The Hopkins Business of Health Initiative (HBHI) requests proposals for pilot projects that incubate or accelerate collaborative research within the domains of at least one of the HBHI strategic pillars: (1) market competition and healthcare policy; (2) health delivery performance; (3) health of populations and health equity: and (4) innovation – health technology and systems. Learn more about HBHI’s Strategic Pillars. 

Our annual $125,000 pilot program issues 5-7 awards up to $25,000 each.  Applications are due on October 24, 2022.  See left rail for links to previous years' awards.

HBHI integrates the scholarship across Johns Hopkins University including the Carey Business School, Bloomberg School of Public Health, School of Nursing, and School of Medicine around a shared vision of a healthier America, supported by an affordable and equitable, high-value health system. In pursuit of this vision, our work focuses on the role of business and incentives through rigorous, objective, non-partisan, interdisciplinary research. Our pilot grant program seeks to advance HBHI’s mission to incubate, accelerate, and disseminate impactful, world-class, collaborative research across the divisions of Johns Hopkins University that aims to improve the productivity of the nation’s health system. 

With so many opportunities for novel research from newly available datasets in the health space, HBHI has established the Health Analytics Research Platform (HARP) to facilitate these new opportunities. For more info on the Medicare Advantage Data Lab (video dated 6/25/21) click here and for Health Care Provider Data Sources (video dated 7/23/21) click here. We encourage pilot projects that take advantage of the resources we are building at HBHI. 

ELIGIBILITY: Faculty from any division or School across Johns Hopkins University are eligible to apply.  

SCORING CRITERIA: 

  1. Impact. The significance of the problem and the potential for new insights advancing health and/or health services. 
  2. Topic. The degree to which the topic of the proposal is consistent with HBHI strategic pillars. Please see the earlier description of HBHI for how HBHI prioritizes a focus on the business of health.  
  3. Methods. The appropriateness and methodological rigor of the scientific plan.  
  4. Data Enclave. Proposals leveraging HBHI’s Health Analytics Research Platform (HARP) or HBHI data products will receive a 0.5 bonus score. 
  5. Future potential. The likelihood that successful completion of this pilot project would lead to external funding and/or a larger research program that would support the development of the collaborative and innovative HBHI community. Please write if the proposal includes data or other resources that could be leveraged by others at HBHI. 
  6. Investigators. The qualifications of the investigators. Multidisciplinary teams are highly encouraged, but not required; these teams may be formed within a school, between schools, or may involve partners external to Hopkins.  

APPLICATION: Please submit proposals to [email protected] with subject line “2023 HBHI Pilot Proposal.” Proposals should be a combined pdf electronic version of the following elements:  

  1. Project description. Up to two pages, single-spaced, 11-point font minimum which has the following information: 
    1. Statement of the project’s significance, specific aims, impact, and connection to HBHI strategic pillar(s) 
    2. Description of the research plan, timeline, and methodologies to be employed including discussion if using existing HBHI data products and how the data and key variables will be measured and analyzed 
    3. Discussion of future potential, i.e., ideally a plan for external funding or implementation of a program or intervention  
  2. Project budget. Clearly describe and justify the specific items to be funded by the grant (not to exceed one page). Formal budget and application approvals will be required after the proposal is selected. Indirect costs are not permitted. Funds are intended to support research assistants, data acquisition, and survey costs. Faculty salary support is permitted, but not preferred. Timeline limited to 12 months with option for 6-month extension. 
  3. Bio sketches or CVs. For the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators. 

TIMELINE: 

Oct 24, 2022                      Application deadline 

Dec 1, 2022                        Award announcements 

Jan 1, 2023                         Project start 

Winter Retreat 2023       Grantees will present their research ideas and get feedback from the broader HBHI community  

Jun 15, 2023                      Interim report due 

Dec 29, 2023                      Final report due  

Winter Retreat 2024       Grantees may be asked to present results to HBHI community