2024 Collaborative Health Sciences Program Request for Proposals
Background
The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) is home to the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP), a grantmaking program within the SMPH established as the result of a generous endowment gift from Blue Cross Blue Shield United of Wisconsin (BCBS). The Wisconsin Partnership Program is committed to improving health and advancing health equity through investments in community partnerships, education and research.
A true embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea, WPP awards grants to innovative projects and initiatives that propel medical research, enhance health education and workforce development, support community health partnerships, advance health equity and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The work of WPP and its grantees touches all corners of the state, across a wide range of health challenges, communities, populations and geographic areas.
The Wisconsin Partnership Program’s vision, mission and values as well as its goals and grantmaking strategies are described in the 2024-2029 Five-Year Plan (PDF).
Goals and Description
Through the Collaborative Health Sciences Program (CHSP), the Partnership Education and Research Committee (PERC) supports interdisciplinary team science to advance novel research or education approaches that bring together different disciplines to target complex health problems while advancing health, health care or health equity in Wisconsin and beyond.
Proposals must be led by a collaborative team composed of a Principal Investigator and one or two Co-Principal Investigators from two or more of the following disciplines: basic, clinical, education, informatics/data, population, social/behavioral, and/or translational sciences. Teams with a history of collaboration must explore a new direction. This includes teams with two or more individuals who have collaborated in the past, e.g., partnered on grants or published papers together.
Proposals should be highly innovative and have the potential for leveraging additional funding sources. They should also describe how the project will improve health, health care or health equity in Wisconsin as well as explain the path to translate discovery to application in the clinical setting or in communities. At least one of these topics must be addressed:
- Etiology, pathogenesis and mechanism of disease — including discovery studies with short- and long-term goals aimed at treatment or prevention of injury or disease, health promotion and/or biological basis for health inequities
- Clinical knowledge, improved diagnosis or disease management
- Health policy or health care delivery, such as quality and cost of care, access to care, health equity, and public and community health interventions
- Innovative training and development of current and future health and health care professionals and/or biomedical scientists to better address statewide health needs and health care practice
- Community-engaged research to address the needs of communities disproportionately impacted by health inequities
- Other topics in alignment with the Wisconsin Partnership Program 2024-2029 Five-Year Plan Framework (PDF)
The PERC recognizes that projects may require the development of new infrastructure. However, the project focus must be to advance novel basic, clinical or educational research, not solely to establish or create the infrastructure. Proposals with a primary objective of developing infrastructure are not eligible.
Eligibility
The primary project team is composed of one Principal Investigator and one or two Co-Principal Investigators and must include two or more of the following disciplines: basic, clinical, education, informatics/data, population, social/behavioral, and/or translational sciences. In addition, the team may include a number of Collaborators consistent with the scope of the project.
A Principal Investigator (PI) is required with a salaried appointment in a UW School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) department of at least 50 percent as:
- Professor or associate professor on the clinical health sciences, clinician-teacher, education professor, research professor or tenure track
- Academic staff with permanent PI status — documentation of permanent PI status by the UW–Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education is required
Individuals with appointments in SMPH auxiliary units that report to the SMPH (e.g. Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene) must have a salaried appointment of at least 50 percent as professor, associate professor or academic staff with permanent PI status in a SMPH department as outlined.
The PI must have demonstrated experience leading a research or educational project. The PI is responsible and accountable for leading and advancing the project as specified in the Memorandum of Understanding. The PI may only participate on one CHSP application each funding cycle. Applicants serving as PI or Co-PI on a CHSP grant award that is active beyond July 1, 2024 are not eligible to serve as Principal Investigator this cycle.
The project must have one or two Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PI) and may include a number of Collaborators consistent with the scope of the project. The Co-PIs and Collaborators may have an appointment at any UW System campus or other academic institution, Wisconsin health care system, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin-based non-profit community organization, 4K-12 school district or Wisconsin tribal, state or local government entity.
- Co-Principal Investigators will be considered key personnel expected to contribute to project oversight as well as drafting of manuscripts and progress reports, and may only participate on one CHSP application each funding cycle
- Collaborators typically contribute specialized expertise to the project and have more narrowly defined roles than the PI and the Co-PIs, and may be involved in more than one CHSP application each funding cycle
Funding Scope and Duration
The maximum award is $600,000 over three years. PIs and Co-PIs should dedicate and maintain a minimum five percent full-time equivalent (FTE) professional effort to the project. This effort must be described in the budget justification. Depending on the availability of funds as well as the topics covered and rigor of the application submissions, PERC anticipates funding up to five projects this cycle to include at least one community-engaged research project and at least one basic or translational science project.
The committee encourages applications from eligible faculty and staff in basic and applied science and clinical science departments across the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
Submission and Review Dates
Application Resubmission
Applicants are limited to two submissions — an original and one resubmission — of the same proposal. Applicants submitting a revision must respond to the reviewer comments provided by the Partnership Program during the applicable funding cycle to explain how the current proposal differs from the original submission.
Applicants who have submitted two versions of an application and have not been successful may submit a new application. It must be substantially different in content and scope with more significant differences than are normally encountered in a revised application.
Allowable and Unallowable Expenses
Applicants should review the WPP’s allowable and unallowable expenses policy when creating their project budget. The project budget must include at least five percent of the Principal Investigator and the Co-Principal Investigator full-time equivalent (FTE) compensation. If effort is cost shared by other funding sources, details about the funding sources and amount are required in cash-match or cost-share section of the project budget and should also be referenced within the budget justification. Funds must be used for project-related costs:
- Direct salary support cannot exceed NIH salary limitations
- Support staff expenses, such as salaries and fringe benefits or graduate student tuition
- Travel
- Services, such as consultant or contractual services
- Supplies and other expenses, such as participant support costs and equipment (Equipment is defined as items costing more than $5,000 with more than one year of useful life, and the maximum amount allowed for equipment is $50,000)
Funds may not be used for:
- Pre-award costs
- Indirect overhead and administrative costs
- Infrastructure
- Lobbying
- Institutional Review Board fees (for more information, see the applicant and grantee terms and conditions)
- Supplanting (for more information, see non-supplanting policy)
Preliminary Application Guidelines
Preliminary Application Submission Deadline: February 12, 2024 at 5 p.m. CST.
A preliminary application is required and is available in Fluxx. All applicants are required to have a Fluxx account to access and submit the preliminary application.
Once logged into Fluxx, start a preliminary application by clicking the “Apply for a Collaborative Health Sciences Program Grant” button.
In addition to general information about the project, the preliminary application includes a couple key components:
Project Abstract
Preliminary Application Project Abstract provides an overview of the project, including the primary goal, the broader long-term objectives, specific aims, and a description of how the project advances the goals of the Collaborative Health Sciences Program. The project abstract must describe the interdisciplinary nature of the project team, including the scientific disciplines and contributions of the Principal Investigator, Co-PIs and Collaborators, and plans by the team to leverage future funding from federal or other granting agencies. The project abstract must also describe whether the project team has a history of collaboration. Teams with a history of collaboration must explore a new direction and describe how this project differs from previous collaborative efforts. The project abstract must address whether the PI and/or Co-PI(s) currently possess or are seeking funding from other funders for the same or similar project. The preliminary application project abstract must be uploaded as a PDF and cannot exceed two single-spaced pages with one-inch margins and a minimum 11-point font. Footnotes, references and up to three tables and/or figures are not included in the page limit and should be inserted after the project abstract.
Application Resubmission Statement
Application Resubmission Statement is required if the proposal is a resubmission of a preliminary or full application from a prior funding cycle. Indicate whether the proposal is a resubmission of a prior preliminary or full Collaborative Health Sciences Program application. Provide in the respective text field and in no more than 200 words: the year the original proposal was submitted, the highest stage of review to which the proposal advanced (either preliminary application, full application or interview), a response to the reviewer comments from the applicable funding cycle, and a description of how the current proposal differs from the original submission.
Biographical Information
Biographical Information must include a biographical sketch for the Principal Investigator, Co-PIs and Collaborators in NIH format, including a personal statement, positions, scientific appointments and honors, and contributions to science. Co-PIs and Collaborators from tribal, state and local government agencies or community organizations may submit a resume in lieu of a biographical sketch. Biographical sketches and resumes, each up to five pages in length, must be uploaded as a single PDF.
Designation of Confidential and Proprietary Information
Designation of Confidential and Proprietary Information is required in accordance with Wisconsin’s public records and open meetings laws. See the Wisconsin Partnership Program terms and conditions for more information. Indicate whether the preliminary application includes proprietary and/or confidential information, and using the form provided, identify and request confidentiality for any trade secrets or proprietary information.
Preliminary Application Review Criteria
UW Faculty Review
- Shows innovation and has scientific or educational merit that would predict sustainable external funding beyond the Collaborative Health Sciences Program award
- Appears feasible with high likelihood for acquisition or application of useful data
- Advances the Wisconsin Partnership Program’s 2024-2029 Five-Year Plan Framework (PDF)
- Enhances interdisciplinary research and fosters collaboration among two or more of the following disciplines: basic, clinical, education, informatics/data, population, social/behavioral, and/or translational sciences
- As applicable, teams with a history of collaboration describe a new direction and include details regarding how this project differs from previous collaborative efforts
Community Review
- Describes how the project positively impacts or translates to improved health, health care and/or health equity in Wisconsin in alignment with the Wisconsin Partnership Program 2024-2029 Five-Year Plan Framework (PDF)
Preliminary Application Review Process
Technical Review
Partnership Program staff will review each preliminary application to confirm applicant eligibility and to ensure that all requirements are met. Preliminary applications that do not comply with the eligibility or submission requirements will not be reviewed and the applicant will be notified.
Content Review
The Preliminary Application Review Panel, which is advisory to the Partnership Education and Research Committee (PERC), and includes UW faculty and community representatives, will review the preliminary applications. Each preliminary application will be reviewed by at least two University of Wisconsin faculty reviewers and at least one community reviewer. Faculty reviewers typically are from SMPH basic and applied sciences and clinical sciences departments and other UW–Madison schools and colleges. Community reviewers typically are from Wisconsin-based non-profit community organizations, 4K-12 school districts, health systems or tribal, state or local government entities. The reviewers independently review assigned applications based on the preliminary application review criteria. The ranking and written critiques of the preliminary applications by the Review Panel will be provided to PERC to inform its selection of the proposals that warrant further development as full applications.
Applicants will be notified by April 9, 2024 whether they are being invited to submit a full application. The notification will include brief de-identified comments from the reviewers.
Full Application Guidelines
Full Application Submission Deadline: May 7, 2024 at 5 p.m. CST.
Only applicants invited by the PERC may submit a full application. The Principal Investigator will receive a link to the full application in the invitation.
In addition to general information about the project, the full application includes many key components:
Abstract
Abstract is a succinct and accurate description of the proposed project. The abstract must state the application’s broad, long-term objectives and specific aims, design and methods for achieving the stated project goals, and alignment with the goals of the Collaborative Health Sciences Program. The abstract should be informative to other people working in the same or related fields and understandable to a scientifically or technically literate reader. Avoid describing past accomplishments and the use of the first person. The abstract must be uploaded as a PDF not exceeding one single-spaced page with one-inch margins and a minimum 11-point font.
Statements
Impact Statement
Impact Statement describes how the outcomes of the project will lead to improvements in health, health care and/or health equity, particularly in the state of Wisconsin. This section should include details on the scope and significance of the health issue being addressed. Applicants must provide a brief synopsis of the project in succinct and plain language without scientific and medical terminology that can be understood by a general, lay audience. The impact statement must be uploaded as a PDF not exceeding one single-spaced page with one-inch margins and a minimum 11-point font.
Proposal Review Criteria Statement
Proposal Review Criteria Statement addresses the full application review criteria. This statement must be uploaded as a PDF not exceeding two single-spaced pages with one-inch margins and a minimum 11-point font.
Application Resubmission Statement
Application Resubmission Statement is required if the proposal is a resubmission of a full application from a prior funding cycle. Provide in the respective text field and in no more than 200 words: the year the original proposal was submitted, the highest stage of review to which the proposal advanced (either full application or interview), a response to the reviewer comments from the applicable funding cycle, and a description of how the current proposal differs from the original submission.
Narrative
Narrative describes the project’s specific aims, significance, approaches, limitations, alternative strategies and expected specific measurable outcomes. This should include details of data analysis that address rigor and reproducibility and specific metrics to benchmark progress toward the stated goals and objectives. The narrative must be uploaded as a PDF not exceeding five single-spaced pages with one-inch margins and a minimum 11-point font. Footnotes, references and up to three tables and/or figures are not included in the page limit and should be inserted after the narrative.
Project Timeline and Metrics
Project Timeline and Metrics must be provided for accomplishing specific deliverables for each project aim to benchmark progress toward stated goals and objectives. Use the required Gantt chart template.
Project Budget
Project Budget should clearly indicate how the grant funds will be spent. Use the required budget template. Requests should be made by expense type (salary and fringe benefits, travel, services, and supplies and other expenses) and should provide sufficient detail for individuals unfamiliar with the project. Expenditures must:
- Be fully justified, reasonable and clearly related to the project’s goals
- Reflect the activities listed in the proposal
- Explain the sources and amounts of any cash match or cost sharing funds
See allowable and unallowable expenses for further information.
Budget Justification
Budget Justification describes in detail the major budget line items: salary and fringe benefits, travel, services, and supplies and other expenses. The justification provides specific information about why an expense is necessary to achieve the project goals and objectives. It must also describe the roles and responsibilities of the PI, Co-PIs and Collaborators, even if uncompensated, and of additional support staff. The budget justification must be uploaded as a PDF with one-inch margins and a minimum 11-point font.
Biographical Information
Biographical Information must include a biographical sketch for the Principal Investigator, Co- PIs and Collaborators in NIH format, including a personal statement, positions, scientific appointments and honors, and contributions to science. Co-PIs and Collaborators from tribal, state and local government agencies or community organizations may submit a resume in lieu of a biographical sketch. Biographical sketches and resumes, each up to five pages in length, must be uploaded as a single PDF.
Letters
Letters of Commitment
Letters of Commitment from the Co-PIs, Collaborators and consultants included in the project budget are required and must show evidence of the collaboration with specific details about how they or their organizations will contribute to the project. The letters must be uploaded as a single PDF.
Letters of Support
Letters of Support may include up to five letters from individuals or groups other than the Co-PIs and Collaborators (letters of commitment are required from them) to demonstrate support for the project. The letters must be uploaded as a single PDF.
Optional Materials
Optional Materials are limited to essential study materials such as consent forms which may be submitted for use by the reviewers at their discretion. Optional materials are limited to no more than 10 pages and are not to be used to circumvent the narrative page limits. These materials must be uploaded as a single PDF.
Compliance
Compliance indicates whether the project requires approval by the Animal Care and Use Committee, the Madison Campus Biological Safety Committee, UW–Madison Institutional Review Board, and/or the University Radiation Safety Committee. See the Wisconsin Partnership Program terms and conditions for more information.
Non-Supplanting Questionnaire
Non-Supplanting Questionnaire must be completed by responding to the questions and providing explanations as necessary. The Non-Supplanting Questionnaire must be signed by the PI and Co-PI(s). See supplanting review for more information on supplanting.
Designation of Confidential and Proprietary Information
Designation of Confidential and Proprietary Information is required in accordance with Wisconsin’s public records and open meetings laws. See the Wisconsin Partnership Program terms and conditions for more information. Indicate whether the full application includes proprietary and/or confidential information, and using the form provided, identify and request confidentiality for any trade secrets or proprietary information.
Full Application Review Criteria
UW Faculty Review
Project Objective and Scientific Quality
- Shows innovation and has rigor and outstanding merit
- Advances the Wisconsin Partnership Program’s 2024-2029 Five-Year Plan Framework (PDF)
- Appears feasible with high likelihood for acquisition or application of useful data, and includes details of data analysis that address rigor and reproducibility
- Enhances interdisciplinary research or education and fosters collaborations
- Describes specific metrics to benchmark progress toward stated goals and objectives
- Describes plans for evaluating and disseminating research outcomes or project results
- Has a leveraging potential for extramural grant support beyond the Collaborative Health Sciences Program award
Project Team Qualifications
- The PI is qualified to successfully execute and oversee the proposed research
- The PI and Co-PI each have an established record of independent scholarship or experience developing, administering or evaluating research or education programs
- Together, the PI, Co-PI and Collaborators are a synergistic team with each bringing expertise central to advance project goals
Community Review
Wisconsin Health, Health Care and/or Health Equity
- Describes the process by which successful execution of this project positively impacts or translates to improved health, health care and/or health equity in Wisconsin
- Describes the scope and significance of the health issue being addressed and its relevance in Wisconsin
- As applicable, describes community engagement efforts if it is the central component of overall project goal, and the full application includes letters of commitment or support from community partners
Full Application Review Process
Technical Review
Partnership Program staff will review each full application to ensure that all requirements are met. Applications that do not comply with the submission requirements will not be reviewed and the applicant will be notified.
Content Review
The Full Application Review Panel, which is advisory to the PERC and includes UW faculty and community representatives, will review the full applications. Each full application will be reviewed by two University of Wisconsin faculty reviewers — assigned based on the content and objectives of the proposal — who have expertise in biomedical research, clinical and translational research, health services research, health policy, data and informatics, community-based population health research and/or education. In addition, each full application will be reviewed by one community reviewer. Community reviewers typically are from Wisconsin-based non-profit community organizations, 4K-12 school districts, health systems or tribal, state or local government entities. The reviewers will independently review assigned applications based on the full application review criteria. The ranking and written critiques of the full applications by the Review Panel will be provided to PERC to inform its selection of finalists for interviews.
Applicants will be informed by June 18, 2024 whether they are invited to present their proposal to the PERC. The de-identified reviewers’ comments will be provided to each applicant.
PERC Review
Finalist presentations will take place at the July 22, 2024 PERC meeting. The presentations by the Principal Investigator typically take place between 4:30 and 7 p.m. and are fully virtual over Zoom. Co-PIs and Collaborators may join to respond to questions. No exceptions to this date will be made.
The PERC will make a final determination of awards based on rank, project team presentation, discussion of the application and review materials, additional information from the project team (if requested by PERC or WPP’s Administrative Leadership Team) and the project’s alignment with the goals of the Collaborative Health Sciences Program. Applicants will be notified of whether they are selected for a grant award no later than July 31, 2024.
Supplanting Review
Supplanting means to replace, to take the place of, or to supersede. The Wisconsin Partnership Program prohibits any funds from being awarded that will supplant funds or resources otherwise available to applicants from other sources for the proposed project. PERC’s award decisions are conditional on a review of non-supplanting by the Wisconsin Partnership Program Finance Associate Director in consultation with the WPP Administrative Leadership Team.
Applicants selected for awards by PERC are required to provide key information for review by the Wisconsin Partnership Program:
- An up-to-date non-supplanting questionnaire
- Principal Investigator’s Other Support information in NIH format with the following sections: Project/Proposals by status (Active and Pending); In-Kind Contributions; Overlap
- Principal Investigators must sign their Other Support page
The committee’s decisions at each stage of the review are final and cannot be appealed.
Terms and Conditions
By applying for a Wisconsin Partnership Program grant, applicants agree to the Partnership Program’s terms and conditions. Please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding for terms and conditions of the award.
Technical Assistance
Our team will hold office hours to answer your questions as you prepare your preliminary application:
After looking over the Request for Proposals, sign up for a 15-minute consultation.
Please note that our team is not allowed to review a draft of your submission.
Contact Information
General Inquiries
Aimee Haese
Program Officer
alhaese@wisc.edu
Evaluation Inquiries
Lindsay Barone, PhD
Evaluator
lmbarone@wisc.edu.
Budget or Supplanting Inquiries
Jon Thomas
Finance Associate Director
thomas38@wisc.edu