The Climate & Health Actionable Research and Translation (CHART) Center aims to generate knowledge about the health risks associated with climate change in urban areas, particularly those related to heat exposure, and translate this knowledge into action through equitable partnerships that enhance health. Low- income and minority communities in the US and low- and middle-income populations globally face severe challenges arising from climate change, especially from heat, and CHART aims to address these challenges.
The Research Capacity Building Core (RCBC) aims to build the capacity of climate change and health (CCH) researchers in Emory, their US and global partners, and physicians serving the communities at-risk in Atlanta through tailored learning, direct research experience, and networking, to translate CCH research discoveries into real-world policies and practice.
To achieve this goal, the RCBC proposes three specific aims:
- First, the RCBC will build CHART researchers’ capacity to implement and adapt transdisciplinary CCH research within their specific system and community context through tailored skills-building and learning opportunities.
- Second, RCBC will establish a pilot project program for investigators at any career stage with promising climate and health research proposals to generate data needed to demonstrate technical feasibility.
- Third, the RCBC will leverage a community of practice to encourage new transdisciplinary research partnerships, new CCH research projects, and translation of evidence to action.
The RCBC is crucial to CHART’s vision to be a hub that advances and translates research in the climate risks to protect the health of under-resourced urban populations. The RCBC will implement new and inclusive approaches to enhance the CCH research capacity of transdisciplinary teams from epidemiology, exposure science, medicine, biostatistics, social and behavioral science, and public policy, as well as community partners. This will lead to more expansive approaches to identify and address gaps in our understanding of the differential susceptibilities to heat exposure in under- resourced urban communities, with a focus on interventions that are most impactful and feasible.
Aim 1
Build researchers’ capacity to implement and adapt transdisciplinary CCH research within their specific system and community context through tailored skills-building and learning opportunities
Aim 2
Establish a pilot project program for investigators at any career stage with promising climate and health research proposals to generate data needed to demonstrate technical feasibility.
Aim 3
Leverage a community of practice to encourage new transdisciplinary research partnerships, new CCH research projects, and translation of evidence to action
2024-2025 Pilot Project Program in Climate and Health Announced
The Climate and Health Actionable Research and Translation Center (CHART) is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Pilot Project Program in Climate and Health. CHART will make available a total of $60,000 this year, with the aim of funding multiple grants of up to $20,000 total costs. The Pilot Project Program aims to build research capacity by providing funding for innovative pilot proposals that intend to generate new knowledge about the health risks associated with climate change in urban areas, particularly those related to heat exposure, and to translate this knowledge into action through equitable partnerships that enhance health. Learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Pilot Project Program
How much funding is available?
CHART will fund at least three pilot grants up to $20,000 total costs each.
How do I apply?
Pilot announcements will be released once a year in the spring. This year, Letters of Intent are due March 11, and full proposals are due April 15.
CHART will fund at least three pilot grants up to $20,000 total costs each.
What are the evaluation criteria?
Evaluation is based on a variety of criteria. Grants must focus on the role of the environment in human disease and be in line with the mission of NIEHS. They may include basic, biomedical, translational, clinical, epidemiological, or behavioral projects. Criteria for evaluation will include innovation, significance, alignment with the goals of CHART, collaboration with other CHART investigators/facility cores, overall impact and likelihood of transitioning pilot results into R-level funding.
What is the length of a typical project?
The project length is up to one and a half years and will not extend beyond December of the following calendar year. For example, the earliest funding for the current round of grants is June 1, 2024, subject to contracts. Funding will not extend beyond December 31, 2025.
Is carryover allowed if I don't spend all of my award?
No, carryover will not be allowed for pilot projects.
What are the responsibilities of a pilot awardee?
The pilot awardee should plan to participate in Center activities such as seminars and data clubs, present their work at the annual Center meeting, provide a short summary of findings for the annual progress report, notify the Center Administrator of applications for independent funding resulting from the pilot project, and cite the Center in any publications, grant proposals, or presentations related to their project.
How do I acknowledge Center support?
Investigators should acknowledge Center support with a statement that the study “was supported by a Pilot Project grant from the Emory University CHART Center (NIH 1P20ES036110-01).”
What type of research is typically supported by NIEHS?
Click here for a list of funded research areas along with links to publications.
Need more information?
Please email CHART.CENTER@emory.edu
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Non-profits are eligible to apply, just keep in mind that this is a research-based grant.
Can postdoc researchers be listed as the principal investigator (PI)?
Postdoc researchers can be the PI if the institution they represent permits it and if a metric of success for the pilot program is supporting early researchers. For example, if the metrics are about the postdoc getting K-awards, or other awards that help them move forward in their career.
If my team is proposing a project outside of the US or with investigators outside of the US, what additional approvals are required?
Foreign approval is a requirement of the NIH and grant applications must be approved by the NIH. You can find more information about applying to NIH foreign grants here.
If you are applying for a project being done outside the United States or with an investigator outside of the United States, please include an extra page in your full application with the information below. This will not be counted towards the application page limit.
- Brief description of research activities at foreign site(s):
- Complete institution address
- Email, and phone numbers of contact PI at foreign site(s):
- Amount of funds going to each foreign site:
- Are human or animal subjects involved at the foreign site(s)?
- Institutional Federal Wide Assurance Number, IRB, or IEC approval for work performed at foreign site(s):
- Will the collaboration with investigators at the foreign site(s) result in co-authorship?
If there is human subjects or animal work at the site outside of the US, there will need to be approvals of IRB or IACUC from those sites provided. Since funds will be flowing there, you will also need to provide a budget and justification and statement of work.