Health Solutions Science in Action Funding Opportunity

What is out of scope?

We aim to support projects with high potential to produce real-world, measurable impact on health outcomes within a defined time period. Therefore, we will not consider:

• Pilot projects intended to build evidence for a new intervention
• Centers of excellence
• Strictly research studies to discover new knowledge, including observational studies or secondary analyses intended only to document drivers of health or disease in a community
• Projects seeking to establish the scale needed for a power assessment
• Any work involving non-human animals
• New or repurposed drug clinical trials
• Projects to design, develop, or commercialize new medical devices, including prototypes and hardware-based diagnostics or therapeutics
• Projects that rely solely on individual behavior change, such as health education programs, without addressing broader systems, conditions, incentives, environments, or structural factors

On funding and grant structure

Is there a minimum, maximum, typical award size, or recommended budget range?

A budget range was intentionally not indicated because we are open to what projects require to measurably and meaningfully improve health outcomes or proxies supported by a strong evidence base as outlined in the funding opportunity. Grant requests are expected to complement, not fully fund, the full scope of work. We expect that the cost of implementing health solutions science will vary depending on various factors.

How many grants will be awarded, and what are the likely odds of success?

The number of grants depends on the scope of projects received that are responsive to the goals of the opportunity.

What is the minimum or maximum project timeline?

This funding opportunity requires a feasible three-year plan.

Is leverage required?

Grant requests are expected to complement leveraged resources from partners necessary to successfully execute the project plan. Examples of leveraged resources include but are not limited to financial or in-kind commitments of FTEs, services, or infrastructure. We expect that the kinds of leverage will depend on the project.

Is the budget submitted for stage 1 locked to future revisions?

Stage 1 only requests a high-level budget to help us estimate the ballpark scope of the opportunities submitted for this competition. We expect that budgets will be refined for applicants invited to participate in the second stage of the competition.

What indirect cost rate is permitted?

For the purposes of the high-level budget for stage 1, you may account for an indirect cost rate of up to 10%. We expect that budgets will be refined for applicants invited to participate in the second stage of the competition. More information will be provided to applicants invited to submit a full proposal.

What kind of project sustainability is required (e.g., follow on funding, etc)?

We expect that, if successful, the application of health solutions science to improve health outcomes would suggest, by the end of a project, deployment at even greater scale. We expect relevant knowledge users to have clarity about how they would facilitate such continuation. For the purposes of stage 1, the potential for sustainability may be addressed through information provided on partnerships and leverage.

Will there be recurring rounds of this opportunity?

No, this is a one-time funding opportunity.

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On the application, eligibility, and participation

Where can we access the application instructions, deadline, and review criteria?

Key dates, application instructions, and review criteria are all found in the funding opportunity document here. Once you have read the document, the application portal is here.

Is a qualified governmental unit (e.g., county, city, etc) eligible to apply or participate?

With the exception of state universities, organizations without 501c3 status are not eligible to serve as lead applicant organizations. However, such organizations may participate as collaborators on a project submitted by a qualifying lead applicant organization and receive grant funds through a subcontract established by the lead applicant organization, if awarded.

Is there a minimum organizational size, operating budget, or track record required to serve as a lead applicant organization?

This funding opportunity does not have a minimum organizational size, age, or operating budget. A small organization must still satisfy applicant eligibility and demonstrate a credible partnership and execution plan. The lead organization is responsible for grant administration, implementation, financial management, and reporting. Size alone is not a disqualifier, but capacity and committed leadership are considered during review.

Is a for-profit eligible to apply or participate?

For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply as the lead organization. However, for-profit organizations may participate as collaborators on a project submitted by a qualifying lead applicant organization and receive grant funds through a subcontract established by the lead applicant organization in support of the completion of the project, if awarded.

Can an organization submit multiple proposals?

There is no limit to the number of applications per organization. We are open to all projects that would demonstrate that health solutions science is rigorous and can measurably improve health outcomes when applied at greater-than-pilot scale. We note that grant requests are expected to complement, not fully fund, the full scope of work. Highly collaborative, cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary proposals are expected.

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On evidence, methods, and outcomes

How much existing evidence is needed?

Projects must be beyond proof-of-concept and grounded in existing, sufficiently powered, rigorous evidence that justifies implementation at greater-than-pilot scale. Having some pilot data is not automatically sufficient; the evidence must support the proposed health impact and broader deployment.

Are specific methodologies required to evaluate impact?

This opportunity welcomes all applicable methodologies, interventions or knowledge that would achieve the desired outcomes of using health solutions science and rigorously demonstrate its value to health. Ultimately, quantitative changes in health outcomes or validated proxies are an essential component of what we seek to fund.

Are clinical trials allowed?

New or repurposed drug trials are out of scope, as are projects to design, develop, or commercialize new medical devices. Other trial designs may fit if they meet the evidence, systems-level implementation, scale, and health-impact requirements.

How is a health outcome defined?

Health outcomes are measurable indicators directly related to physical and/or mental wellbeing.

What must be measured to show success?

Ultimately, quantitative changes in health outcomes or validated proxies are an essential component of what we seek to fund.

What kinds of projects would be competitive?

We are open to any work that would demonstrate that health solutions science is rigorous and can measurably improve health outcomes when applied at greater-than-pilot scale.

Is this an implementation science funding opportunity?

No. This opportunity is seeking projects with potential to quantitatively improve health outcomes through the application of robust evidence generated by health solutions science. Projects strictly focused on studying or optimizing processes without evaluating impact on health outcomes are not in scope.

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Regarding resources for applicants

Is there an informational webinar about this funding opportunity?

Yes, an informational webinar will take place from 3:30-4:30 PM Eastern Time on October 7. To attend, register here.

I cannot attend the informational webinar. Will it be recorded?

The October 7 informational webinar will be recorded and posted on the More than Medicine website, available to all within 3 business days.

Is there a newsletter, and how can I receive updates on this opportunity or other Collective activities?

We do not currently have a newsletter. We encourage you to continue to visit the More than Medicine website at www.morethanmedicine.org for updates on the Collective’s activities.

When are the Big if True Science (BiTS) webinar and office hours taking place and how do I register for these resources?

The time and registration for these optional resources are:

Webinar (register here): Monday, October 19, 3-4 PM ET

Office Hours (register here): Friday, October 30, 3-4 PM ET

I cannot attend the BiTS webinar. Will it be recorded?

The October 19 BiTS webinar will be recorded and posted on the More than Medicine website, available to all within 3 business days.

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