Eligible applicants include investigators whose research has been paused, significantly altered or redirected due to compliance with new executive orders or related institutional guidelines. Application deadline is November 3, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are invited to submit proposals if they meet the following criteria:
- Experienced a loss or reduction of research funding directly attributable to recent executive orders, or required to modify the trajectory of their research focus because of such policy changes, and
- Engage in scholarly activity consistent with the Center’s mission to advance the health of communities
Award Information
- Funding Amount: $25,000 per award; salary and fringe support is limited to $10,000
- Duration: One year (projected start date: December 15, 2025)
- Number of Awards: One to two pilot awards will be supported
Application Instructions & Materials
Interested investigators are required to submit the following application materials:
- Abstract (up to 10 lines)
- Specific aims and research plan (max 3 pages), including impact of the executive orders on planned research activities
- References (unlimited, but brief)
- Statement of future research & funding (max 1 page)
- Budget and justification
- NIH biosketches for PI and Co-Investigators
All application materials must be submitted electronically as a single PDF document.
All application materials must be submitted electronically as a single PDF document.
Evaluation Process
Submitted proposals will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- Conformity with the Center’s mission and research priorities;
- Degree of innovation and potential for scientific or societal impact;
- Demonstrated funding loss or necessity to alter research direction owing to executive orders;
- Feasibility and clarity of the proposed one-year pilot project.
For inquiries or to indicate interest, please contact the Maya Angelou Research Center for Healthy Communities via Sha’Niqua Lewis at Shaniqua.Lewis@AdvocateHealth.org. The Center remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a research environment characterized by support, resilience, and innovation. Through the provision of these pilot awards, we aim to empower investigators as they pursue excellence in the field of healthy communities research.