Request for Applications (RFA)

Overview

The Tufts CTSI Small Grants to Advance Translational Science (S-GATS) Program seeks proposals for innovative and collaborative projects aimed at advancing the science of translation. The program is designed to help address fundamental challenges and roadblocks that are common to translational research across diseases and health conditions. Specific examples of such challenges and roadblocks include, but are not limited to, incorrect predictions of the toxicity or efficacy of new drugs, lack of data interoperability, and ineffective clinical trial recruitment.

The key objective of a well-designed S-GATS project is to address a generalizable obstruction to translation. Thus, the successful applicants are expected to:

  • articulate a translational challenge or roadblock to be addressed;
  • propose a proof-of-concept study to demonstrate, in one or more use cases, an innovative broadly-applicable and/or tangibly useful disease-agnostic research product(s) (e.g., research method, technology, operational process, medical treatment, behavioral intervention) to address the identified challenge or roadblock. The proposed research product(s) should have potential for advancing translation of pre-clinical, clinical, and health services and policy research into improvements in clinical care and/or health; and
  • provide a preliminary dissemination and/or implementation plan to enable other investigators to apply the developed product in their translational research.

The application process involves an initial submission of a competitive Letter of Intent (LOI), due on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, and, if invited, a full proposal, due on Thursday, December 21, 2023. To ensure that the proposed research projects are responsive to the 2024 RFA, prospective applicants are required to consult with the S-GATS Program staff prior to the LOI submission by participating in a brief consult during one of the S-GATS Program’s office hours.

Award Information

Number of Awards: Four to six projects (depending on award budgets)

Award Ceiling: $50,000 in direct costs only. Cost sharing and indirect costs are not allowed.

Project Period: May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025. Project extensions are not allowed under any circumstances.

Key Application Dates:

  • Letter of intent submission period begins: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
  • Competitive letter of intent due (required): Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 11:59 PM
  • Invitation to submit full proposal: by Monday, November 13, 2023
  • Proposal due (by invitation only): Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 11:59 PM
  • Award announcement: March 2024

Information Sessions and Consultations:

  • Translational Science is Improving the Process information sessions:
    • Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 8:30 AM
    • Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 5:30 PM
  • Translational science office hours (required 15 minute consultations, by appointment only):
    • Friday, September 15, 2023 3:00-4:00 PM (Lead Dr. Aviva Must, PhD)
    • Monday, September 18, 2023 12:00-1:00 PM (Lead Dr. Erika Werner, MD)
    • Monday, September 18, 2023 2:00-3:00 PM (Lead Dr. Aviva Must, PhD)
    • Tuesday, September 19, 2023 1:00-2:00 PM (Lead Dr. Michael Chin, MD, PhD)
    • Thursday, September 21, 2023 10:00-11:00 AM (Lead Dr. Erika Werner, MD)
    • Friday, September 22, 2023 10:00-11:00 AM (Lead Dr. Michael Chin, MD, PhD)
    • Monday, September 25, 2023 5:30-6:30PM (Lead Dr. Erika Werner, MD)
    • Thursday, September 28, 2023 1:00-2:00 PM (Lead Dr. Aviva Must, PhD)
    • Monday, October 2, 2023 2:00-3:00 PM (Lead Dr. Michael Chin, MD, PhD)

Sign up or ask a question at sgats@tuftsmedicine.org.

About the Program

Established in 2022, the Small Grants to Advance Translational Science (S-GATS) Program is a funding opportunity available through Tufts CTSI and supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), one of the centers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As defined by NCATS, a key tenet of translational science is to understand common causes of inefficiency and failure in translational research projects. Many of these causes are understood to be the same across targets, diseases, and therapeutic areas. Therefore, advances in translational science will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of translational research to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.

In alignment with translational science principles identified by NCATS, the S-GATS Program supports innovative translational science projects that focus on building the evidence base for effective scientific and operational approaches in translational research. The program is designed to accelerate the pace of such research by supporting development of research products (paradigms, methodologies, technologies, techniques, interventions, tools, or resources) that have generalizable target/disease-agnostic or target/disease-universal applications. It prioritizes actionable translational science research that addresses unmet scientific needs and/or improves health outcomes of the community and advances health equity for traditionally marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented populations. Consistent with the NCATS mission and local priorities, the program funds projects across the full translational spectrum (T.5 to T4).

To be considered for funding, applicants need to: 1) specify the common translational research challenge or roadblock to be addressed (e.g., incorrect predictions of the toxicity or efficacy of new drugs, lack of data interoperability, ineffective clinical trial recruitment); 2) present a proof-of-concept study and describe how one or more use cases will be used to derive new translational research methods or operational principles; and 3) formulate a preliminary plan to support near-future broad and intentional dissemination of the research findings to enable other investigators to apply them in their translational research. In support of collective action for health improvement, they should also have an integrated strategy for engaging stakeholders relevant to their proposed translational science projects. Stakeholder engagement should go beyond traditional team science and be broadly conceived to support inclusion in one or more parts of the research process and dissemination/implementation efforts.

Examples of Projects that May Be Supported

  • Clinical Research Efficiency-focused Projects: Development of new or validation of feasibility of existing research methodologies, procedures, and collaborative approaches to tackle scientific uncertainties and operational inefficiencies that limit the ability to test new treatments in humans and/or deliver interventions to patients more quickly. Examples:
    • Development of a roadmap to using historical data and controls in the design of clinical studies of rare genetic disorders
    • Comparison of collaborative approaches focused on supporting the development of informed consent materials to address issues related to comprehension among study participants with limited English proficiency
    • Evaluation of a framework for the development of performance standards which can be used to establish confidence in alternative test systems and models
    • Validation of a self-administered online neurocognitive screening tool to support inclusion of traditionally marginalized populations in clinical trial research
  • Data Science, Informatics, and/or Artificial/Machine Intelligence-focused Projects: Development of applications and/or integration of data science, informatics and/or computerized analytic tools to make data more meaningful, open, and/or accessible to the scientific community and/or to provide rational, informatics-based guidance to clinicians and patients to make more informed care decisions or to achieve better medical outcomes. Examples:
    • Development and evaluation of a computerized clinical decision support tool to help reduce overutilization of diagnostic imaging
    • Retrospective analysis of diagnostic errors in emergency neuroradiology to support development of a searchable database to inform error-reduction strategies
    • Development of a data collection and validation procedure to determine the quality and reliability of the geographic information contained within health information systems and electronic health records
    • Development of a standard support tool to create and maintain patient resources for referrals for the social determinants of health factors (e.g., food, housing, and fuel insecurity) in the electronic medical records
    • Assessment of opportunities and challenges associated with leveraging data from wearable consumer devices to enhance patient outcomes and deliver higher-quality care
    • Development of a health information technology to support integration of medical and dental health records
  • Dissemination and Implementation Science-focused Projects: Development of insights or making a meaningful contribution to the existing body of generalizable knowledge to inform how innovations, scientific discoveries, and evidence-based interventions can be successfully and widely disseminated, adopted, integrated, and/or maintained in health care delivery and community settings. Examples:
    • Development and assessment of the feasibility and acceptability of a behavioral change framework for de-implementation to address over-treatment of mental disorders in a private practice setting
    • Assessment of economic evaluation tools to inform implementation of community-based population-level oral health interventions targeting low income families and single-parent households
    • Development of culture-centered dietary interventions to address chronic diseases
    • Development and preliminary testing of a protocol for inclusion of stakeholders from community-based organizations in crafting lay summaries
  • Predictive Efficacy and Toxicology-focused Projects: Development of model systems for drug and toxicity testing that more closely resemble human physiology to prevent patients from being exposed to potentially harmful or ineffective candidate drugs in clinical studies and/or to provide useful information about the basic biology of disease and serve as improved testing platforms for predicting toxicity or other physiological processes or evaluating environmental chemicals. Examples:
    • Development of organoid models to access efficacy and organ toxicity from chemotherapeutic or environmental exposures
    • Development a common chemical reference dataset for interpretation of high-throughput transcriptomic screening data
    • Development of a method to incorporate genetic variation into cell-based test systems to better understand potential population differences in response to chemicals that may cause toxic neurological effects
    • Development of methods for extracting and quantifying imaging features in pathology studies of animal models
    • Development of a new high-throughput nitrocellulose-based assay plate for measuring secreted proteins
    • Creation of informatics resources to augment preclinical testing through cross-species comparison
    • Development of digital tools for measuring local immune responses and signatures of disease progression in animal models
  • De-risking Therapeutic Development-focused Projects: Development of technologies and/or development and management of drug discovery programs to reduce the risks, time delays, and costs of advancing basic research breakthroughs into treatments. Examples:
    • Development of an integrated platform technology that eliminates communication barriers between the disparate bioinformatics search engines to expedite preclinical drug discovery studies in animal models
    • Development of strategies to support optimization of drug repurposing projects
    • Identification and validation an effective animal tissue harvest procedure for testing a needleless auto-injector system
    • Development of evidence-based guidelines to facilitate genomics-driven drug discovery process
    • Validation of a new tool to assess organizational preparedness and capabilities to support patient engagement in drug development
    • Assessment of public-private models for advancing ‘first-in-class’ therapeutic agents
  • Network Capacity Building- and Competence Development-focused Projects: Development and implementation of collaborative approaches across disciplines and research sectors and/or development of novel training paradigms to support building a diverse repertoire of essential competencies, skills, and attributes required for engaging in translational science within and beyond academic research disciplines. Examples:
    • Adoption of a hub-and-spoke network model to improve delivery of specialized healthcare services to medically-underserved communities in rural environments
    • Development and assessment of a toolkit for adapting data hackathons in diverse healthcare settings
    • Development of a peer-to-peer mentorship framework to support capacity building activities delivered virtually across state lines
    • Development of resources for training clinical research staff in remote trial best practices
    • Assessment of roadblocks preventing implementation of financially viable and data-driven collaborative, cross-sectoral healthcare in low resource settings
    • Development of an advocacy training program to support involvement of community partners in clinical research projects

Applicant Eligibility

Applications must designate a Principal Investigator (PI) with a primary appointment or position at one of the Tufts CTSI partner or collaborator organizations listed below. Medical residents, fellows, post-doctoral fellows, or medical students are not eligible to serve as PIs. However, they may be included in key personnel along with collaborators not affiliated with Tufts CTSI.

Eligible Sites:

  • Asian Community Development Corporation
  • Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
  • Asian Women for Health
  • Authentic Caribbean Foundation
  • Brandeis University
  • Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
  • Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation
  • Cooperative Services Inc. Support & Development
  • Critical Path Institute
  • Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center
  • Greater Boston Section of the National Council of Negro Women
  • Kaiser Permanente Center Health Research
  • Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
  • Maine Medical Center
  • Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation
  • MGH Institute of Health Professions
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Museum of Science, Boston
  • Newton-Wellesley Hospital
  • Northeastern University
  • Point32Health
  • RAND Corporation
  • The Jackson Laboratory
  • Tufts Medical Center/Tufts Medicine
  • Tufts University
  • Urban College of Boston

Project Eligibility

Applicants must propose projects that are focused on advancing the science of translation and not just be translational in nature. They must seek to understand a scientific or operational principle underlying a step of the translational process, thereby making the development and dissemination of interventions that improve human health bringing more predictable and efficient. Although critically important, basic, discovery-oriented science projects or projects focused on crossing a particular step of the translational process for a particular target or disease, are not allowed.

Proposed budgets must be between $25,000 and $50,000 in direct costs. The projects must be fully supported with the Tufts CTSI funds awarded through the S-GATS funding mechanism. They cannot be add-ons to or an extension of a parent project supported by another funding source. Indirect costs and cost sharing, including the use of supplemental funding or third party in-kind contributions, are not allowed. If research space is provided by the institution for inpatient and or outpatient participant evaluations, the applicant will be asked to describe the space, its potential availability, and if applicable, hourly or overnight rates to be charged to support research activities.

If proposed, clinical trial activities must not go beyond the end of Phase IIB with the exception of Phase III clinical trials for treatment of rare diseases. Any research projects or research activities that involve a foreign component, as defined by NIH (e.g., performing a specific element or segment of a project outside of the U.S., with assistance of a collaborator employed by a foreign entity or a non-U.S. vendor, and/or with support or resources from a foreign entity), must be disclosed during the LOI stage and be well-justified.

Application Process

The S-GATS Program accepts full proposals by invitation only. To be considered, all applicants are required to submit a competitive LOI presenting a concise and thought-out description of their ultimate proposal. The LOI should describe the project and its proposed methods of study in adequate detail so that their merit and translational science focus may be assessed. Applicants are required to consult with the S-GATS Program staff prior to submission of the initial LOI. Sign up for a virtual consultation at sgats@tuftsmedicine.org.

How to Apply

The 2024 S-GATS Program has a two-step application process that includes a competitive LOI and, if invited, a final proposal. Both must be submitted via Tufts CTSI’s REDCap online submission portal. Incomplete and late submissions will not be accepted.

  • Competitive Letter of Intent: To be considered for a full proposal, applicants are required to specify the translational problem or roadblock to be addressed, provide a research synopsis, and detail the composition of the research team. The LOI narrative should provide a well-articulated summary of the proposed study, including a statement of the translational relevance and significance, a description of potential benefits and/or of generalizable applications of the proposed research product(s), and an overview of research procedures for the particular use case(s). The LOI should total no more than two pages in length. Applicants must use Arial at a font size of 11 points and keep all margins at 0.5 inches. The LOI submission should also include a biosketch of the Lead Principal Investigator. The LOI submission period is now closed.
  • Proposal, by invitation: All LOI applicants will be notified whether or not their projects are chosen to move forward to the proposal stage no later than Monday, November 13, 2023. For applicants submitting full proposals, detailed proposal instructions and program-specific form templates will be available in REDCap on November 13, 2023. Full proposals must be submitted by no later than Thursday, December 21, 2023.

Letter of Intent Review

The LOI review process is designed to help identify the most promising and scientifically sound translational science projects to move forward and to support further project development. All compete LOIs will undergo an administrative review by the S-GATS Program staff for their alignment with the program’s objectives. Project ideas that are deemed responsive to the 2024 RFA will be reviewed and scored by at least two scientific peer reviewers for their translational relevance, scientific rationale and rigor, feasibility, potential for impact, and clarity. Successful projects will be selected in consultation with the Tufts CTSI Research Collaboration Team,  Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Center, Dissemination and Implementation Core, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement, Stakeholder and Community Engagement, and Integrating Underrepresented Populations in Research programs, as appropriate.

Proposal Review and Funding Decisions                                                

All complete proposals will be assessed and scored on the basis of the following criteria: significance, innovation, approach, team and organizational environment, and future plans. Key funding considerations include the overall impact score, project feasibility, clear strategy and intentional focus on health equity, budget justification, available funds, and distribution across the translational spectrum. Please learn more about the application review criteria and funding decision here.

Additional Resources

Questions?

We are here to help. Please contact us at sgats@tuftsmedicine.org with any questions or to schedule a virtual consultation.

Aviva Must, PhD, Program Director

Erika Werner, MD, MS, Senior Advisor

Michael T. Chin, MD, PhD, Senior Advisor

Nadia Prokofieva, MSSc, Senior Project Manager