Purpose:
In collaboration with the Oklahoma NIH-funded U54 Center for Excellence on Maternal Health Research, CIRCLE is pleased to announce the availability of Pilot Grant funding to support novel clinical, translational, and community-based participatory research ideas aimed at improving our understanding of - and solutions to - Indigenous and rural maternal mortality and morbidity (MMM) and maternal health disparities.
Through strong mentorship and access to clinical, biostatistical, and research design infrastructure, this program seeks to catalyze innovative projects that challenge existing paradigms, address critical knowledge gaps, and/or translate meaningful findings into practice - particularly projects that would not otherwise be feasible without Pilot support.
The CIRCLE Pilot Projects Program will prioritize proposals designed to generate preliminary data that strengthens investigators' competitiveness for future extramural funding while advancing the evidence base needed to improve maternal health outcomes for indigenous and rural mothers in Oklahoma and the Southern Plains.
Awarded projects must be completed within the one-year project period. CIRCLE anticipates funding up to two awards, each up to $25,000.
Eligibility:
Faculty with a full-time consecutive term or tenure-track position atg an Oklahoma institution who are interested in furthering their careers in Indigenous maternal health research are eligible to apply. Principal Investigators with modified faculty titles will need a letter of support from their departmental chairperson (or equivalent) indicating support for the development of their independent research career if asked to submit a full proposal.
Preference will be given to applications that involve one or more of the following CIRCLE priorities:
- Collaboration with a Tribal Nation or tribal health organization
- Collaboration with a community partner
- Investigators who qualify for NIH early-stage/new independent federal awards (e.g. R01, R21, etc.) with projects related to Indigenous MMM
Deadlines:
- Proposals due: February 27th, 2026 at 11:59 PM (CST)
- Request for revisions issued: March 13th, 2026
- Revisions due: April 15th, 2026
- Award notification: May 1st, 2026
- Funding period: August 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027
Proposal application format:
- Page 1: Title page with PI and institution contact information. This proposal should be routed through your institutional research office for prior approval.
- Page 2: Specific aims of the project.
- Pages 3-5: Summary of research strategy including statement of need, innovation, methodology and implementation plan, and anticipated milestones.
- Page 6: A one-paragraph statement on how this reserach will impact your future directions in Indigenous maternal health research and timeframe for the submisison of manuscripts and/or grant applications.
- Pages 7-8: Budget and budget justification. Salary support for the PI is limited to $10,000.
- Pages 9-13: Current NIH Biosketch (PI only)*
- Pages 14-Up: Letters(s) of Support**
- Proposals should be submitted, by the PI, via email to CIRCLE@ou.edu by 11:59 PM (CST) on February 27th, 2026
*Identification of a mentor is encouraged but not required
**If partnering with a Tribal or community organization, a LOS fro that organization is required.
Requests for revision:
- Following the initial review of submitted proposals, MPIs will provide feedback on submitted proposals. This may include a recommendation for the applicant to meet with members of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) and incorporate relevant feedback into their revised proposal.
- Revised grant proposals are due April 15th, 2026
Review Criteria:
All proposals are reviewed by the CIRCLE MPIs using the following criteria:
- Is the proposal relevant to the long-term goal of CIRCLE - eliminating disparities in Indigenous and rural Maternal Morbidity and Mortality through effective translational science spanning best practices in preconception, prenatal and maternal postpartum care through the first 2 years of life.
- Does the proposal have significant scientific merit?
- Is the proposal in collaboration with a Tribal or community organization? And, will the planning project benefit the Tribal or community organization, as well as the individuals they serve?
- Can the project be completed within a year?
- Is the budget reasonable for the proposed work?
- Is there potential that CIRCLE Pilot funding will lead to extramural funding?
Terms of Award
- Documented verification of all institutional assurances before award can begin.
- The applicant will be required to meet with the CIRCLE Scholars mentoring committee every 3 months to review progress and identify potential future funding opportunities.
- A 1-2 page report is required at the end of the funding period to describe progress to date. Please use the NIH progressreport format and forms.
- Summarize work accomplished
- Identify any significant problems
- Provide a list of publicaions, meeting presentations, abstracts, news highlights
- Provide a list of grant submissions/planned submissions
- The applicant will be required to meet with the Director and/or the Associate Director of the Pilot Grants Program during the award cycle to provide feedback about the operation and admission of the program.
The applicant is expected to participate in regularly scheduled scholars mentoring luncheons.
5. Publications and meeting abstracts must acknowledge funding from CIRCLE and cite grant number NICHD U54HD113173
6. Investigators will be asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding the mentoring support they received.
7.A completed annual impact survey form will be required from each funded investigator for the CIRCLE RPPR in every year following the project.
Questions:
If you have any technical questions about the grant submission process or grant eligibility, please contact CIRCLE at circle@ouhsc.edu. If you would like feedback from CIRCLE about your proposal ideas, or need assistance in finding a Community Partner, please reach out to CIRCLE before the submission due date.
