Grant Opportunities

MUSC Center for Healthy Aging Pilot Funding

Key Dates

  • May 10, 2023 NOFO Release Date
  • Aug 01, 2023 MUSC Internal Deadline for Applications by 5:00 p.m. submitted to Tiffany Harrison hartiffa@msuc.edu.
  • Aug 15, 2023 Application Review Period Begins
  • Oct 02, 2023 Anticipated Funding Start Date

Program Overview

The MUSC Center for Healthy Aging (CfHA) is excited to announce a request for applications for our new Pilot Award Program. Applications are due August 1, 2023 with funding to begin October 2, 2023. The CfHA plans to award up to three pilot projects for up to $30,000 for one year that supports the development of innovative, interdisciplinary, and impactful projects focused on aging research. These pilot awards are expected to facilitate data collection needed for the future submission of federal research grants.

The mission of the CfHA is a focus on all aspects of healthy aging with an understanding that aging begins at birth and healthy aging strategies must reach across the entire lifespan. Therefore, the CfHA promotes novel multidisciplinary research related to aging with the potential to improve the quality of life for South Carolinians, their families, caregivers, and those across the nation as individuals age.

Through the Pilot Award Program, the CfHA will support research aligned with the National Institute on Aging’s strategic directions, including genetic, biological, clinical, behavioral, social, and economic research on aging.

CfHA welcomes any proposal that has an aging focus to include:

  • Fundamental biology of aging
  • Translational, clinical, population health or any other aging research endeavor
  • A new research area or expansion of an existing research program

Eligible Applicants include:

  • Faculty at any rank
  • Investigators who are not yet engaged in aging research who want to add an aging research component to their existing research program
  • Seasoned aging researchers who want to move their research program in a new direction

Application Process

Interested investigators should upload their proposals to REDCap as a single PDF file by August 1, 2023

  1. Cover Letter. Descriptive title of the proposed research; names of PIs and research team members with academic titles, primary departments, proposed roles on the project, and contact information.
  2. Specific Aims (1 page).
  3. Research Strategy (3 pages). Follow the NIH format to include significance, innovation, and approach.
  4. Budget and Justification. Funds may be used for any purpose to support the proposed research.
    • Refer to the Additional Information section for further details.
  5. Biosketch. Include a compliant NIH Biosketch (5 page maximum) for each MUSC faculty member.
  6. Literature Cited. Include up to two pages of references.
  7. Submit using the following link: htps://redcap.musc.edu/surveys/?s=TCNAR7NHAFJHAHHW

Additional Information

  • Allowable expenses include laboratory supplies, animal costs, patient recruitment costs, and support of pre/postdoctoral students, technicians, or research assistants. Non-MUSC faculty can participate as unpaid consultants.
  • Unallowable expenses include 1) faculty salaries & fringe, 2) facilities and administrative (F&A) costs, and3)subcontracts/subawards.
  • Include a department/college commitment leter for each PI’s effort for each MUSC faculty member.
  • CfHA PFA recipients are restricted from holding more than one active research grant from the CfHA at a time.
  • Applications that are complete and responsive to this announcement will be evaluated for merit by the Peer Review Committee.

Grant Collab and Grant Writing Club for Aging Researchers

To enhance and grow research in the area of aging at MUSC, the CfHA is sponsoring the following activities:

  • Grant Collaboration Events: These events are designed for faculty to network and informally share their research interests and anticipated projects with other aging researchers for the purpose of finding new collaborators and colleagues.
    Dates: May 16, May 23, June 6
    Location: BSB 349 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with light refreshments
  • Grant Writing Club: Protected writing time for individual faculty or teams of collaborators to develop grant proposals focused on aging.
    Dates: June 13, June 20, June 27
    Location: BSB 349 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with light refreshments

Learn More

To learn more about the Center for Healthy Aging Pilot Funding Program (CfHA PFP) please contact Tiffany Harrison via email hartiffa@musc.edu