Pilot Grant Program
Pilot Grant Program
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Home / Pilot Grant Program
About the Program
A portion of our funding from NIDA has been designated for small projects designed to nurture collaborations and generate new externally funded research projects focused on optimizing adaptive interventions for preventing and treating substance use disorders (SUD) and HIV. This Pilot Grant Program is augmented by the Rogel Cancer Center at the University of Michigan to support additional small projects that focus on adaptive interventions to improve outcomes at the intersection of cancer and substance use (or misuse). Although not a requirement, projects that focus on HIV or health equity are encouraged.
What’s the purpose?
- Bring talented and energetic researchers into the area of adaptive interventions;
- foster new collaborative research ties between d3c researchers and others;
- generate new research projects funded by NIDA or by other NIH institutes or agencies.
Who may apply?
Tenure-track/tenured faculty, research faculty (non-tenured), and Ph.D.-level research associates at the University of Michigan, Harvard University, and New York University, from any department. Prior experience in SUD research is not required. We encourage proposals from quantitatively oriented researchers with backgrounds in statistics, engineering, computer science, economics, behavioral sciences, education, and other areas, who can bring exciting new perspectives to the study of adaptive interventions.
See more details below current projects.
Current Projects
An App to Improve Medication Adherence for Young Patient and Family Caregiver Dyads
Sung Won Choi, MD
Motivational Intervention for Safety Plan Use in Daily Life: An Interview and Think-Aloud Study
Rebecca Fortgang, PhD
Extending Decision Analysis for Intervention Value Efficiency (DAIVE) to decision-making based on the results of a SMART
Jillian C. Strayhorn, PhD
Improving the Efficiency of Reinforcement Learning Using Model Predictive Control Solutions
Donglin Zeng, PhD
The pJITAI Toolbox: A No-Code Platform for Creating Personalized Adaptive mHealth Interventions Using Reinforcement Learning
Mark Newman, PhD
Parents and Teens Together (PATT): Software Development for a Dyadic Digital Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
Amy Hughes Lansing, PhD
An App to Improve Medication Adherence for Young Patient and Family Caregiver Dyads
Sung Won Choi, MD
Motivational Intervention for Safety Plan Use in Daily Life: An Interview and Think Aloud Study
Rebecca Fortgang, PhD
Extending Decision Analysis for Intervention Value Efficiency (DAIVE) to decision-making based on the results of a SMART
Jillian C. Strayhorn
Improving the Efficiency of Reinforcement Learning Using Model Predictive Control Solutions
Donglin Zeng, PhD
The pJITAI Toolbox: A No-Code Platform for Creating Personalized Adaptive mHealth Interventions Using Reinforcement Learning
Mark Newman, PhD
Parents and Teens Together (PATT): Software Development for a Dyadic Digital Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
Amy Hughes Lansing, PhD
Use of Funds
Funds may be requested to conduct (a) necessary preliminary methodological work for optimizing adaptive interventions, or (b) necessary preliminary translational work and pilot testing for optimizing adaptive interventions for reducing the burden of SUD and/or HIV. The proposed work is expected to involve significant collaboration between the applicant and one or more d3c researchers, and to show promise of leading to larger-scale funded projects in the future.
Funds can be used for salary support; support of research assistants; travel for research-related meetings and conferences; data collection support (e.g., programming, participant incentives); and/or computing equipment, software, and supplies directly related to the proposed research. Examples of appropriate activities include methods development with simulation studies, preliminary data analysis, and pilot data collection.
Duration and Amount
Studies are expected to last 12 months and should not exceed $50,000 in total costs (Direct + Indirect).
How to Apply
Submit a letter of intent by September 25, 2024. Selected applicants (notified by October 25, 2024) will be invited to submit a full proposal by January 8, 2025.
Where to Apply
Email Letters of Intent and full proposals (as a Word document or PDF) to [email protected] with the subject “d3c Pilot Project Research Funding.”
Duties of Awardees
Funding recipients are required to:
- Submit written reports on their progress, along with copies of any technical reports, conference presentations, drafts of articles, research proposals, and other products (e.g., software) generated by the project.
- Participate in monthly meetings with their d3c collaborator/mentor.
- Attend monthly center-wide meetings during which projects will be discussed and participants will engage in problem-solving.
- Lead a think-tank meeting to discuss, strategize, and plan their project at the beginning of their award and present results to the center at the end of their award.
Questions?
If you have an idea for a new research project but are not sure whether it would qualify for this funding opportunity, or if you have questions about this application, please contact Jen Miner ([email protected]) or any of our Center researchers. We welcome questions and are glad to offer informal advice.
Letters of intent should include the following:
- Current CV of lead scientist
- Title of the research project, lead scientist and collaborators (as applicable)
- Specific aims outlining project goals
- Desired amount of funding
- d3c scientist(s) to be involved and the nature of the collaboration
Full proposals should include the following:
1. NIH biosketch of key personnel
2. Title of the research project, lead scientist and collaborators (as applicable)
3. Requested amount, budget, and an itemized budget justification. Budget forms will be provided at time of invitation.
4. Specific aims (up to 1 page) outlining project goals
5. Research strategy (up to 3 pages) describing:
a. Significance
b. Innovation
c. Approach/methods to achieve aims
d. Plan and timeline for a larger, external grant submission (i.e., funding agency, type of grant, and expected submission date)
e. d3c scientist(s) to be involved and the nature of the collaboration
6. Study timeline
7. Research team
8. Human subjects information. Forms will be provided at the time of invitation.
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