Health Equity Research Funding Opportunity | Office of Research and Innovation

Important Dates

October 25, 2024 - Call for proposals
January 13, 2025 - LOI deadline
March 10, 2025 - Proposal submission deadline
March 14-21, 2025 - Proposal review period
March 24, 2025 - Funding notification
April 1, 2025 - Project implementation

Introduction

We are pleased to announce the Health Equity Research Funding Opportunity, a transformative initiative developed and managed by the Office of Research and Innovation, aligned with Michigan State University's (MSU) 2030 Strategic Plan goals. The fundamental goal of the MSU Strategic Plan is to “Enhance quality of life for people everywhere by comprehensively leveraging expertise and research activity to improve health and the systems that affect health.” To achieve this goal, the Strategic Plan has set objectives, including the establishment of partnerships with communities and organizations to reduce health disparities—whether racial, ethnic, gender-based, or rural-urban—across Michigan by 2030.

Additionally, the 2030 Strategic Plan calls for “Dramatically increasing MSU faculty who make significant contributions to advancing social justice and ethics, ensuring equity, addressing disparities, and empowering communities through scholarship and engaged research.” It also emphasizes the need to “Increase proactive engagement with historically underrepresented and underserved communities based on partnerships informed by shared goals and mutual learning.”

In line with these objectives, the MSU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan advocates for the support and expansion of DEI-related research and scholarship. Among the proposed actions, the DEI Plan calls for “Establishing an institutional social justice research fund to support startup funds for research on racial equity and justice conducted by MSU faculty” and includes a “DEI-related focus in the Office of Research and Innovation’s internal grants program, along with providing professional development opportunities aimed at increasing the capacity and impact of DEI-related research and scholarship domestically and globally.” This funding opportunity invites researchers from MSU, MSU Extension, Henry Ford Health System, and Corewell Health to submit proposals that not only reflect academic rigor but also highlight a deep commitment to community engagement, diversity, and inclusion.

Objective

To support transdisciplinary research projects that align with Michigan State University's (MSU) 2030 strategic plan goals related to addressing health equity, and social determinants of health.

Eligibility Criteria

Researcher Teams (Multi-PI) Projects
1. Eligible applicants must form research teams that include multiple Principal Investigators (PIs) from across institutions and departments, specifically from Michigan State University (MSU), MSU Extension, Henry Ford Health System, and/or Corewell Health. These teams must represent a multidisciplinary and cross-institutional approach, bringing together expertise from diverse fields and departments to collaboratively address complex health equity issues. The inclusion of different institutional perspectives and departmental specializations is critical for the success of these projects.
Institutional Affiliation
1. Principal Investigators must be affiliated with MSU, MSU Extension, Henry Ford Health System and/or Corewell Health. However, collaborative projects involving researchers (i.e., Co-I) from other institutions are allowed. At least one PI must represent MSU and be listed as the main contact for the transfer of funds. The MSU PI's home unit will be responsible for post-award accounting.
Transdisciplinary Nature of Research
1. Proposals should clearly articulate how the research team integrates expertise from various disciplines, fostering a transdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
Alignment with External Funding Agency RFA
1. The research proposal must clearly identify and align with a specific Request for Applications (RFA) from an external funding agency, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or another relevant funding agency. Alignment should be evident in the research objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes, demonstrating a strategic fit with the priorities outlined in the chosen RFA.
2. Proposals should incorporate a timeline for applying to the selected RFA.

Letter of Intent (LOI) Guideline

Interested research teams must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by January 13, 2025. The LOI should be a maximum of 2 pages (margins at 1", font size 11pts and theme font Times, Arial or Palatino) and must include the following information:

Title of the Project: A concise title reflecting the essence of the proposed research.
Names and Affiliations of Researchers: Include the name, title, and institutional affiliation of each team member, including Principal Investigator(s) (PIs) and any Co-Investigators (Co-Is). Designate which PI is from MSU and will be responsible for post-award accounting.
Research Team Expertise: A brief description of the specific expertise of each team member, particularly highlighting how their skills contribute to the transdisciplinary nature of the project (e.g., community engagement, health disparities, social determinants of health).
Specific Aims: Briefly describe the primary research objectives and the hypotheses or research questions to be addressed by the project.
Target Population and Community Engagement: A summary of the population that will be the focus of the research, including any specific communities or groups that will be engaged.
Methodological Approach: A high-level overview of the proposed methodology, including research design, key data collection strategies, and expected challenges.
External Funding Opportunity: Identify the external funding opportunity (e.g., NIH RFA) the project aligns with and plans to target, demonstrating how this pilot project will lay the groundwork for a larger, externally funded study.

Due Date: LOI must be submitted by January 13, 2025.

Submission

The online Grant Proposal System will be used to collect the Letter of Intent. The Health Equity Research Funding Opportunity will open for submissions in late November or early December.

This is a pilot project.

Application Process

Interested researcher teams should submit a detailed project proposal, outlining the research objectives (i.e., specific aims), methodology, expected outcomes, and the transdisciplinary nature of the project.
Proposals should include a clear plan for community engagement, highlighting how the research aligns with community needs and expectations. This should include strategies for returning resources to the communities involved in the research. Priority will be given to projects where community engagement takes place within Michigan.
Emphasis will be placed on projects that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity in both research design and implementation.
A review committee, consisting of experts in health equity, community engagement, and transdisciplinary research, will evaluate proposals based on their alignment with MSU's strategic goals and potential for impact.
The timeline for the proposed project will not exceed 18 months.
Successful projects will receive funding to support research activities, and community engagement efforts.

Note: Applicants should submit their application using the KC system. Applicants should enter “MSU-HERF” as the sponsor or enter the sponsor code “128956” when creating the PD.

Application Format

Cover Page
1. Title of the project
2. Names and affiliations of Principal Investigators (PIs)
3. Contact information for the lead PI
4. Institutional affiliations (MSU, MSU Extension, Henry Ford Health System and/or Corewell Health)
Executive Summary (1 page)
1. Brief overview of the research project
2. Significance of the project in addressing health equity
3. Expected outcomes and their impact
4. Key collaborators and their roles
Introduction (1 page)
1. Background and rationale for the research
2. Alignment with MSU's 2030 strategic plan goals
3. Identification of the external funding agency RFA
Objectives and Hypotheses - Specific Aims (1 page)
1. Clearly defined research objectives
2. Hypotheses or research questions to be addressed
3. How the project aligns with the chosen RFA priorities
Methodology (2-3 pages)
1. Detailed research design and approach
2. Explanation of the transdisciplinary nature of the project
3. Description of community engagement strategies (emphasis in communities within Michigan)
4. Ethical considerations and social justice principles
Team Expertise and Collaboration (1 page)
1. Background and expertise of each PI
2. Transdisciplinary nature of the team
3. Collaborations with external partners (if any)
Community Engagement Plan (1-2 pages)
1. Description of how the project will engage with and benefit the target communities
2. Plans for returning resources to the communities
Timeline (1 page)
1. Timeline outlining key milestones and deliverables
2. Proposed schedule for submitting an application to the external funding agency
Budget (1-2 pages)
1. Detailed budget breakdown
2. Justification for each budget item
3. Explanation of how funds will support research, community engagement, and dissemination

Awards

4-5 applications will be selected, with funding amounts not exceeding $75,000 per project.

Reporting and Evaluation

Funded projects will be required to provide progress reports every six months. A report form will be provided. The evaluation will consider the project's impact on health equity, community engagement, and contribution to MSU's strategic goals. PIs will participate in the 2^nd Health Equity Symposium to share their findings with the MSU community.

Questions

Please send questions to proposal@msu.edu with "Health Equity Research" in the subject line.