Request for Applications for REACH Network Pilot Research Program

Overview

The REACH Pilot Research Program is centralized for REACH Network Institutions: RAND REACH, UCSD REACH, and PITT ENRICH. RAND REACH focuses on the conduct of health services research in support of beneficial health policy. UCSD REACH focuses on the translation of complementary and integrative health discoveries into real-world practices that improve physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. PITT ENRICH focuses on basic science, mechanistic research, and the design of feasibility/pilot studies.

Clinical trials are not allowed. Human subjects research is allowed, including:

  1. Observational studies (natural history studies, secondary research studies, or repository studies)
  2. Qualitative studies
  3. Case series
  4. Feasibility studies not collecting any clinical data (appropriate outcomes include evaluating with study participants: recruitment, randomization, retention, adherence, and fidelity - this link provides more details)
  5. Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans (BESH) studies

See the attached table for more information. Research involving Scoping and Systematic Reviews, and Meta-Analyses are allowed. Animal research is not allowed.

Period of performance is a maximum of 1 year. Maximum budget per grant application (including indirect costs) is $32,500. Applicants should develop collaborative networks or scientific partnerships to strengthen the research proposal. Early-stage principal investigators should have a mentorship plan for the proposed project.

Eligibility Information

  • Principal Investigator(s) must be affiliated with a REACH Network Center. Co-PIs are allowed, but if they are at different institutions, identify one who will be the contact PI.
  • Personnel at the REACH Center (RAND, UCSD, Pitt) can provide support to applicants but cannot be listed as key personnel, other personnel, or consultants in the grant application and cannot be included in the project budget. Rather, a single letter of support from the REACH Center that identifies all committed support for the proposed project should be submitted with the application. Such effort may be in-kind or compensated directly through existing REACH Center grant funding.
  • All key personnel must be located in the United States. In-kind foreign consultants are allowed.
  • Early-stage investigators, those who have not been a PI on a NIH K- or R-level grant, are encouraged to apply.

Application Materials

An application (single-spaced, 0.5 margins, and in Arial 11 font) must include the following:

Cover Page

Include names of principal investigator and other key personnel, institution (for each), REACH Network partnering Center(s), mailing address, email, and pilot study title. Applications affiliated with more than one REACH Center must select which institution is most appropriate and holds the primary contractual responsibility for the proposed project.

Research Strategy

Using the required format and 6-pages maximum (excluding list of literature cited):

  1. Specific Aims (1 page)
  2. Significance and Innovation (approximate length: 1 page)
  3. Approach/Research plan (approximate length: 2–3 pages)
  4. Environment (approximate length: ½ page)
  5. Pathway toward future NIH or other federal grant funding (approximate length: ½ page)
  6. Literature cited (not included in the page limit)

Note: Preliminary data can be included within the 6-page Research Strategy to support the scientific premise of the study. However, preliminary data are not required, and the absence of it will not have any negative effect on the evaluation.

Note: AI use and disclosures:

  • AI cannot be used to develop/write the Specific Aims page
  • Must disclose any AI-generated content, including text, figures, or methodologies produced by AI tools. Submit the brief disclosure paragraph as a separate attachment (not included in the page limit).

Each letter of support should be a maximum of 1-page in length (not included in the page limit). NIH biosketch is required for all key personnel (not included in page limit).

For a foreign consultant, a Foreign Justification is required, per NOT-OD-25-098. This justification must describe special resources or characteristics of the research project (e.g., human subjects, animals, disease, equipment, and techniques), including the reasons why the foreign researchers, facilities or other foreign aspects of the proposed project are more appropriate than a domestic setting. In the body of the text, begin the section with a heading indicating “Foreign Justification” and name the file “Foreign Justification.”

Budget and Budget Justification

Itemized budget spreadsheet and separate budget justification document. Expenses may include salary and fringe benefits for the Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators and research staff, U.S.-based consultants, research supplies, and participant payments. Project-related travel and publication fee expenses are allowed. Institutional indirect costs are allowed up to the NIH-negotiated rate or 10% for those with no NIH-negotiated rate.

Note: Indirect costs are part of the total grant award.

Submission Instructions

Step 1

Submit your 1-page Letter of Intent (LOI), indicating your intention to apply, using the online LOI form. The LOI is required and must include:

  • Principal Investigator(s) Name, affiliation(s), REACH Center membership(s)
  • Co-Investigator Name(s) and affiliation(s), REACH Center membership(s)
  • Application title
  • Abstract: Brief description of the background, rationale, impact, methodology, intervention (if applicable), outcomes, population and setting.

Note: 1) LOI will only be used to identify appropriate reviewers; 2) LOI will not be reviewed for scientific merit; 3) Upon submission of LOI, applicants should proceed to prepare their full applications for submission.

Step 2

Submit grant application to the online portal. (Application opens October 15, 2026 at 11:59 PST.) 

Step 3

Notification mails for Receipt of Proposal: A notification email indicating the receipt of all your application materials will be sent within 2 business days of submission deadline. If you have not received this confirmation, please contact reachcenter@health.ucsd.edu.

Due Dates

  • Letter of Intent: October 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
  • Pilot grant application open date: October 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
  • Pilot grant application: November 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
  • Earliest projected start date: April 1, 2027

Evaluation Criteria

The review panel will evaluate the proposals based on the NIH grant application scoring system. 1 is exceptional, 9 is poor.

Importance of the Research (1–9)

  • Does the study address an important research question related to CIH?
  • Does the proposal include novel concepts, approaches, or methods that will advance CIH science?
  • Has the applicant developed collaborative networks or scientific partnerships? Do early-career PIs have established mentors?
  • Has the applicant clearly articulated future plans stemming from this project?
  • Is the proposal likely to lead to future NIH or other federal funding?

Rigor and Feasibility (1–9)

  • Are overall methods, study design, analyses, or planned activities appropriate, rigorous, and feasible to be completed within the award period?

Expertise and Resources (Y/N)

  • Do the key personnel have the background necessary to complete the project?
  • Will the environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?
  • Are the institutional support, equipment, and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project?
  • Will the project benefit from unique features of the environment, participant populations, or collaborative arrangements?

Additional Review Considerations: Evaluate whether the budget and requested support are justified and reasonable in relation to the project.

Just-in-Time Materials

Upon receiving approval of the funding plan from the NCCIH PO, the REACH Network will notify the Principal Investigator whether the application is under consideration for funding after the initial REACH review. If requested, REACH Network personnel will assist the pilot project applicants to complete additional NIH forms. This document must be in a single file PDF and resubmitted before evaluation and funding decisions can be finalized:

Note: IRB approval is required before funding.

Reporting Requirements

  1. PI agrees to prepare and submit a midpoint progress report.
  2. A final progress report that includes a summary of findings must be submitted to the funder (i.e. the REACH Center). The summary should include details of an anticipated NIH or other federal submission of a research grant application (e.g. R-awards and K-awards).
  3. Scientific presentations and publications related to this application should acknowledge REACH/NIH funding with acknowledgement of NIH grant numbers.

Contacts

Ryan Bradley, MPI USCD (rybradley@health.ucsd.edu); Heather Zwickey, MPI RAND REACH Center (hzwickey@nunm.edu); Michael Schneider, MPI Pitt ENRICH Center (mjs5@pitt.edu).