Health Equity Grants

Health Equity Grants is a grant from the University of Rochester Medical Center that funds projects and initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes for underserved and marginalized communities.

The program supports community-based organizations, researchers, and health providers working to address social determinants of health, expand access to care, and implement evidence-based interventions for populations facing barriers to equitable healthcare. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and healthcare providers with a demonstrated commitment to health equity.

Projects may focus on maternal and infant health, chronic disease prevention, mental health, substance use, or environmental health in communities disproportionately affected by poor health outcomes. Awards support both planning and implementation phases.

Office of Health Equity Research - Center for Community Health & Prevention, Rochester NY - University of Rochester Medical Center Center for Community Health & Prevention / Request for Proposals: Pilot Studies in Health Equity Information regarding the OHER/CCHP Sign-Off Form: This form requires sign-off by all MPIs, co-investigators, and their department chairs. This form will be uploaded separately from the proposal.

Please note that the OHER/CCHP sign-off form is OHER/CCHP-specific. Therefore, the sign-off form and proposal do not go to ORPA for sign-off. Letters of intent were due February 6 *please note, one biosketch was sufficient for the LOI.

Invitations for full submissions were sent by March 6 Full submissions (Instructions will be provided) will be due on April 3 Anticipated start date for successful proposals: July 1 The Office of Health Equity Research (OHER) is soliciting grant applications again to support up to five health equity research pilot projects in community-identified research priority areas of: 1) safe and healthy housing, 2) prevention of mental health and substance use disorders, 3) prevention of gun violence, 4) prevention of re-incarceration, and 5) prevention and management of chronic disease.

Eligibility is strictly limited to Health Equity Research Core Investigators (HERCI) at the University of Rochester. The award level is up to $40,000 for one year per award.

All awards are eligible to be co-sponsored by the following University of Rochester units if they also focus on a priority area of the respective unit: Environmental Health Sciences Center / Institute for Human Health and the Environment Department of Orthopaedics Warner School of Education If you have questions about becoming a HERCI member, please contact our team .

Funding Support Requests - Research investigators seeking additional financial support for research, programmatic, and professional development activities meant to facilitate the advancement of health equity. Requests will be prioritized from highest to lowest priority. Please visit the link for more details.

This includes funds for conference travel, registration, and presentations; data acquisition; biostatistical support; publication costs; continuing education; and other expenses. Funding Recipient Spotlight: Nikesha J. Gilmore, PhD, received OHER funding to support students from the EmREACh program .

This initiative is focused on helping undergraduate students pursue careers that combine clinical care and research. It is especially designed for those who may not have had previous structured research training or academic mentorship. Through hands-on research experiences, professional development, and guided mentorship, EmREACh opens doors to new opportunities.

With the support of OHER funding, University of Rochester graduates Anna Job ’23, Jihane Jean ’23, Helena Rajalingam ’24, and Celina Shoda ’25 and Sofiia Hryniv ’25 were able to attend and present their research at the annual International Society of Geriatric Oncology conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Their work explored important research topics to improve the care of older adults with cancer and demonstrated a strong commitment to oncological science and community engagement. These presentations were a meaningful step forward in their journeys toward medical careers. They showcased the students’ dedication, academic excellence, and passion for making a difference in both research and clinical practice.