The Washington University Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control (WU-ISC3) is soliciting applications for Pilot and Methods Studies. The purpose of this small grants program is to advance the mission of the WU-ISC3. Our center strives to conduct research to eliminate the disparities in cancer outcomes in Missouri and Illinois. We achieve this through research that expedites proven interventions into real-world practice. Our vision is to commit our expertise in the fight against inequitable outcomes in our region. In particular, we are interested in studies that address health equity across a range of settings and populations.

Two types of implementation science projects will be funded:

1) Implementation Science Pilot Grants: These awards will be funded for 1 year. For 1-year projects, up to $65,000 direct costs are available. These awards support the planning of a new clinical, community, or policy implementation science research project related to cancer control. Pilot grants are typically used to fund developmental or early stage work and should describe a concrete plan for further steps beyond the pilot grant (e.g., how the pilot work will lead to an R01 award). Pilot grants should address cancer prevention control related topics; preference will be given to topics identified from our community partners (see Attachment A). We highly encourage proposals to include community-based personnel as active members of the research team beyond a typical advisory role.

2) Implementation Science Methods Grants: These awards will be funded for 1 year. For 1-year projects, up to $50,000 direct costs are available.Methods studies may involve a range of topics including: developing and adapting measures, applying mixed-methods, developing new methods for engaging community stakeholders, and applying innovative study designs or analytic technologies in D&I science. Methods studies may be informed by gaps identified by the WU-ISC3 Methods Unit and community partners (see Attachment A).

We will support a range of studies across the cancer control continuum from prevention, to screening, treatment, survivorship and end-of-life care. Studies should produce some “public good” (e.g., toolkits, enhanced capacity).

Both Pilot Grants and Methods Grants should address the following program considerations:

Key Element: Health equity

All applications should address the intersection of health equity and implementation science. To be responsive to this funding program, proposals must include methods and approaches to enhance health equity and reduce disparities in cancer and related conditions. Details on how our review criteria will address health equity can be found in Attachment B.

Key Element: Responsiveness to community needs

Projects should also have a focus on responsive research that is: 1) relevant to the needs of one or more stakeholders/partners (e.g., important, fills a need in practice and/or policy), 2) builds on input from stakeholders and community members (e.g., from our Think Tanks, Incubator survey, community input from earlier pilot and method studies), 3) builds on research showing gaps in the methods literature, and 4) brings in new partners and scholars, adding new disciplines and sectors (outside of traditional health settings). To ensure new partners and sectors are engaged, we aim to fund at least half of the studies with a focus on engaging settings and partners outside of health (e.g., schools, worksites, community-based organizations, policy settings). Innovative cross-disciplinary linkages and high-risk/high-reward studies designed to advance innovative implementation science are particularly encouraged. We seek to invest in partner-centered activities that solve a real-world problem within the WU-ISC3 network of stakeholders.

Key Element: Cross-Center Collaboration

One of the goals of the ISC3 consortium and our center is to strengthen our connections and capacity to conduct implementation research. The consortium places a particular emphasis on cross-center collaboration for its pilot and methods projects. For this round of funding, we seek projects that engage investigators and/or methods expertise from other ISC3 centers, whether in a consultant role or as a co-investigator. Examples of cross-center collaborations include:

  • Working with methods or content expert from another center;
  • Consulting with the developer(s) of a conceptual model or measurement tool at another center; or
  • Collecting comparable data at one or more ISC3 sites.

If you need assistance in identifying an opportunity and/or connecting with a collaborator at another institution, please reach out to our Center Manager,  implementationscience@wustl.edu.   

SUBMISSION AND REVIEW PROCESS

The full RFA with submission criteria & attachments can be found here

  • Applications Open: August 8, 2022
  • Letter of Intent Due: September 12, 2022
  • Notification of Acceptance of Letter of Intent: September 30, 2022
  • Full Proposals Due: November 14, 2022
  • Award Decisions: January 9, 2023
  • Award Start Date: All funds will be awarded by February 1, 2023; some funds may be dispersed earlier based on scope of a project and availability of funds.

Questions?

Contact our Center Manager at implementationscience@wustl.edu