UC launched the Center for Health Quality and Innovation in October to support innovations at UC medical center campuses to improve quality, access and value in the delivery of health care. The center will serve as a clearinghouse for best practices and will provide financial support for innovative projects that demonstrate strong potential for improving quality and value across the UC system and beyond.
"UC Health is a hub for innovation. We expect to receive a number of proposals that will advance the quality of health care, increase access and improve value for Californians," said Terry Leach, the center's interim executive director. "We hope to award at least one grant to each medical center campus."
A request for proposals has been issued. Here are some highlights:
Eligibility: The principal investigator/project leader must be a current UC employee (faculty, staff, residents and fellows are eligible to apply). Project activities must occur primarily at UC-owned health facilities.
Grant types: The center is inviting proposals to improve health quality in the UC system and will support two types of proposals:
- Translational awards: Funding for "translational" projects - proposals focused on testing and/or implementing a proven intervention in a new or expanded setting -- will not exceed $150,000 per year for a single-campus project or $250,000 per year for a multicampus project. Project activities may last one to three years, with annual funding contingent upon satisfactory progress.
- Discovery awards: Funding for one-year, single-campus "discovery" projects -- those focused on development of a new tool or testing the potential value of a new intervention -- will not exceed $50,000.
Priorities: Priority consideration will be given to proposals that include multidisciplinary teams and activities, involve multiple UC campuses, could improve outcomes, and have potential for broader implementation, for increasing the value of UC Health and for sustainability.
Application details: Each campus is invited to submit no more than seven single-campus proposals. Multicampus proposals also are encouraged. Proposals will be reviewed first by the campuses -- single-campus and discovery proposals are due April 4, multicampus proposals are due April 18. The campus reviews will be coordinated by the campus chief medical officers, except at UC Irvine, where an innovation committee will act in that capacity. The deadline for receipt of proposals by the center is 5 p.m. May 2. Proposals must be submitted electronically to terry.leach@ucop.edu. The center's board will review the proposals and plans to notify grantees by July 15.
Funding information: Funding for the center has been provided by UC medical centers -- initially $5 million ($1 million each from medical centers at UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC San Diego and UC San Francisco). Additional funding from non-UC sources will be pursued to further expand center activities in future years.
For more information:
-Download the RFP
-Visit the UC Center for Health Quality and Innovation website
-Questions: Contact Terry Leach, interim executive director, UC Center for Health Quality and Innovation, (510) 587-6241 or terry.leach@ucop.edu