Spark Awards RFA
Please read all of the Spark Awards RFA instructions below before submitting your application.
CTSI will award Spark Awards to Ohio State and Nationwide Children's Hospital investigators worth up to $3,000. CTSI will award up to $5,000 for projects involving researchers from two different Ohio State colleges or a collaboration between Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s investigators.
Collaboration awards are also available for up to $5,000. These awards are available for projects involving researchers from two different Ohio State colleges, a collaboration between Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s investigators, or a collaboration with Ohio State University, Nationwide Children’s and the Ohio Primary Care Innovation Network(OPCIN)/Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OHCHC).
Scope of Projects
Proposals must encompass activities to support a future grant application or major scientific initiative, or provide additional support critical to the success of an existing project to help researchers on an academic research path.
Award Amount
$3,000 - $5,000
Application Dates
Applications will be received through March 15, 2027, or until designated funds are exhausted.
To Apply for a Spark Award
- Complete a MyCTSI Profile
- Contact the core service for a cost calculation (quote/estimate) and upload it as a PDF with you application.
- You are required to contact the core service provider and work collaboratively to obtain the quote.
- The personnel who helped you must be listed on the intake form.
- The upload MUST be a PDF
- Complete the Spark Awards application form. Make sure to answer all questions and attach your cost calculation.
Eligibility
Early-career researchers seeking Spark funding to begin their research careers are preferred, but senior faculty members who are clearly moving into a research track are also eligible.
Eligible Investigators must meet the following criteria:
- Postdoctoral fellow (academic track)
- Fellow physician
- Research scientist
- Assistant professor
- Associate professor
- Professor/Instructors (new to research or shifting research focus only)
Applicants must be IRB-approved as key personnel or Principal, or Co-investigator to work on the protocol.
Spark awardees may receive only one Spark award (single or collaborative) per funding cycle. A new funding cycle will start no earlier than August 1 of each subsequent year.
Projects must fall into one of the Translational Science Spectrum Categories
| Type of Research Supported | NCATS Definition |
|---|---|
| Basic Science | Basic research involves scientific exploration that can reveal fundamental mechanisms of biology, disease or behavior. Every stage of the translational research spectrum builds upon and informs basic research. |
| Pre-Clinical Research | Preclinical research connects the basic science of disease with human medicine. During this stage, scientists develop model interventions to further understand the basis of a disease or disorder and find ways to treat it. |
| Clinical Implementation | Clinical implementation involves the adoption of interventions that have been demonstrated to be useful in a research environment into routine clinical care for the general population. |
| Clinical Research | Clinical research includes studies to better understand a disease in humans and relate this knowledge to findings in cell or animal models; testing and refinement of new technologies in people. |
| Public Health/Population Health | Public health includes studying health outcomes at the population level to determine the effects of diseases and efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat them. |
Projects must fall into one of the Translational Science Spectrum Categories
Ineligibility
Before applying, please review the following restrictions to ensure your role, project type and requested services meet eligibility criteria. The following are not eligible for Spark Award consideration:
Ineligible Roles
- Students (undergraduate, graduate, and medical)
- Medical Residents
- Research managers
- CTSI Previously Funded Investigators
- Individuals currently funded by CTSI mechanisms (K, T, Pilot, Element E)
Researchers who have already received a Spark Award during this funding cycle
Unsupported Core Services
- Core services not explicitly listed in the table linked below
Other Important Details:
- If applicable, projects must have IRB approval or a Non-human Subjects Determination letter before funds are disbursed.
- Applicants must satisfy all IRB requirements, including required training and reporting of conflicts of interest.
- You must be approved by the IRB to work on the protocol.
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with funding decisions provided within four weeks.
- Applications are reviewed for eligibility, completeness, feasibility to complete within the required time frames, and scientific merit. Revisions or clarifications may be requested by the program.
- Funding will be prioritized for those who are ready to start their service right away
- HBOC requests will require specific search terms and a consultation with the CTSI Data Navigator
- Data Analysis requests require confirmation of a complete data set
- All awarded services must be completed by July 31, 2027.
- Final invoices must be received by August 31, 2027.
- Awardees must be willing to complete an impact survey about related publications, abstracts, and/or grant submissions/awards.
- Awardees should complete a communications survey and a satisfaction survey post award.
- Awards may include funding from more than one core service for a single project.
- Research must be conducted within the US.
- Awardees must be in good standing with CTSI
- Compliant with citing all publications and requirements of past CTSI funding
- If awardees do not complete their service on time and their award expires, they are not eligible for one cycle
- Spark Awardees are expected to present their work at the CTSI Annual Scientific Meeting Poster Presentation Session and/or CTSI Research Showcase.