2015 Request for Applications for Pilot Grant
Center for Aging in Diverse Communities
Background: The UCSF Center for Aging in Diverse Communities (CADC) was established in October
1997 with funding from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) as part of the Resource Centers for
Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) and re-funded in 2002, 2007 and 2012. CADC is expected to
enhance aging research in minority populations and increase involvement of minority investigators in
the field. The ultimate goal of CADC is to reduce persistent health disparities observed by
race/ethnicity and social class among older people. Although the emphasis of CADC is on later life,
aging is a life-long process and many potentially modifiable factors bearing on the aging process are
linked to earlier or middle life. Therefore, we interpret aging research broadly. CADC derives expertise
from the minority leadership of the Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations
(MERC) and the multi-disciplinary investigators with more than 22 years of collaboration. MERC and
CADC have a track record of mentoring minority postdoctoral trainees and assistant professor faculty
in their research careers. One of the principal goals of CADC is to mentor minority investigators as
CADC Scholars, a process beginning with funding pilot studies that focus on health and health care
issues of minority populations. CADC is now requesting applications for pilot studies to
investigate issues of health and aging in African American, Latino, Asian American, Pacific
Islander and American Indian populations. CADC will fund pilot studies for at least three scholars
for the year starting no later than September 1, 2015. We are committed to mentoring the funded
scholar during and following the pilot study to support development of a successful research career.
The main indicator of success will be the individual’s research career development as measured by
publication of the pilot study results, other publications related to aging and health disparities, and
subsequent grant applications and funding. Our commitment is to the success of the CADC Scholar.
General Provisions: CADC scholars will have the opportunity to interact with investigators on the CADC
center grant, enhance their research skills and expand their knowledge about aging and disparities
research among minority populations. Scholars will be assisted in developing and submitting a careerdevelopment or independent research proposal based on results of their pilot studies. CADC scholars
will receive training in issues pertaining to minority aging research as well as feedback on papers, grant
ideas, and other academic products through monthly seminars focused on works in progress with CADC
faculty. They will be encouraged to participate in scientific meetings and training opportunities offered by
the National Institute on Aging. CADC Scholars will also have access to the resource cores of the UCSF
Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) that supports research on the determinants of outcomes
of disability in vulnerable elders. The OAIC will also be co-funding one of the CADC pilot awards focused
on vulnerable older adults.
Eligibility: The applicant must be at the assistant professor faculty level or a senior postdoctoral
fellow. The scholar will be Principal Investigator (PI) of the pilot study and must be from a racial/ethnic
minority as defined by self-identification or from a socioeconomically disadvantaged background of any
race/ethnicity as defined by NIH. Applicants must not have received a previous independent research
award of the R01 type from the NIH or similar funding agencies (AHRQ, CDC or Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation). Investigators who have received previous funding from faculty development awards
(including K-awards) are eligible. Faculty persons or postdoctoral fellows located in any academic or
research non-profit institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area are eligible. We will consider applications
from previously funded CADC Scholars but will give preference to new applicants. Proposed pilot
studies may be analyses of secondary data sets or primary data collection. We will give preference to
proposals in the following priority areas for the CADC:
(1) Health promotion and healthy aging topics
(2) Research projects with older minorities that engage community-based organizations
(3) Development of measurement instruments or protocols applicable to minority groups.
(4) Cognitive function among minority older adults
(5) Proposals using secondary data that include minority participants and are focused on aging.
1
(6) Studies on the determinants, outcomes, and palliation of disability in older minority persons.
Application Procedures: An application (must be single spaced, 1-inch margins, and in Arial 11 font)
must include the following:
1) Cover Page - Include name, current position, institution, mailing address, telephone number, fax
number, E-mail address, and a title for the study
2) Maximum of 5 pages (excluding references) using the following required format and page limit:
a) Specific Aims, Background and Significance, and Innovation (1 page)
b) Preliminary Studies that pertain to the application and Personal Statement and Career goals that
includes a summary of your background, preparation for research, and career objectives (1 page total)
c) Research Methods (3 pages) - Include a discussion of research design and specific research
questions, setting, participants and sources of participants, recruitment methods, measures to be used of
outcome and predictor variables, sample size calculation and analytic plan. Include at least one
paragraph of expected findings and implications.
3) Current full curriculum vitae and in NIH Biographical sketch format. Please include your race or
ethnic identity in the personal statement.
4) A one-year budget not to exceed $20,000 and a budget justification of expenses are required. These
budgets do not need to be vetted by institutional process at this time, but will need to be approved by NIA
if selected for funding. Please use NIH forms for the budget and budget justification. Expenses may
include salary and fringe benefits for the PI and research staff, research supplies, and participant
payments. If you are located outside UCSF, please note that we will not pay any institutional
indirect costs on these pilot grants and this has to be a condition of award. Please note that we will
not enter into a subcontract with other institutions in order to fund pilot studies if this involves indirect
costs.
5) Provide a copy of the NIH format biographical sketch and Other Support (4 pages maximum) of your
main research mentor
The completed electronic original application should be received no later than 5 PM on Monday, May 18,
2015 and sent to: Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D. at eliseo.perez-stable@ucsf.edu with a copy to Cecilia
Populus-Eudave at cecilia.populus-eudave@ucsf.edu. No hard copies.
Review Criteria: Selection of awards will be on the basis of the following criteria:
1) Potential for applicant to develop as an independent investigator and viability for the pilot study
developing into an independent research proposal within two years after completion
2) Relevance to minority aging research in epidemiological, clinical, social, behavioral, translational, or
implementation topics
3) Feasibility of conducting the study in one year with funds allocated
4) The scientific strength of the design, methods, and analytic plans
5) Diversity in representation of disciplines conducting aging research within UCSF or affiliated
institutions
Pilot study proposals will receive priority scores based on the written reviews and a discussion by the
CADC faculty. We expect to fund three scholars in year 19 of the CADC (2015-2016).
Funding: Funding decisions will be made by June 5, 2015.
Inquiries: Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to notify us that an application will be
forthcoming and request preliminary review prior to submission from one of the CADC faculty by sending
an email to Dr. Pérez-Stable with the title of your proposal. For general information or questions
regarding the application process or this RFA, contact: Cecilia Populus-Eudave at cecilia.populuseudave@ucsf.edu, Center for Aging in Diverse Communities, Tel: (415) 502-4088.
2