APPLY NOW TO THE SAGE CENTER’S RESEARCH PILOT AWARD PROGRAM!
Applications are being accepted for one-year pilot project awards of up to $30,000 for the project period 7/1/2022–6/30/2023.
The application link is: https://bit.ly/2YZs7YC
Who Should Apply
Post-doctoral fellows, instructors, research scientists, and assistant and associate faculty professors in any of the seven schools on Stanford campus, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto University, and in any academic or research non-profit institution affiliated with Stanford. Applicants must have a terminal degree (E.g., MD, PhD, MD/PhD) and be new to aging research.
Applicants may be from all backgrounds, and we specifically encourage applicants from underrepresented groups in science and/or individuals who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, as this is a primary focus of the NIA RCMARs. Please refer to the Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD- 22-019) released on October 25, 2021.
Why should I apply? How does this pilot award help me?
- To apply, you need to just submit a one-page specific aims. If invited, the full proposal is only 3 pages.
- The proposals of the three selected finalists will be sent to NIA for approval. Once approved, the NIH will issue the pilot award in your name as the PI for the pilot.
- You have an opportunity to join the brilliant group of past SAGE awardees (https://aging.stanford.edu/sage-scientists/). Most SAGE awardees have secured other prestigious intramural and extramural grant support.
- Awardees will be distinguished by NIA/NIH as “RCMAR Scientists” and be invited by the National Institute on Aging to exclusive conferences and training opportunities.
- SAGE Scientists receive research and career mentoring during the funding period. The Program Director will work with the SAGE Scientist to identify a mentor that aligns with his/her career interests and the pilot project.
- SAGE Scientists will have the opportunity to interact with SAGE Center faculty and enhance their skills and knowledge related to aging and disparities research using emerging methodologies.
- SAGE Scientist will receive mentoring and be able to participate in research training on issues pertaining to minorities and disparities research, aging research, grant writing, participate in monthly world-in-progress sessions with the PHS Scientists and fellow SAGE Scientists. They are also encouraged to participate in training opportunities offered by the National Institute on Aging and other RCMAR Centers.
Funding Details
Each award is $30,000. The funding period is for 1 year (7/1/2022–6/30/2023). We encourage applicants to budget $1,500 for travel to the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research annual meeting.
Focus of Pilot Projects
All projects must align with the three research themes of the SAGE Center:
- Focus on diverse populations in the aging realm.
- Must use an emerging methodology, such as machine learning approaches, precision medicine, virtual reality, digital interventions, and wearables in the field of aging research.
- Focus on a topic with potential to directly impact human health in the realm of aging.
Note: We do not fund animal studies or clinical trials. Cell-based studies are limited to primary cells/samples collected from research participants (i.e., no cell lines).
Timeline and Key Deadlines
| Phase 1 | January 14, 2022 (5 pm PT) January 21, 2022 | Phase 1 applications must be submitted using our online form in Qualtrics (https://bit.ly/2YZs7YC). Candidates will be notified if they have been selected to prepare and submit a full (3 page) proposal |
| Phase 2 | January 28, 2022 (5 pm PT) February 11, 2022 | Full proposals must be emailed to Dr. Jessica Moon, SAGE Executive Director (jessmoon@stanford.edu). Candidates will be notified if they have been selected as finalists. |
| Phase 3 | February/March 2022 July 1, 2022 | Finalists prepare their proposal packages for submission to NIA for approval. Upon approval from NIA, funds are released to pilot awardees. |
We strongly encourage potential applicants to reach out to either Jessica Moon, Ph.D. (jessmoon@stanford.edu) and/or VJ Periyakoil, MD (periyakoil@stanford.edu) to discuss the alignment of the proposed research project with the mission of the SAGE Center before submitting an application through the portal.
THE SAGE CENTER AND THE SAGE SCIENTIST SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Stanford Aging and Ethnogeriatrics (SAGE) Research Center was established in 2018 with funding from the National Institute of Aging (NIA), as part of the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR). The SAGE Pilot Program is supported through funds from the NIA and the Stanford School of Medicine Dean’s Office.
Program Vision
The goals of the Center are to 1) strengthen and diversify the aging research workforce by mentoring new and junior researchers to become independent, culturally sensitive, and culturally competent researchers engaged in transdisciplinary integrative research in ethnogeriatrics and 2) promote research advances using emerging methodologies that are focused on improving the health and well-being of diverse older adults.
Funding Opportunity Description
The SAGE Center is requesting applications from post-doctoral fellows, instructors, research scientists, and junior faculty who propose to conduct aging research studies using emerging methodologies to answer key questions in the aging arena. In keeping with the transdisciplinary mission of the SAGE Center, we welcome proposals from any of the seven schools on Stanford campus, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto University, and in any academic or research non-profit institution affiliated with Stanford.
Our Focus on Transdisciplinary Aging Research
The SAGE Center seeks to conduct transdisciplinary aging research that integrates biological, social, and behavioral sciences and utilizes emerging methodologies. We recognize that the aging process is not defined by just the chronological age—aging is a lifelong process and impacted by numerous modifiable processes and we interpret aging broadly. We will not accept studies proposing to do research with animal models.
Our Focus on Diversity
There is a critical need to sustain a research workforce that is multidisciplinary and diverse. Moreover, as life expectancy increases, our health care, insurance, and retirement systems must meet the needs of a rising number of underserved population groups, and the impact of an increasingly diverse elderly population is not fully understood.
Our Focus on Emerging Methodologies
Technological advances have great potential to shed new light on a broad variety of questions related to aging, and we seek to harness this power through the work done at the SAGE Center. The SAGE definition of emerging methodologies is broad and focuses on precision health, digital health, big data techniques, and innovative new technological solutions. These methodologies have the potential to result in significant breakthroughs in improving the health and well-being of diverse older adults by informing healthcare practice, addressing health disparities, creating new measurements/methods, and resulting in novel interventions and policies.
Given the funding period of the pilot program (1 year), clinical trials are not allowed.
We strongly encourage potential applicants to reach out to either VJ Periyakoil, MD (periyakoil@stanford.edu) and/or Jessica Moon, PhD (jessmoon@stanford.edu) to discuss alignment of the proposed research project with the mission of the SAGE Center before submitting an application through the portal.
Key Requirements
- The main indicator of success in the program is the career advancement of the SAGE Scientists, including publications of study results, other publications related to aging, health disparities, and/or emerging methodologies, and other grant applications and funding.
- SAGE Scientists are able to complete ethnogeriatrics training (iSAGE), which consists of three online, video-rich, self-paced components.
- In accordance with NIH policy, SAGE Scientists must complete Responsible Conduct of Research Training.
- Projects that are funded by or utilize SAGE Center resources or services are required to cite the grant in publications and grant applications.
- SAGE Scientists are expected to present their work at the SAGE Annual Meeting and Symposium.
- NEW: SAGE Scientists are required to participate in the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research annual meeting.
Budget Requirements
Each award is $30,000. The funding period is for 1 year (7/1/2022–6/30/2023). We encourage applicants to budget $1,500 for travel to the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research annual meeting. The remaining funds may be used to cover items such as salary support, research supplies, sample analysis fees, or publication fees. Funds may not be used to cover equipment, tuition, participant incentives, or other items not allowed by the NIH as per the agreement within our Notice of Award.
Application Development
Phase 1: Applicant demographics, how becoming a SAGE Scientist Scholar will advance the candidate’s career, the relevance of the proposed project to the mission of the SAGE Center, and a one-page Specific Aims describing the importance, goals, and potential impact of the project (NIH format).
Phase 2: Phase 1 finalists will submit a project narrative (2 pages) and a detailed budget
Phase 3: IRB determination, human subjects attachments (if needed), any other documents needed in the RPPR.
Selection Criteria
Review criteria include candidate eligibility, alignment with the SAGE Center mission/research themes, and scientific merit. In Phase 1, applications are reviewed for completion, candidate eligibility, and alignment with the mission of the SAGE Center. In Phase 2, applications are reviewed for scientific merit and the potential impact of the proposed work. In Phase 3, the SAGE Center will work with the finalists to submit their proposal packages to NIA as part of the SAGE Center’s annual progress report (late March/early April). NIA makes the final decision and gives formal approval. Projects can start on July 1. The SAGE Center or other representative within the School of Medicine will send the notice of award to the applicants.
