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How to Apply
Dr. Jennifer Manly and Dr. Adam Brickman are pleased to announce the eight annual call for pilot projects for CIRAD, the NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease-related Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (AD-RCMAR) at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC).
CIRAD supports pilot proposals that address the fundamental causes of ADRD disparities (racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia), using multiple levels of analysis (environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, biological). The projects may include primary data collection and/or secondary data analysis and may leverage the numerous ADRD-related projects taking place at CUIMC or elsewhere. Projects should be completed within 12 months of the award with a budget of up to $50,000. We will support at least 3 applications for the 2025-26 academic year.
Evaluations will consider the applicant’s eligibility, focus on ADRD, scientific impact, appropriate mentorship, and potential for future NIH funding. Investigators awarded with pilots will become CIRAD scientists and will have access to local and national career development resources, opportunities to attend national scientific and networking meetings, and access to the network of NIA funded RCMARs.
ELIGIBILITY:
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Postdoctoral scientists/fellows and early-career researchers (established mid-career scientists who would like to leverage the pilot funds to transition into ADRD-relevant research may also apply).
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Applicants must demonstrate an interest in an enduring career in ADRD-relevant research.
If you have questions about eligibility, you are a potential applicant but do not yet have a mentor, or if you would like help with your application, please email the CIRAD Project Manager, Francisco Ángeles, at fja2126@cumc.columbia.edu
Application Procedures:
Due on Monday, February 24, 11.59 pm ET
Your application must follow the 398 application instructions and be submitted in a single-spaced format, with 0.5-inch margins, using Arial 11 font.
It should include the following sections, submitted in PDF format:
1. Cover Page
2. Research Plan
a. Specific Aims (1 page) State concisely the need for the proposed research, its goals, and expected outcomes, highlighting its potential impact on the relevant field. Clearly articulate its specific objectives, such as testing a hypothesis, creating a novel design, solving a specific problem, challenging an existing paradigm, addressing a critical barrier to progress in the field, or developing new technology.
b. Personal Statement and Career Goals (up to 1 page) Include a summary of your experience, preparation for research, and overall career goals.
c. Pilot Project Alignment (one paragraph per question; all questions required). Briefly explain how the proposed study will contribute to:
i. Diversifying the research workforce in priority areas of social, behavioral, psychological, and economic research on aging by mentoring promising scientists from diverse backgrounds?
ii. Developing a research and mentoring infrastructure to foster rigorous behavioral and social science research on aging, advancing discoveries lead to eliminate health disparities, and improving the well-being of older adults in NIA’s Priority Populations, as specified in the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework?
iii. How is the proposed study relevant to social, behavioral, psychological, or economic research on aging or aging-relevant health disparities?
iv. How does it align with your long-term career goals?
d. Mentoring Team: Every CIRAD scientist will have at least two mentors, with one serving as the primary mentor, and at least one mentor currently appointed at a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). It is not required to have identified your mentors by the time of applying. In most cases, we assist selected scientists in identifying at least one of their mentors once selected. However, if you have already identified your mentors, please provide their name(s), affiliation(s), and contact information.
e. Significance/Background and Research Methods (2 pages) Discuss the research design, setting, participants, recruitment methods, and measures to be used, along with a sample size calculation and a detailed analytic plan. Include at least one paragraph outlining your hypotheses, expected findings, and the implications of your study. For small pilot studies, focus on feasibility indicators and outcomes instead of power calculations or inferential statistics, which are not appropriate for such studies. Preliminary studies may be included if available, but they are not required.
3. Budget & Budget Justification: One-year budget not exceeding $50,000 in direct costs plus up to 8% for indirect costs (use the NIH budget format.) Include a budget justification detailing allowable expenses such as salary and fringe benefits for the investigator and research staff, research supplies, and participant reimbursement. Note that all studies and budgets will require approval by NIA and the RCMAR Coordinating Center if selected for funding.
Post-Selection Requirements
If you are notified that your pilot will be funded, the following documents will be requested before the application is sent to NIH for approval:
1. Human Subjects Protection Training certificate
3. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for your pilot
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