Ideas Lab | Health Disparities Institute

An Ideas Lab is an intensive, interactive, and free-thinking environment. A diverse group of participants from various scientific disciplines and backgrounds meets in a (virtual) room to tackle a highly complex problem. Participants are immersed in a collaborative thinking process to construct innovative and interdisciplinary approaches.

2022 Ideas Lab Funding Opportunity: Transforming Systems for Radical Healing and Health Equity among Boys and Men of Color

The UConn Health Disparities Institute and the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) offer pilot/seed funding for teams to implement innovative practice, policy, or community-based research solutions in transforming systems for radical healing and health equity among Boys and men of color (BMOC). This grant opportunity focuses on behavioral health (mental health and substance use), trauma, incarceration and justice, and HIV/AIDS. This funding opportunity is made possible by support from the Connecticut Health Foundation and Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

BMOC has tremendous potential to contribute to the economic vitality of our nation and world. However, this potential is hemorrhaged by gendered health inequities. Data across time affirms that BMOC has some of the most disparate health outcomes due to social determinants and broader social factors operating where they live, play, pray, learn, and receive healthcare.

The disappearance of BMOC from across our nation is unconscionable and preventable. We must unite in collective action to advance health equity among BMOC – now, more than ever. We seek to identify multi-sector research, practice, and/or policy-based innovations that will transform systems for radical healing and health equity among boys and men of color.

A practice solution might include but is not limited to innovation in service delivery, especially healthcare services, for BMOC or a program that addresses upstream social determinants of health factors, such as access to housing, food, or education. A policy solution might include but is not limited to legislative advocacy to pass a new law that improves health outcomes among BMOC or institutional policy in a particular sector, such as healthcare or education that facilitates health and well-being among BMOC.

We are explicitly interested in community-based research proposals linked to practical application. In other words, how might your research proposal move the needle on BMOC health equity on the ground? What would equitable systems where BMOC thrive look like? How do you propose we get there using research, practice, and/or policy innovation and harnessing the collective creative energy of a multi-sector, multi-disciplinary team?

Pitch Competition Expectations

Each team is required to participate in the pitch competition in August 2022. A pitch is a brief and compelling overview of your project idea designed to communicate the basics of what you plan to do and how your project will make a tangible difference. The goal is to motivate and excite the audience about your project.

At the pitch event, each team will have the opportunity to give a compelling 10-minute pitch of their idea. This event will be open to the public. Teams should produce a brief pitch deck (5 slides typically in Powerpoint, Google Sheets, or PDF).

Pitch examples and technical assistance will be provided to teams. The pitch should include:

The BMOC health equity problem you are trying to solve
The innovative solution you propose
1-3 practical outcomes/benefits of your project that will move the needle on BMOC health equity
Community engagement strategy
Your team
Resources needed to complete the project
High-level project timeline of key milestones (all projects will be one year in duration)

Eligibility for Submission

Must present at the pitch event
Must have a community partner (e.g., non-profit organization, service delivery organization, faith-based organization, K-12 school, local advocate or leader, youth, etc.) and community engagement strategy
Must have a UConn Principal Investigator/Project Director
Must have at least two team members, inclusive of a community partner/organization
Team members must represent at least two different disciplines/sectors
Optional: Preference is given to intergenerational teams

Funding Available

Key Dates

Submission Instructions

This is a three-step application process outlined below.

Intent to Pitch:First, your team must submit the "Intent to Pitch Form: to indicate your intention to attend the pitch event and pitch your project. Your intent to pitch form is due August 15, 2022, by 11:59 PM EST. You will be able to save your progress and continue later, if needed. After submission, you will receive a copy of your proposal for your records. Please use the guidelines below for your submission. Your team will receive feedback on your pitch. Please click the link to the intent to pitch form in the button at the end of this page to complete and submit your team’s intent to pitch
Pitch Event: All teams need to pitch their projects at the pitch event in September 2022. Dates and times will be provided to teams who intend to pitch.
Grant Application: Following your team's presentation in the pitch event, full proposals should be submitted online no later than on November 30, 2022 by 11:59 PM EST. Late applications will not be considered. You will be able to save your progress and continue later, if needed. After submission, you will receive a copy of your proposal for your records. Please use the guidelines below for your submission.

Budget Guidelines

Due to UConn rules and regulations, a UConn Principal Investigator/Project Director is required for each team to receive funding. However, the application must reflect a shared leadership and decision-making structure between UConn and community-based team members. A description of each team's strategy for equitable funding disbursement and shared leadership is a required application component.

In addition, each team selected for funding will be required to submit a midpoint budget report halfway through the project period to ensure funds are spent appropriately and timely.

Funds may only be used for direct costs of carrying out approved projects, such as:

Participant incentives for recruitment, study participation, or project participation.
Out-of-state travel that is necessary to conduct the project.
Equipment necessary for conducting the project ("equipment" is defined as an article of tangible, non-expendable personal property that costs $5,000 or more).
Project supplies, including drugs and services.
Resources that require fee-for-services within UConn or at another institution.
Other specifically authorized expenses that may be essential for carrying out the project.

Funds may not be used for the following:

Personnel costs, other than stipends outlined above. Principal Investigators', Co-Investigators', or any faculty member's salary.
Living expenses.
Laptops or desktop computers, unless used exclusively for the project and not for other activities.
Service/maintenance contracts on equipment.
Laboratory renovations or other infrastructure renovations.
Institutional and/or individual memberships in professional organizations.
Travel to professional meetings to present the results of the project or any conference attendance.
Indirect costs, including clerical and administrative personnel salaries.
Costs associated with the publication of results of the research, such as the purchase of reprints.
Investigator or project staff training costs, including tuition.

Submit your intent to pitch form here (by August 15th, 2022)!

Please be sure to thoroughly review all information, particularly eligibility criteria, outlined above before submitting your intent to pitch form.

For reference to assist teams with completing the form, please find all the requested information on the intent to pitch form (PDF).

Don't hesitate to contact UConn HDI at hdievents@uchc.edu with questions on the pitch event and pilot funding application process.

Announcements and Press Releases

“Hartford Foundation and Connecticut Health Foundation Support UConn Health Summit and Community Engagement Effort Focused on Health Equity among Boys and Men of Color”

View the 2021 Ideas Lab