The University of Chicago

I-CARE Program Mini Grants

Key Dates

RFA : Rolling submissions accepted
Proposals reviewed on a quarterly basis
Upcoming award start date: February 1, 2025

Applications are open for submission on a rolling basis. Received applications will be reviewed quarterly on April 15th, July 15, October 15th, and January 15th, with funding starting on July 1st, August 1st, November 1st, and February 1st of each year.

Applications will be awarded throughout the year (on a quarterly basis) or until the funding allocated to Mini Grants for that year (July-June) has been allotted. For this quarter, applicants must submit full proposal applications (details below) by 11:59pm CT on or before or January 15, 2025. 

Application guidelines for Mini Grants ($500-$5000)

Mini Grants may be used to support the various costs of new pilot implementation science and quality improvemtn projects, such as costs related to statistical analysis, travel, equipment, participant incentives, and dissemination. Mini Grants are not eligible for a no-cost extension; all funding must be used within a year of the award receipt date.

All funded I-CARE Program projects must have IRB approval, QI determination, or equivalent ethical approval before funded can be awarded. We advise applicants to see ethical approval in parallel with applying for funding.

Please submit the application in REDCap using with the following information:

  1. Type of project (Quality Improvement or Research)
  2. Project title
  3. Applicant’s name and title(s)
  4. Confirmation of PI eligibility (or equivalent status); see options below
    1. Yes, I or my mentor/advisor* has/have PI status 
      1. Provide the name and title(s) of project mentor/advisor
    2. No, but I do not need PI status for this project
    3. No, I need a sponsor with PI status
      1. A sponsor with PI status will either be identified by the I-CARE Program team or will be an I-CARE Program team member. Sponsor will serve as the project PI. 
    4. Confirmation of IRB approval, IRB exemption, or Quality Improvement Determination (required at time of proposal submission)
      1. Upload documentation
  5. Proposal – Please complete the following in a single Word document [11-point Arial font and 0.5-in margins] and upload:
    1. Project Title
    2. Rationale  (1 sentence max)
    3. Project question(s) and hypotheses
    4. Project objectives aims
    5. Project strategy and approach
      1. Description of project success
      2. Data collection and analysis plans
    6. Deliverables and plan for subsequent funding
  6. Project timeline (not included in 2-page limit)
  7. Budget Table (not included in 2-page limit; see example below)
  8. References (not included in 2-page limit)
  9. NIH biosketch or CV/resume (not included in 2-page limit)
    1. Applicant: Upload documentation
    2. Mentor/Advisor: Upload documentation

 

Example of Budget Justification Table

Edit
Item Rationale Price per Unit Number of Units Estimated Costs
Brochures Needed to share study findings with patients and their caregivers $3.25 250 $812.50
Research Assistant Needed to enroll study participants @hourly rate # hours @hourly rate x # hours
Conference Costs Plan to present findings n/a n/a X
Etc
Total Costs
*Items that cannot be covered with I-CARE Program Grant funding: PI or co-investigator (Co-I) effort; equipment ≥ $5000

 

Questions? Contact us at ICAREProgram@bsd.uchicago.edu