Request for Applications (RFA): Forge AHEAD Pilot Award Program

Apply for Health Research Funding

At the Forge AHEAD Center, we are committed to advancing health through innovative research that applies a precision public health approach (i.e., translational community and clinical programs that provide the right treatment to the right population at the right time). The Pilot & Feasibility Scholars Program plays a pivotal role in our mission, offering a unique opportunity for investigators to engage in cutting-edge health research. This page serves as your guide through the application process for our Pilot Award Program.

Program Overview

The Forge AHEAD Center is at the forefront of addressing health disparities through research that delves into the contextual factors and social determinants affecting health. With a focus on HIV and cardiometabolic diseases including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, our Pilot & Feasibility Scholars Program is tailored to foster innovative translational (T3/T4) research, offering up to 6 pilot awards per cycle for projects that are poised to make significant strides in understanding and mitigating health disparities in multiple cardiometabolic diseases.

Rapid Cycle Eligibility and Funding Opportunities

Our program welcomes early-stage investigators or new investigators from institutions of higher learning in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, with a focus on including researchers from teaching intensive colleges and universities. Up to 3 pilot awards will receive funding of up to $50,000 each, for a project duration of 6 months. Due to the short project durations, required documents like IRB approval must be in place at submission. This mechanism will not fund NEW clinical trials (NIH definition), however, may fund expansion to new study population or increase study enrollment capacity for existing ongoing trials.

Benefits for Scholars

Selected Forge AHEAD Scholars will receive:

• A dedicated mentoring team.
• Opportunities for disseminating study results within scientific and local communities.
• Support in advancing pilot studies into competitive grant applications.
• Participation in hybrid enrichment programs for skills and career development, alongside pilot research execution and peer networking.

Meet Our Recent Scholars

Discover the innovative minds driving health research forward. Our Forge AHEAD Scholars exemplify the dedication, creativity, and scientific rigor that the Pilot & Feasibility Scholars Program seeks to support. By featuring their stories, we hope to inspire future applicants and demonstrate the breadth of research and collaboration fostered by our program.

Key Dates & Deadlines

Application Guidance

Rapid Cycle RFA Instructions:

Applicants are required to submit a Full Application comprising:

• A concise one-page summary detailing the project title, PI information, key personnel, institutions, community partners, and eligibility declaration.
• A two-page research proposal outlining the aims, significance, innovation, approach, and anticipated impact on regional cardiometabolic health, including community outreach or partnerships.
• A references cited section (no page limit)
• A lay summary (1 page) explaining the project’s goals, significance, innovative approach, community engagement strategies, and expected community impact.
• Protection of Human Subjects, following NIH guidelines (2 page maximum)
• Project timeline (1 page maximum)
• Budget (PHS398 form, 1 page maximum).
• Budget justification (1 page maximum)
• Current NIH biosketches for the applicant and proposed mentor.
• Mentoring plan(1 page maximum).
• Letters of support as necessary

Please compile your Rapid Cycle RFA application documents into a single PDF and submit via the link provided by 5 p.m. CT on November 30, 2025. Decisions on Rapid Cycle Applications will be communicated by December 17, 2025.

Join Our Mission

The Forge AHEAD Center is dedicated to creating a future where achieving best possible health is a reality for all. We invite you to join our journey, apply to our Scholars Program, and help shape the landscape of health research. For more information and to begin your application process, click here to access the RFA document.