Skip to main content

The UNC-CH Department of Family Medicine Innovations Award provides support for faculty research and scholarly projects for the following needs: funding for new, small and pilot projects, and supplementary funding to complete or expand existing projects. To read about previous projects, click here.

 

Funds

The program will support up to four projects, each at $3,000 maximum. Funds may be used for personnel (other than faculty), consultants, travel, materials, printing, data collection, data analysis and dissemination. Projects funded by the Small Grants Program that involve learners may also apply to the department’s Medical Student Program for $2,000 stipend support for medical students in the Student Research Fellowship in Family Medicine, and can apply to the Residency Program for funds for resident travel to STFM to present study findings.

Application contents

All DFM faculty at UNC-CH are eligible. Projects are encouraged to include learners, if feasible, which will be considered in making awards. A three to five page double-spaced application is required, to include:

(1) Title of proposal

(2) Statement of the project goal(s) or research question(s)

(3) Statement of the intended product(s), e.g., papers, presentations

(4) Overview of study design or scholarly project

(5) Description of the current status of project, including IRB status (IRB approval/exemption letter must be submitted before dollars may be used)

(6) Overview of project timeline

(7) Listing of the project PI and all other project personnel and roles, including learners

(8) Brief project budget, including costs and other sources of funds. If relevant, explain why current funding or potential external sources of funds will not cover these costs.

Applications should be directed to Katrina Donahue (research director) or Kelli Hammond (research section coordinator). Applications will be shared with the Medical Student and Residency Program directors, who can help locate appropriate learners for projects if requested.

Application Dates

Proposals are accepted throughout the year until program funds are exhausted. Reviews will be completed within four weeks and funding available immediately.

Application Review Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed for (1) the importance of the research or scholarly issue/question and of the project’s intended products, (2) how the project will benefit the applicant and/or the DFM, (3) project feasibility, including the demonstrated ability of project personnel to complete the work, and (4) importance of requested funds to the project’s success.

Investigator/Faculty responsibilities

PIs are responsible for completing projects within 12 months of the award date and applying funds only for approved uses. Project PIs are also asked to disseminate information on their project and its findings to the department, e.g., in the department’s newsletter and at the Communications Meeting. Project personnel are also asked to work with Communications Specialist for broader dissemination.