Sponsored by the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) and the Broad Stem Cell Research Center (BSCRC)
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across our country and the world in Spring, 2020, UCLA and the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) were faced with an obligation and unprecedented challenge to use scientific approaches to address its devastating impact on human health and its diverse impacts on our community. To meet this obligation and challenge, Task Forces in Clinical, Basic/Translational, and Health Equity Research were established, along with an Oversight COVID-19 Research Committee (OCRC). See all task forces and committees →
These committees aim to facilitate and coordinate diverse COVID-19 research activities—from laboratory research to clinical trials to public health and policy research. To date $11M in funds have been provided by selfless donors and philanthropic organizations. Hundreds of proposals have been submitted and roughly 60 short-term grants have been awarded. The initial emphasis was on projects that had the greatest potential to impact the course of the pandemic’s first wave, including:
At the start of 2021 there continues to be philanthropic support for the world-leading and highly-impactful DGSOM COVID research enterprise. Now with the development of successful vaccines, the landscape of the most impactful research areas is evolving. Going forward, the OCRC and supporting committees will continue to consider proposals for COVID-related research in all areas outlined above with some key new directions prioritized for funding including:
Detailed application instructions along with eligibility and evaluation criteria can be found below. As we look to encourage bold collaborative team projects with potential for significant impact across basic, translational, clinical and health equity arenas, we are increasing the maximum request limit to $250,000-$500,000 total direct costs, while retaining a strong interest in innovative pilot studies with smaller budgets (e.g. $50,000).
Applications for projects at all levels of funding will be considered and applicants should know that the committee will be looking to match the size of an awarded budget with the scope, significance and potential impact of the proposed project. Applications are brief and will be accepted until donor funds are expended. Consideration of applications received by March 31, 2021 will be prioritized.
The advising committees will evaluate proposals in a timely way that best allows for identification of the most impactful projects across a group of applications while also providing quick turn around on decisions. Final decisions are made by the OCRC, with input from the Task Forces and others with appropriate expertise. Awardees must be ready to initiate the research immediately and no later than two weeks following issuance of the award letter.
Funding can be awarded for up to a 1-year period, with half of the funding committed initially and the remaining half provided half-way through the funding period after an evaluation of progress. Evaluations are confidential and written reviews will not be provided.
Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. This funding opportunity is expected to continue until the end of 2020 or until available funds have been depleted.
Please contact Steve Peckman (speckman@mednet.ucla.edu) for general questions and Task Force leaders for specific questions about funding priorities.
Health Equity Research and Advisory Committee Co-Chairs:
Christina Harris, MD
Enrico Castillo, MD MSHPM
Basic/Translational Science Task Force:
Gay Crooks, MBBS
Emilie Marcus, PhD
DGSOM-CTSI Clinical Research Task Force:
Judith Currier, MD
Arash Naeim, MD
Please Note: The PI of each funded award must submit a three-month progress report and a final six-month report. The reports will include:
Submission and approval of the 3-month Progress Report are required for continued funding.
Acknowledgment: All publications and presentations resulting from research projects supported by the RA should acknowledge the "UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine - Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Award Program".
General evaluation criteria for all Planning Grant applications and subsequent Full Grant applications:
Please note:
The application should include the following items assembled into a single PDF (please use Ariel 11 font for application text with 1-inch page margins). The PDF must be uploaded to the COVID application portal →
Pilot interventions of new health programs and new partnerships with community-based organizations and public agencies that will address COVID-19 health, healthcare, and/or social inequities and will create sustainable infrastructures for long-term service delivery
Multi-level interventions that promote the capacity of community-based organizations to conduct COVID-19 testing, delivery supplies (e.g., PPE), and provide other supportive services to address the health, healthcare, and social inequities in under-resourced communities
Community-based and community-partnered interventions, particularly those that operate at the level of whole communities, which address health, healthcare, and social inequities for entire communities and populations
Innovative interventions that address data, healthcare and social service delivery, and educational outreach needs of local public safety net agencies
Prioritize research that minimizes the “digital divide” to increase access to COVID-19 knowledge and services, increase access to primary care physicians and care during this pandemic:
Studies investigating the effects of COVID-19 healthcare, public health, and public policies, including UCLA and other institutional-level clinical and research policies, on health, healthcare, and social inequities experienced by racial/ethnic minority, under-resourced, and vulnerable individuals and communities
Quality improvement research to address known UCLA and UCLA Health clinical, research, administrative and other processes to address COVID-19-related health, healthcare, and social inequities
Mixed-methods evaluations to identify and develop solutions to COVID-19-related health, healthcare, and social inequities within UCLA research and UCLA Health clinical policies and services
Dissemination and implementation science on evidence-based guidelines, treatments, and services for racial/ethnic minority, under-resourced, and vulnerable communities
Mixed methods studies to investigate individual- to structural-level barriers to COVID-19 care (e.g., testing, public health surveillance, healthcare services) experienced by racial/ethnic minority, under-resourced, and vulnerable individuals and communities
Development and mixed-methods evaluations of undergraduate or graduate medical education and/or advocacy interventions that contribute to DGSOM’s mission of improving health equity and directly benefit under-resourced Los Angeles communities
Studies that incorporate residents, fellows, medical students, psychology interns, undergraduate and graduate students, and other trainees in the delivery of interventions to address COVID-19-related health, healthcare, and social inequities
