Key Dates

RFA open: February 1, 2025
Proposals due: April 15, 2025 by 11:59pm
Award start date: July 1, 2025

Applicants must submit full proposal applications (details below) by 11:59pm CT on or before or April 15, 2025.  All applications should be completed and submitted in REDCap.

Application Guidelines for Seed Grants

Small Seed Grant

• Supports research-related costs of new small-scale implementation science and quality improvement projects
• Funding up to $10,000 

Large Seed Grant

• Supports research-related costs of new  larger-scale implementation science and quality improvement projects
• Funding  up to $25,000

We anticipate awarding at most one Large Seed Grant (up to $25,000) and up to five Small Seed Grants (up to $10,000) in the 2025-2026 funding cycle. Please submit budgets that accurately reflect the costs of proposed project plans. We reserve the right to fund grants at reduced levels if needed. I-CARE Program Seed Grants are not eligible for a no-cost extension; all funding must be used in a year of the receipt date.

All funded projects must have IRB approval, QI determination, or equivalent ethical approval prior to award notifications. We advise applicants to see ethical approval in parallel with applying for funding.

For additional grant details including eligibility information please see our I-CARE Program “Funding” page on our Program’s webpage.

For more information contact us at: ICAREProgram@bsd.uchicago.edu

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Please note there are no specific page limits for the Small and Large Seed Grant applications overall, as there are pre-specified maximum word limits for each section. Please submit your application in REDCap, using the word limits below:

1. Type of project (Quality Improvement or Research)
2. Project Title
3. Project Aims (700 words)
4. Research / Quality Improvement Strategy
   1. Significance (300 words)
   2. Innovation (300 words)
   3. Approach (1000 words)
   4. Evaluation/Analysis Plan (500 words)
5. Protection of Human Subjects
   1. Human Subjects Involvement and Characteristics (200 words; in Research application only)
   2. Human Subjects Involvement and Characteristics (200 words)
   3. Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (200 words)
6. Checklist – Confirmation of PI status and Ethical Approval (e.g., QI determination and/or IRB approval)
7. Budget & Budget Justification
   1. Budget Table (see example below)
   2. Budget Narrative (350 words)
   3. List of Key Personnel (Personnel biosketches should be uploaded separately)
   4. Next Stage Funding (if applicable; 200 words)
8. Bibliography/References (no word limit)

Example of Budget Justification Table