Back to “Evolution of the Medical Research Program”
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
Organizations with 501(c)(3) status.
Can multiple organizations submit a joint proposal?
Yes. Joint proposals are welcome, including but not limited to collaborations between different types of organizations, such as research, governmental and community-based organizations.
Can individual investigators submit a proposal?
The opportunity is not open to individual investigator-initiated proposals. Rather, the opportunity is for organizations to propose symposia with a wider, organizational perspective aligned with the goals articulated in the invitation.
My organization has different centers/institutes/departments. Can they each submit a proposal?
Organizations may have different functional units aligned with the goals in the invitation. To the extent that organizations are willing to promote broader change and support their units in becoming centers of gravity for convening stakeholders to achieve high-level discussions relevant to strengthening health research to prevent disease and/or improve outcomes of care, such applications are welcome.
Proposals and Review
Can the symposia be focused on a specific health challenge or disease area?
Yes. Possible related topics are listed in Attachment A. Proposals for symposia that aim to achieve the goals and outputs listed on pages 2-3 of the invitation, whether agnostic or specific to a disease focus, may be submitted.
Are symposia topics limited to those listed in Attachment A?
No. The topics in Attachment A are suggestions and not meant to restrict the range of ideas for symposium topics. We recognize the community may have more insights to elevate and highlight.
What are the qualities of a successful proposal?
Please see Attachment D for criteria that will be used to evaluate symposia proposals. Successful symposia host organizations will demonstrate a whole-of-organization perspective and commitment in alignment with societal priorities and existing public sector goals and frameworks for health progress, as applicable, and with relevant community and commercial sector engagement in their proposals.
May I propose for the symposium to occur later than Spring 2025?
While a symposium in Spring 2025 is preferred to drive momentum and enable the Collective’s compilation of a report summarizing all discussions, alternative dates may be considered. If an alternative date later than Spring 2025 is more institutionally opportune or strategic, please provide a brief rationale in the online application form.
Will you consider proposals with global components (international stakeholders, topics involving international relationships, etc.)?
No, the opportunity is only open to proposals focused domestically on the United States.
Will you consider support for an existing symposium?
Yes, if it aligns with the goals articulated in the invitation. Please review Attachment D for criteria used to evaluate symposia proposals.
Is there a preferred size for symposia?
No, there is no preferred size in terms of participants. The opportunity is to support high-level discussions with cross-sectoral representation, informed by the local or regional health context and intersecting with pathways for research to prevent disease and/or improve outcomes of care. There is space in the application to propose a range in the number of anticipated participants.
Will you consider proposals for virtual symposia?
Proposals for remote symposia may be considered. Our experience has been that in-person convenings provide unique value for candid discussions. However, we recognize the value of virtual and hybrid events. Ultimately, the opportunity aims to source the best ideas for symposia. Please reach out at mrp@dorisduke.org so that we can learn more about your organization's thoughts for a symposium.
Will you consider letters of support?
Yes, feel free to include brief statements from stakeholders participating in the planning and organizing of the symposium. Please only provide such statements if relevant to documenting participation and support from additional stakeholders. Each statement must be 1-page or less, will not count toward the narrative proposal limit of 5 pages, and may be appended to the narrative proposal.
Costs and Budget
How much funding will be provided to symposia host organizations?
Financial support will be commensurate with the scope and scale of the proposed symposium. The opportunity is to support thoughtful discussions that convene a representative cross-sectoral community addressing a topic informed by the local or regional health context and with the overarching goal to reimagine research opportunities for better health. In alignment with reasonable costs for a local, one-day symposium, we expect that symposium cost will not exceed $125,000 – though we anticipate that some proposals may fall well below this limit – including a maximum indirect cost rate of 10% and that cost will be proportional to the number of attendees.
Will you consider co-sponsorship of a symposium?
Yes, if it aligns with the goals articulated in the invitation. Please review Attachment D for criteria used to evaluate symposia proposals.
May grant funds be used to support post-symposium activities, such as synthesis and dissemination of the discussion?
Selected host organizations are not expected to synthesize or disseminate the results of their symposium. The Collective is planning activities to uplift, document and synthesize each symposium and the symposia as a whole.
Application
What is needed for an Executive Certification Form?
The executive certification is a signed letter from the grants and contracts administrator or another appropriate institutional representative with the authority to attest that the application has been reviewed and approved by the organization.
For other questions, please contact us at mrp@dorisduke.org with “2024 Strengthen Health Research” as the subject line.
