Introduction
ENGAGED: The Center for Disability Community-Engaged Research, supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health, invites applications for pilot research grants to advance community-engaged approaches in medical rehabilitation with, for, and by people with disabilities. Proposals representing a broad range of disability communities are encouraged.
This program is designed to support innovative, collaborative projects that meaningfully involve patients, caregivers, and community stakeholders in the research process to improve rehabilitation outcomes and address social determinants of health.
Community-Engaged Research Definition
Community-Engaged Research Definition
Community-engaged research is defined as a collaborative approach that substantively involves community stakeholders in all phases of the research process, from identifying priorities to disseminating findings.
Purpose
The pilot funding mechanism aims to:
- Foster meaningful partnerships between rehabilitation researchers and community stakeholders
- Support early-stage, high-impact projects that can lead to larger NIH grant submissions
- Promote translation of rehabilitation research into real-world settings
- Enhance rehabilitation outcomes, including those related to body structures and function, activities and participation, and/or environmental factors.
Funding Details
Award Amount: Up to $30,000
Project Period: Up to 12 months
Number of Awards: Estimated 5 awards (dependent on available funds and quality of applications)
Funding Source: NIH through ENGAGED: The Center for Disability Community-Engaged Research.
ENGAGED Pilot Research Competition
Purpose
This manual provides governance, procedures, timelines, review processes, and operational guidance for the ENGAGED Pilot Research Competition.
Governance Structure
Pilot Program Lead, Administrative Core, Executive Committee, Community Advisory Board, Scientific Reviewers, Community Reviewers.
Annual Competition Timeline
June – July: Priority setting and planning (topics of interest to highlight for call)
August: Competition announcement and informational webinar
September – October: LOI submission
October: LOI screening and invitation decisions
November – January: Full application submission
January – February: Peer review
February – March: Executive Committee review and funding recommendations
March – April: NIH/NCMRR and regulatory approvals
May – June: Submit proposals to NCMRR with RPPR for funding approval
July – August: Projects start contingent on NOA and approvals received
Competition Announcement Process
Funding opportunity posted on ENGAGED website and distributed through professional societies, disability organizations, newsletters, listservs, partner institutions, and social media. Webinar recording and FAQs posted online.
Letter of Intent (LOI) Process
Applicants submit contact information, project title, study goals, scientific rationale, rehabilitation relevance, disability population, community partner(s), study design, timeline, future funding plan, and NIH biosketch.
Administrative screening determines invitation to submit a full application.
Full Application Process
Invited applicants submit:
- Project narrative (half Page)
- Specific aims (I page)
- Research strategy (3-4 pages to reduce review burden)
- Community engagement plan (1/2 Page)
- Dissemination plan (1/2 page)
- Future funding plan (1/2 page)
- Budget, human subjects information (if applicable), biosketches, and letters of support
Reviewer Recruitment and Assignment
Maintain reviewer database. Assign three reviewers per application while managing conflicts of interest. Include scientific, rehabilitation, methodological, and community-engagement expertise.
NIH Simplified Review Framework
Factor 1: Importance of Research
Factor 2: Rigor and Feasibility
Factor 3: Expertise and Resources
Additional Reviews: Human Subjects, Budget, Community Engagement, Overall Impact
Executive Committee Review
Top applications are discussed by the Executive Committee. Final recommendations consider scientific merit, community engagement, portfolio balance, budget, and strategic alignment.
Award Management
Award notifications issued. Awardees complete onboarding, mentoring plans, IRB requirements, and NIH/NCMRR approvals when applicable.
Progress Monitoring
Six-month and twelve-month reviews include recruitment, milestones, expenditures, dissemination, community engagement activities, and future grant planning.
To create the following document templates/forms
Appendix A. Sample Competition Announcement
The ENGAGED Center invites Letters of Intent for pilot projects that advance community-engaged rehabilitation research among people with disabilities. Pilot awards will support innovative projects that strengthen disability-community partnerships, improve rehabilitation participation, and generate preliminary data for future external funding.
Appendix B. LOI Template
Applicant Information
Project Title
Institution
Community Partner(s)
Disability Population
Study Goals
Scientific Rationale
Community Engagement Approach
Timeline
Future Funding Plan
NIH Biosketch
Appendix C. Full Application Template
Cover Page
Project Summary
Specific Aims
Research Strategy
Community Engagement Plan
Dissemination Plan
Budget
Human Subjects
Letters of Support
Biosketches
Appendix D. Reviewer Scoring Template
Importance of Research (1-9)
Rigor and Feasibility (1-9)
Expertise and Resources (Appropriate/Not Appropriate)
Human Subjects (Appropriate/Not Appropriate)
Budget (Appropriate/Not Appropriate)
Overall Impact (1-9)
Pilot Funding FAQs
Who is eligible for funding?
- Investigators must be affiliated with an eligible academic, clinical, or research institution
- Applicants should be involved in medical rehabilitation research fields (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, physiatry, rehabilitation psychology, case management, peer support services)
- Each application must include at least one engaged community partner
- Early-stage investigators and interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged
How do you define Community Engaged Research?
Community-engaged research is defined as a collaborative approach that equitably involves disability community stakeholders in all phases of the research process, from identifying priorities to disseminating findings and taking actions.
How many pilot awards will be given?
An estimated 5–8 awards will be given (dependent on available funds and quality of applications)
How can the funding be spent?
Allowable Costs include:
- Personnel (including effort for investigators and staff, including disabled people as co-researchers)
- Compensation for community partners and participants and their full participation, including, but not limited to, reasonable accommodations to participate, such as transportation, real-time captioning, and ASL.
- Supplies and data collection activities
- Community engagement activities
- Dissemination
Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs are not allowed unless otherwise specified by institutional policy.
What should be included in the Letter of Intent?
The LOI should briefly describe the proposed project and should include:
- Project title
- Principal Investigator(s) and institutional affiliation
- A brief (approximately 150–250 words) description of the proposed project, including its objectives and relevance to the funding opportunity
- Names of any anticipated collaborators
What are the reporting expectations for pilot projects?
Six-month and twelve-month reviews of pilot projects will include recruitment, milestones, expenditures, dissemination, community engagement activities, and future grant planning.
Questions
If you have additional questions about the ENGAGED pilot program or the application process, please email engaged@uic.edu