Global Health Seed Grant Program FAQS

Each proposal will be reviewed by at least two independent faculty reviewers with expertise relevant to the proposed research. Global health faculty will also review applications to support consistency across the review process.

Applications will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in the RFA, including:

• Significance and potential impact of the proposed research
• Strength and appropriateness of the research approach and methodology
• Experience and expertise of the investigative team
• Strength of the global partnership
• Strength of the multidisciplinary collaboration
• Quality of the mentorship and capacity-building plan for Early Career Investigators
• Feasibility of completing the proposed work within the requested budget and funding period
• Appropriateness and feasibility of proposed laboratory activities at the global partner site
• Research in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank's current Country and Lending Groups classification, which will be prioritized for funding
• Cross-school collaboration within UCLA, particularly across two or more UCLA schools, will receive funding preference

The UCLA Principal Investigator (PI) must be a UCLA faculty member. Adjunct faculty, fellows, and residents are not eligible to serve as PI but may participate as co-investigators or Early Career Investigators.

The research team must also include a Primary Global Partner Site Investigator from the global partner institution.

At least one investigator on the research team must hold a faculty appointment within the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM).

No. The research team should include investigators from UCLA and the global partner site. A limited number of investigators from other institutions may also participate when their expertise is relevant to the proposed research.

Cross-school collaboration within UCLA is strongly encouraged.

The LOI is submitted through Qualtrics, and individual narrative questions include applicable word limits.

The LOI requests information about the investigative team, designated Early Career Investigators, scientific disciplines represented, global partner site, proposed project, project summary, and one to three specific research aims, including the objectives and anticipated outcomes for each aim.

Applicants will also be asked to provide:

• A justification if any portion of the proposed research will take place in an upper-middle-income or high-income country or setting 
• Additional information if the proposed research includes a laboratory science component, including the location of laboratory activities, available resources and infrastructure, staffing, oversight, and approximate proportion of laboratory work that will take place at the global partner site 
• The funding level requested

 Yes. Projects must be led by multidisciplinary teams representing at least: 

• Two distinct scientific disciplines (e.g., clinical + social science), or 
• Two distinct clinical specialties (e.g., internal medicine + surgery) 

Cross-school collaboration within UCLA (e.g., DGSOM and Fielding SPH) is strongly encouraged.

Yes. The research team must include: 

• At least one early career investigator from UCLA, and 
• At least one early career investigator from the global partner site  

The UCLA Early Career Investigator must be a different individual from the UCLA PI, and the Global Site Early Career Investigator must be a different individual from the Primary Global Partner Site Investigator.  

The project should provide meaningful research and capacity-building opportunities for both Early Career Investigators. A specific mentorship and capacity-building plan must be included in the full proposal.  

UCLA Early Career Investigator Definition: Residents, fellows, PhD students, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty who are three years or fewer into their first faculty role are eligible. UCLA medical students may participate in the project but may not be designated as Early Career Investigators. 

Global Site Early Career Investigator Definition: May include clinicians, medical students, graduate students, or junior academicians pursuing a healthcare career. 

No. The Seed Grant Program supports both new and established global partnerships. 

Competitive applications may: 

• Build a new global research collaboration  
• Strengthen existing global research collaboration  
• Establish a new area of research with an existing global partner 

Priority funding will support research conducted in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, based on the World Bank's current country income classifications. 

Research conducted in an upper-middle-income or high-income country or setting is unlikely to be funded.  

Applicants proposing research in an upper-middle-income or high-income setting must specifically address the needs of an underserved or resource-limited population within that country and provide a clear and compelling justification explaining: 

• Why the proposed population or setting is essential to the research  
• Why Seed Grant support is appropriate for the proposed research   

This justification is required as part of both the LOI and full proposal. 

Applicants may request funding at one of two levels: 

• Up to $15,000  
• Up to $50,000   

Applicants may select only one funding level. 

The requested amount must include all applicable direct and indirect costs and may not exceed the maximum for the selected funding level. 

If a global partner site has an established negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), allowable indirect costs must be included within the total award amount. 

Seed Grant awards are administered through a Dean's Office commitment. The Dean's Office finance team will work directly with the UCLA PI's fund manager to establish and manage the commitment. 

Research costs at the global partner site may be supported through commitment. An invoice for actual or estimated research costs from the global partner site will be required for applicable payments or transfers. 

Other eligible expenses, such as travel, UCLA salaries, and local research expenses, will be managed through the UCLA PI's Department or Division in accordance with applicable UCLA policies and award requirements. 

Awardees and their fund managers will receive detailed guidance on accessing and managing the commitment following award notification. 

The plan should describe the specific research skills and professional development opportunities that will be provided to the named Early Career Investigators at UCLA and the global partner site. 

 The Seed Grant Program does not support general unilateral or bilateral training exchanges as a standalone project goal. 

If travel or training is included as part of the mentorship and capacity-building plan, the application should: 

• Identify the individual(s) who will participate  
• Specify the skills to be acquired  
• Explain how the activity supports the proposed research and capacity-building goals  
• Address relevant logistical considerations, such as visas, work permits, or UCLA visiting scholar requirements 

Yes. Laboratory-based and basic science research projects are eligible, provided that the majority of the laboratory work takes place at the global partner site. 

Projects in which the majority of laboratory work will take place at UCLA or in Los Angeles-based laboratories are not eligible. 

Applicants proposing research with a laboratory science component must provide information in both the LOI and full proposal describing: 

• Location of the proposed laboratory activities  
• Available resources and infrastructure  
• Staffing  
• Oversight  
• Approximate proportion of laboratory work that will take place at the global partner site   

The proposal should also describe how the project will contribute to research and/or laboratory capacity-building at the global partner site. 

PIs may not receive Seed Grant funding in two consecutive cycles for projects involving the same global partner site. 

A PI who received Seed Grant funding in the previous cycle may apply for a project involving a new global partner site. 

No. IRB approval is not required at the time of application. 

For funded projects, all required UCLA and global partner site IRB and/or regulatory approvals must be obtained before award funds may be accessed through the commitment for applicable research activities. 

Applicants are encouraged to begin applicable regulatory processes before award notification to minimize delays if selected for funding.