Plan (no more than 3 pages excluding references): Readily understood by reviewers outside the applicants’ research field (title, specific aims, background/significance, preliminary data, experimental design and methods, work plan and timeline, and references.
• NIH Biosketch (most current NIH templates required)
• NIH Other Support page (most current NIH templates required)
• Budget and budget justification: Career Development Pilot grants have a maximum budget of up to $50,000. Independent Research Pilot Grants have a maximum budget of up to $100,000.

Grant funds may be used for direct costs related to the project. These may include supplies and equipment, research assistant support, data analyst support, data purchase, research subject incentives, and other direct expenses of the project. Funds may be used for publication fees. Please note, funds cannot be used to support any investigator salaries, travel expenses, indirect costs (e.g., facilities and administrative costs) or tuition. Please use the SF-424 R&R Form to submit the budget and include a budget justification.

• Two Letters of Support: One from a current chief or chair; one from current or former mentor.

Review Process: A committee composed of Icahn School of Medicine faculty and community partners will review and score all applications using NIH criteria: significance, investigator (including potential for independence), innovation, approach, and environment. Additional criteria include community relevance and use of CEnR methods. Applications must clearly define the community of focus (e.g., common interests, identity, characteristics, or condition), and describe the partnership between investigator(s) and community partner(s), and the expected impact of the research findings on the community of focus and beyond.

Due Date 2/28/2025 by 11:59 PM, submit application here.

Notice of Award 04/25/25; Funding will begin 05/16/25. For more information, contact Cindy Clesca, MA, at cindy.clesca@mountsinai.org

The Institute for Health Equity Research offers funding for early-stage investigators from diverse backgrounds at Icahn Mount Sinai who have independent research programs. This internal funding is intended to help researchers maintain momentum or accelerate their success toward an established career as a federally funded investigator. Applicants who are members of groups underrepresented in science are encouraged to apply.

We accept applications from clinical, translational, health services, or basic science who are early-stage investigators and meet the following criteria:

• Have active extramural support, including salary support, for their research program from a career development award or other grant mechanism
• Are on a clear trajectory to a successful independent research career
• Show evidence of strong research training and productivity

We fund up to three one-year grants between $30,000 and $50,000 each year, conferred based on a competitive application process. Additionally, we connect awardees to key institutional career development resources and programs, as well as to external networking resources. Two runners-up may be awarded $1,500 toward enlisting a grant writer.

In addition to research activities, we expect all funded scholars to produce progress reports at six and 12 months of the funding period, outlining challenges and accomplishments. Scholars must also attend a semi-annual meeting with the Exceptional Scholar Award Program Director and other scholars.

Application Process

To apply for the grant, you will need to submit the following:

• Statement of career goals and explanation of how the research program is independent of your mentor’s projects and how this award will enhance productivity (one page)
• Research plan readily understandable by reviewers outside your research field. Please include title, specific aims, background/significance, preliminary data, experimental design and methods, work plan and timeline, and references (maximum three pages, excluding references)
• Documentation of National Institutes of Health (NIH) biosketch and other support
• Budget and budget justification (maximum $50,000 for one year). You may use funds to support a technician, study coordinator, data analyst, fellow, student, grant writer, or to purchase supplies or data, provide participant incentives, or otherwise support your research. Please note that funds cannot be used to support any investigator salaries. Please use the PHS 398 Form Page 4 to submit the budget and include a budget justification.
• Two letters of support: one from a current chief or chair, and one from a current or former research mentor

A committee appointed by the Institute for Health Equity Research will review and score all applications using NIH criteria.

For more information, please contact Cindy Clesca at cindy.clesca@mountsinai.org

Medical students considering a career in health equity research may participate in an ongoing research project focused on health equity during a full-time scholarly year research fellowship. Successful applicants will conduct research under the close mentorship of Institute faculty. Examples of eligible projects include impact of segregated health care on patients; inequities in chronic kidney disease and transplant for non-White and undocumented individuals; improving youth mental health through community-partnered initiatives; and ethics of genomic research among transgender and gender diverse individuals. Students selected can employ and gain experience using qualitative and quantitative methods, and community-based research approaches. Each student will receive a stipend of $40,000 for the year to support living expenses. Additional funding is provided for health insurance expenses and travel to present at one conference.

Applicants must be medical students in good standing who have completed at least one year of medical school (typically fellows are between third and fourth year). Underrepresented minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Additional criteria include:

• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
• A full-time commitment from July through June of the following year
• Interest in an academic medical career focused on health equity research
• Ability to work well independently and in a group
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Clinical research experience preferred, but not required

Application Process

Interested students should contact Rennie Negrón, Administrative Director of the Institute for Health Equity Research, for a complete list of potential projects and mentors.

Potential applicants will be meet with Ms. Negrón and their prospective faculty mentor prior to submitting an application. Interested students must submit a letter of interest accompanied by the following:

• Resume/CV
• A personal statement not to exceed one page regarding your motivation to apply for this experience, what you hope to get out of the year, how this will advance your career goals, and any other information that you would like the selection committee to know.
• A statement allowing permission for the selection committee to review your school record, which would include grades and board scores
• One letter of recommendation

The goal of the Mount Sinai Biomedical Laureates Program is to increase the number of research faculty at Icahn Mount Sinai from groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research and to support their growth as investigators and their development toward leadership roles at our institution. Administered through the Dean’s Office and the Institute for Health Equity Research, the program provides a critical mass of role models and mentors to foster the recruitment and retention of students, fellows, and other junior investigators from underrepresented groups, planting the seeds for further diversity in future years.