Global Health Office of Pediatrics (GHOPE) Seed Grants

What types of projects may be supported by these grants?

All proposals must include appropriate, specific, measurable performance goals and targets and be feasible within the identified timeframe and budget. Any of the following project types will be considered:

• Research (outcomes, translational, epidemiologic, and behavioral)
• Health policy development and implementation
• Health promotion or education
• Health systems strengthening and capacity building
• Program evaluation
• Quality Improvement

What are allowable expenses?

• Travel & communication for project
• Data collection
• Data analyses using biostats core
• Planning and start-up activities
• Travel to conferences to present results
• Equipment or material costs
• Publication fees (not covered by Emory Open Access Fund)

What are unallowable expenses?

• Travel for trainees to present the results of the project at conferences. Faculty members may include a maximum of $1,500 for conference-related travel expenses.
• Resident or fellow salary
• Faculty effort (should be in-kind within budget and approved by division director)
• Emory/Children's staff time is discouraged unless necessary (please include strong justification in proposal.)
• Indirect costs should not be included.

What happens to funds not spent by the project end date?

• All funds not spent by the project end date are returned to GHOPE.

What happens if I cannot complete my project by the project end date?

• All awardees may request one 12-month no cost extension (NCE) of the project period. Strong justification is required, and the request must be submitted in the grants management portal at least 60 days prior to the original project end date.

What does it mean to be on the professional staff of Children's?

• According to CHOA’s Professional Staff Organization Manual, professional staff means “all physicians, dentists, and psychologists who are granted appointment to the Children's Professional Staff and clinical privileges to treat patients at or through any of the components of Children's.” A psychologist is “a doctor of psychology (“PhD” or “PsyD”) licensed to practice in the State of Georgia.”

Where can I find biosketch instructions and resources?

• Biosketch Instructions
• Example Biosketch for Postdoctoral Researchers
• Preparing Your CV and Biosketch by Dr. Stacy Heilman - Presentation & Slides
• Preparing Your Biosketch by Dr. Stacy Heilman - Presentation

How do I write a budget justification?

• Please review these example Budget Justification Categories.

What do I need to know about human subjects research?

• Information about Human Subjects Research
• Examples of Human Subjects Research Language

How do I know if my project needs to be submitted to the IRB?

• If you are unsure whether your project is human subjects research, we recommend that you request an official determination from the IRB.
  • At Children's, complete the Non-Human Subjects Research Determination form and submit it with a brief summary of the project.
  • At Emory, request a determination here.
• The following questions may help you determine whether a project needs to be reviewed by the IRB:
  • ​Is the project research - a systematic investigation designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge? The NIH definition of clinical research is available here. If yes or uncertain, submit to the IRB. If no, no submission is required to the IRB.
  • Is your project research with human subjects - a living individual about whom you are collecting identifiable information? If yes or uncertain, submit to the IRB. If no, no submission is required to the IRB.
• Potential IRB determinations may include:
  • The project does not require IRB review because it does not meet the definition of research with human subjects or clinical investigations.
  • The project is human subjects research, but is exempt from further IRB review and approval because it meets the criteria for exemption under 45 CFR 46.101(b). Explanations of exempt categories are available here. An example of a project that may result in this determination is a retrospective chart review using data previously collected for research purposes. Only an IRB can determine if a project meets the criteria for exemption.
  • The project qualifies for expedited IRB review. Explanations of expedited categories are available here. Only an IRB can determine if a project meets the criteria for expedited review.
  • The project requires full IRB review.
• ​The HHS Office for Human Research Protections' decision chart provides a helpful visual.

My project involves human subjects research that is covered under a pre-existing approved IRB protocol for a larger study. What IRB information should I submit?

• Complete all IRB questions on the application.
• Upload a copy of the approved IRB protocol and highlight the content related to your project.

My project uses human specimens collected under a protocol for a different study that included a statement in the consent form that gave permission for the specimens to be used for future research. Is my project still considered human subjects research?

• Yes, your project is still considered human subjects research.
• Answer yes to the human subjects question and complete all IRB fields on the application.
• Highlight the portion of the IRB protocol that specifically relates to your project, including the statement in the consent form that gives permission for the specimens to be used for future research.

How do I know if I need to include a Protections for Human Subjects Section and Target Enrollment Table?

• If the IRB states that a Protections for Human Subjects Section and Target Enrollment Table are required, then you need to include these documents with your application *even if* you have not yet submitted them to the IRB.
• Applications that are missing these two documents will be considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
• Regarding the Target Enrollment Table:
  • ​You must use the NIH template for this table.
  • Ensure your total planned enrollment equals the total of all subjects.
  • If your project uses a convenience sample or existing deidentified data, you should estimate enrollment based on the characteristics of the population you're recruiting from.
  • It is not sufficient to state, "We will enroll male and female patients from all ethnic and racial categories." Most populations do not include equal representation of all racial categories (i.e. there are not typically equal numbers of whites and American Indian/Alaska Natives in most populations).

Do I need a Protections for Human Subjects Section if I am only conducting a chart review?

• Yes, you must include a Protections for Human Subjects Section even if your project is a retrospective chart review.
• This section should detail the following points:
  • The project entails no more than minimal risks to patients, the data was already collected for clinical care, any sensitive data being collected, minimized personal identifiers, how data will be stored, steps to minimize the risk of breach of confidentiality, etc.
  • Waiving consent; is the data being collected from procedures that would occur regardless of the research study, will there be findings that could impact their ongoing care, will the results from the study be placed in the patient’s medical record, will there be any contact with the patients whose records are being accessed for the study, etc.