Funding Opportunities

Call for Applications - Deadline Feb. 12, 2025

Overview

The Roybal Center for Elder Mistreatment Intervention Research is pleased to announce a call for applications for projects aimed at advancing research on interventions for elder mistreatment (EM), including (a) interventions to prevent EM and (b) interventions to prevent the negative health and mental health consequences of EM. The Center is designed to overcome crucial barriers that have historically prevented significant, impactful progression of EM intervention development research, and to assist investigators in building sustainable EM research programs.

Background

EM, including financial exploitation, neglect, self-neglect, and various forms of abuse, affects a significant portion of older adults living in the community (over 15%) and an even greater number of persons living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (over 50%). Despite the negative outcomes associated with EM, evidence-based guidelines for prevention and management are lacking. The UTHealth Roybal Center for Elder Mistreatment Intervention Research aims to address this lack of available interventions by supporting innovative projects that advance the field of EM research through mechanisms-focused interventions.

Eligibility

We invite proposals from new and new-to-the-field investigators who intend to develop or adapt evidence-based interventions from related fields that target known EM risk factors or outcomes through a clearly defined mechanism. Interventions can target either the caregivers at risk for engaging in EM or the older adults at risk for experiencing EM. Eligible applicants must be independent researchers with faculty appointments at the time the award will be made. Applicants must also include a letter of support from their department chair confirming their availability of release time if funded.

Proposals must focus on stages 0-2 of the NIH Stage Model of Behavioral Intervention Development and must be supported by a clearly defined mechanism. All proposed projects must be a clinical trial with adequate statistical power to test mechanisms of behavior change and/or the efficacy of the intervention. We understand that not all scientists get extensive training in trial design and power analysis, which can be a barrier to submitting a proposal. However, we don’t want this to be a barrier for you. We can connect you with experts who can assist you with these elements of your proposal. 

Research Focus  

We encourage applications that address:

• Adaptation of evidence-based interventions to target known EM risk factors or outcomes.
• Development and initial testing of behavioral intervention mechanisms.
• Innovative approaches to real-world testing and collaboration with service providers.

Applicants will be judged as non-responsive if:

• They do not have a primary focus on behavioral and/or social intervention development.
• They are not focused on supporting community-dwelling older adults or their caregivers in the prevention or reduction of EM and its outcomes. Proposals focused on long-term care settings are outside the scope of this solicitation.
• They do not address stage 0-2 of the NIH Stage Model of Behavioral Intervention Development.
• Applications that do not state and propose to test, within their Specific Aims, hypotheses regarding the mechanism of behavior change of interventions for each of the clinical trials proposed.
   

Funding Details

• Amount: The Center intends to commit $300,000 in total costs each year to fund 1-3 awards.
• Duration: The Center will consider projects that are up to 2 years in length.
• Indirect costs: All project budgets should be inclusive of indirect costs. We strongly encourage applicants to seek IDC waivers to maximize the direct costs available to projects.
• Format: Proposals must adhere to the R03 grant format guidelines.
• Support Requirements: If your project involves university cores, services, or external recruitment sites (e.g., bioinformatics support for electronic health record data), please include appropriate letters of support.
  
  

Mentorship and Support

To ensure the progression of successful interventions, the selected project proposals will benefit from guidance provided by the UTH Roybal Cores, the Evaluation Committee, and the External Advisory Committee. This will include help working with service providers such as Adult Protective Services, securing testing sites, and navigating IRB requirements. A formal mentor or training plan is not required.

Submission Instructions

Please submit a one-page specific aims page directly to Drs. Acierno and Cannell (contact information below or at right) before submitting a full application.

Applications should be submitted electronically to the Cizik School of School of Nursing grants management office. Proposals must adhere to the R03 format guidelines and include all necessary letters of support.