This grant will help position the Center for Disability Health and Wellness to grow and submit a planning grant to the NIH in 2021 or 2022. The associated research project translates and applies the ideas, investigations and analyses from the IDEAL RRTC and individuals with physical disabilities to investigations of adults with with long-term sensory disabilities. Grant funds will primarily be used to engage and support the time and effort from data analysts so that we can produce papers that demonstrate interdepartmental collaboration and build the case to support a an NIH center on Health and Healthcare Disparities among Individuals Aging with Disabilities. The CDHW is led by Michelle Meade, Ph.D., associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, and Michael M. McKee, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of family medicine.

About the Award

The MICHR Accelerating Synergy Award is designed to support interdisciplinary research teams in pursuing external multi-component NIH large-scale grants (ie, certain NIH U and P-series mechanisms). Being competitive for large-scale grants requires significant advanced planning, a well-defined and central research theme, strong preliminary data, and a history of partnership among collaborating investigators.

In partnership with the Medical School Office of Research and the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, MICHR is offering three Accelerating Synergy Award mechanisms:

1. Basic Research
2. Translational Research
3. Health Services Research

Applicants will also choose an appropriate planning stage – Positioning or Grant Development - that aligns with project needs and anticipated time to external large-scale grant submission. Each award will provide $100,000 in funding for one year as well as a tailored plan of MICHR support.

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