Presented Nov 11, 2020

1. Workshop: UAB Sparkman
Center Pilot Projects
TIPS AND TRICKS

2. UAB SPARKMAN CENTER FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
 The mission of the Sparkman Center for Global Health
(Sparkman Center) at UAB is to contribute to solutions of
health problems in less developed countries through
undergraduate and graduate-level public health education,
research, and training programs.

3. PILOT PROJECTS
 The Sparkman Center will provide funding for internal grant applications that
propose research projects, public health practice, and global health &
development projects that support the Sparkman Center’s mission of promoting
health of people in resource-constrained countries and settings.
 Only those applications that are aligned with the Sparkman Center mission will be
considered for funding through this mechanism.
 All projects should have a strong research or evaluation component.
 We anticipate funding 1-2 applications of up to $20,000 each in 2021.

4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
 UAB faculty and fellows with advanced degrees (MD, PhD, DrPH, etc.) are eligible.
 The integration of early stage faculty with other UAB researchers and community
partners/stakeholders is key and required to advance all pilot projects within the context of a
team building approach.
 Preference will be given to those who have never had an R01 in global health field of study or
who are new to global health research.
 Established investigators with an R01 in global health are eligible to apply if they are exploring
a new direction.
 All projects should have clear next steps in terms of future opportunities to lay the groundwork
for future larger projects.

5. TIMELINE
RFA Release:
December 1,
2020
Deadline for
2-page
Concept:
February 1,
2021
Full
Application
Applicants
Announced:
Mar 1, 2021
Deadline for
Full
Applications:
May 1, 2021
Awards
Announced:
by May 31,
2021
Funding Start:
June 1, 2021

6. CONCEPT PROPOSALS due Feb 1, 2021
Application packet includes:
1. Face page
2. Concept Research Plan (Maximum 2 pages):
a. Project Description
b. Combined Significance and Innovation Section
c. Eligibility/Team Building Component (no more than one-half page)
3. Biographical Sketches (Include one for each investigator), using a standard NIH template
 Researchers whose concept proposals are selected for the full proposal competition
phase will be notified by email.

7. FULL APPLICATIONS due May 1, 2021
(upon invitation)
Application packet includes:
1. Face page
2. Complete budget and justification (no page limit)
3. Research Plan (Maximum 4 pages): specific aims, significance, innovation, approach
4. Bibliography and References cited (as needed)
5. Description of the Research Environment (suggested length ½ page)
6. Protection of Human Subjects (if applicable; maximum 1 page)
7. Biographical Sketches (Include one for each investigator)
8. Letters of Support (letters of support from collaborators essential to the proposed project must
accompany the application).

8. PREVIOUSLY FUNDED PROJECTS (2019)

9. PREVIOUSLY FUNDED PROJECTS (2020)

10. Sparkman
Center Pilot
Project
components/
review criteria

11. SCORING RUBRIC
 Reviewed by a committee composed
of UAB faculty members with funded
international research and experience
in the NIH review process.
 The application packet, review
criteria, and the review process are
adapted from the NIH procedures.
PUT SCORES HERE
Overall Impact/Priority: (1-9)
1. Scientific Impact: (Y / N)
2. Significance: (1-9)
3. Investigator(s): (1-9)
4. Innovation: (1-9)
5. Approach: (1-9)
6. Environment: (1-9)
7. Junior faculty involvement:
(Y / N)
8. Appropriate Budget (Y / N)

12. 1. Scientific Impact
 Is there sound design of the proposed research and relevance to global health
goals and priority areas in less developed countries?
 Is the project aligned with the strategic interests of the UAB Sparkman Center for
Global Health?

13. 2. Significance
 Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in
the field?
 If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical
capability, and/or clinical practice be improved?
 How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods,
technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this
field?

14. 3. Investigators
 Are the PI, collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project?
 If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent
careers, do they have appropriate experience and training?
 If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that
have advanced their field(s)?
 Does the PI have potential as an independent researcher focused on global health in
less developed countries?
 Are investigators from the target country/population meaningfully included in the
project as investigators?
 Priority is given to junior investigators and those pursuing a new global health direction

15. 4. Innovation
 Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical
practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or
methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions?
 Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions
novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense?
 Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts,
approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

16. 5. Approach
 Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and
appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project?
 Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success
presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy
establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed?
 If the project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, are the
plans to address 1) the protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) the
inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity,
as well as the inclusion (exclusion) of children, justified in terms of the scientific goals
and research strategy proposed?

17. STUDY AIMS & METHODS - TIPS
 Study aims:
 This is a pilot project. The scope of the proposed project should not be overly ambitious.
 Ask yourself if it’s feasible to complete the proposed project within a year & the budgetary constraints (up to $20K budget).
 Justify your research question.
 Methods:
 List investigators and their expertise; explain how they will contribute to the project.
 Include power calculations and justify your sample size.
 A strong research evaluation component of the project is a must.
 Field data should be preferably collected in close collaboration with the international partner organization.
 Ethical approvals: remember that the ethical approvals always take longer than expected, particularly the
international ethical approval. You will need both UAB and international ethical approvals to obtain the funding and
start the study with human subjects.

18. 6. Environment
 Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the
probability of success?
 Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to
the investigators adequate for the project proposed?
 Are letters of support from international partner organizations included?

19. 7. Involvement of Junior Faculty
 Is the junior faculty member part of the research team? The integration of junior
faculty with other UAB researchers at various levels is required by the Sparkman
Center to advance all pilot projects within the context of a team building
approach. (Yes or No)

20. 8. Budget
 Is the budget commensurate with the scope of work? (Yes or No)

21. STRONG INTERNATIONAL PATNERSHIP &
INVOLVEMENT OF TARGET POPULATION
EXPECTATIONS:
 The international partner should be involved in the design & conduct of the study, including
having main investigators as part of the team.
 Funds in the budget are allocated for the international partner organization (salary effort,
field work costs, etc.)
 The application should include a Letter of Support documenting the prior relationship and
detailing how the international support will serve the grant.
 If available, present proof of prior collaboration (manuscripts, activities, etc.)
 Members of the target population should be meaningfully involved in the design & conduct
of the study.

22. General key
components of
a successful
grant / tricks of
the trade

23. GRANT PRESENTATION & APPEARANCE
COUNT!
A HIGH QUALITY GRANT:
 Uses simple lively writing style
 Has key points laid out very clearly
 Has clear organization with section headings and sub-headings
 Does not feel crowded (leave white space)
 Strategically uses visual illustrations (figures, boxes, tables, diagrams, etc.)

24. Common Mistakes in Grants
 Doesn’t follow the directions
 Sloppiness
 Lack of proofreading (spelling and grammar)
 Cut and paste from another grant
 Font and margins too small
 Takes too long to get to the point
 Densely academic, written like a journal paper, too much!!

25. Some Tips:
 Leave enough white space to make the grant not seem crowded and
make it easy to read:
 Play with spacing between paragraphs (can be 3pt or 6pt).
 Cut length by going through and making sure you don’t have any paragraphs
that have only a few words on the last line. You can always cut some words!
 Make tables or figures in Boxes taking up only part of the page. Play with text
wrapping around Boxes.
 Consider what you can appropriately move to other ancillary grant sections
(like human subjects or clinical trial components) WITHOUT appearing to be
trying to circumvent the rules.

26. Use visual tools
 Use diagrams and figures to show your conceptual framework, study design,
flow of procedures, etc.
 Use boxes to emphasize key points (often useful for the innovation section)
 Use tables to present detailed information on study measures
 Make sure to use high quality versions that look clear and sharp in the final pdf
version
 If possible, identify someone with graphics/design skills to help with these
 Be careful!
 Don’t make the visuals TOO complicated
 Make sure the font in figures and tables is big enough to read when on the printed
page.
 Don’t rely on color (reviewers may print out in black & white)

27. References
 Use EndNote (or another reference manager)
 Check your references for repetitions and mistakes!

28. Questions and Advice
 Any questions about the Sparkman pilot grant priorities or
process?
 Any advice from any current Sparkman pilot grantees who are
in attendance?
 Contact Dr. Anna Helova with any questions
ahelova@uab.edu