Call for Abstracts

DHSA is seeking population health research proposals from students, faculty, or staff affiliated with any of DHSA’s member institutions. This is a ‘shark tank’ type of event with real-time presentations, judging, and awards!

This year, proposals are requested to have a focus on health disparities.

Proposals may address any area of population health related to or impacting health disparities, including but not limited to social determinants of health, environmental health, behavioral and mental health, and COVID-19.

Background

The DHSA Research Competition was established to foster collaboration between colleagues at our partner institutions.  We favor projects in population health, including topical areas of interest.

DHSA was established in 2009 with four founding partners – ChristianaCare, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, and the University of Delaware.  The newly expanded membership includes Bayhealth, the Delaware Academy of Medicine / Delaware Public Health Association and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  

This unique, broad-based partnership focuses innovative collaborations among colleagues in medical education and practice, health economics and policy, population sciences, public health, and biomedical sciences and engineering.   We encourage multidisciplinary collaborations with strong community engagement.

In 2019, the Delaware Health Sciences Alliance (DHSA) launched its first annual Research Competition in ‘shark tank’ format, awarding a $50,000 grant to the winner.

Guide for Researchers

The deadline to submit proposals has been extended to Sunday, November 7, 2021.

Proposals must include the following:

  • Researcher’s Name(s);
  • Structured Abstract;
    • The abstract should include overall research plan, innovative aspect of proposal, budget, and how the funds will be utilized. Please note: funds may not be utilized for salary support or institutional indirect costs.
  • Proposed partnership with at least two of DHSA’s partner organizations;
    • Applications may not include only one researcher who spans multiple DHSA organizations. There must be a minimum of two researchers from two or more DHSA organizations to ensure collaboration.
  • Letters of Support
    • Letters of support from each applicant’s Department Chair or Institutional Leader (i.e. Vice President of Research, Vice President of Academic Affairs, or equivalents thereof) is required. The letter should address the institution’s interest in collaborating across DHSA and in support of the applicant(s) and their work.

Please submit all proposals to DHSA Lead Program Manager Pamela Gardner (pgardner@dhsa.org) no later than 11:59pm, November 7, 2021. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Process of Review

  • All proposals will be vetted by a review committee.
  • The top proposals will advance to a virtual presentation and pitch to the DHSA panel of judges and scheduled for Monday, November 30, 2021. 
  • Finalists will have 15 minutes to pitch their proposal to the panel, and the panel (along with community members) will have time allotted to ask questions.
  • A rubric will be utilized by the panel and a numerical score will be given to each proposal. 
  • The researcher(s) with the highest score will receive a check for $50,000 to fund their proposal. 

DHSA receives the right to evaluate the final project and timeline one year after awarding funds.  If funds have not been utilized after 12 months, upon review, DHSA will either grant an extension of time or require unused funds be returned to DHSA.

For any inquiries about the event, please contact Pamela Gardner (pgardner@dhsa.org).  We look forward to hearing from you!