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. 

Our annual pilot program issues 5-7 awards up to $25,000 each.  Applications are due on November 10, 2023.  Previous awards can be viewed HERE . 

The HOPKINS BUSINESS OF HEALTH INITIATIVE 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. 

HBHI Strategic Pillars 

Market competition and healthcare policy:  

Competition among and between insurers, providers, and suppliers relates to prices, access, quality and equity and is affected by health policy. Our work seeks to understand how these complex interrelationships can best achieve an affordable and equitable, high-value health system.  

Health delivery performance: 

How can firms and workers that operate within the health sector deliver the most health for the costs they incur? We address this question through interdisciplinary teams that consider management, operations, marketing, workforce optimization and the role of policy and payment in shaping the incentives that reward value and performance. 

Health of populations and health equity:  

We focus on the role of business and incentives play to advance health of communities, addressing social determinants and inequity, public health, and healthy behavior.  

Innovation – health technology and systems: 

Healthcare markets, health organizations, and health of populations can benefit from effective and cost-effective innovation. We focus on how health technology innovation and innovative systems of care can best advance 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) computing environment to facilitate access to data for HBHI Affiliates. Read more about the HARP and HBHI data assets here. We encourage pilot projects that take advantage of these resources. Standard HARP fees will apply, however for Pilots that utilize HARP, HBHI will cover 50% of the budgeted fees up to $5,000 (i.e. grants utilizing HARP will have a maximum budget of $30,000).  

ELIGIBILITY: Faculty from any division or School across Johns Hopkins University can apply.  

SCORING CRITERIA: 

  1. Impact. The significance of the problem and the potential for new insights advancing health and/or health services. 

  1. Topic. The degree to which the topic of the proposal is consistent with HBHI strategic pillars. See earlier description of how HBHI prioritizes a focus on the business of health.  

  1. Methods. The appropriateness and methodological rigor of the scientific plan.  

  1. 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.  

  1. 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 “2024 HBHI Pilot Proposal.” Proposals should be a combined pdf 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’s strategic pillar(s). 

  1. 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. 

  1. Discussion of future potential, i.e., ideally a plan for external funding or implementation of a program or intervention. HBHI encourages applicants to additionally consider JHU Discovery Awards, and will provide supplemental funding on top of successful Discovery Award grants in HBHI domains.  

  1. Project budget. Describe and justify the specific items to be funded by the grant (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.  

  1. Bio sketches or CVs. For the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators. 

 

TIMELINE: 

Nov 10, 2023 Application deadline 

Jan 15, 2024 Award announcements 

Feb 1, 2024 Project start 

Winter Retreat 2024 Grantees will present their research ideas and get feedback from the broader HBHI community  

Jun 15, 2024 Interim report due 

Dec 29, 2024 Final report due  

Grantees will receive opportunities to present findings at the Summer Retreat, and HBHI Monthly Work-in-Progress Seminar Series.