Funder: Health Effects Institute
Due Dates: May 27, 2025 (Preliminary) | September 24, 2025 (Full, by invitation)
Funding Amounts: Up to $500,000 per award for 1–2 years; 2–3 awards expected; indirect costs capped at 30%.
Summary: Supports development of satellite-derived air quality data products with quantified uncertainties for use in US health research.
Key Information: Preliminary application required; full applications are by invitation only; focus must be on US air quality and health relevance.
Description
This opportunity from the Health Effects Institute (HEI) seeks to advance the use of satellite-derived air quality data in health research by funding projects that develop new data products, approaches, or tools that explicitly quantify uncertainties. The goal is to strengthen the understanding and application of these uncertainties in exposure, epidemiological, and health assessment studies, with a focus on air quality in the United States. Projects should deliver outputs that are directly useful for future health studies, particularly in areas lacking ground-based monitoring.
Due Dates
- Preliminary Application: May 27, 2025
- Full Application (by invitation only): September 24, 2025
Applicants must submit a preliminary application; only selected teams will be invited to submit a full application.
Funding Amount
- Award Size: Up to $500,000 per project
- Project Duration: 1–2 years (including final report preparation)
- Number of Awards: 2–3 projects will be funded
- Indirect Costs: Capped at 30% of direct costs (cannot be waived)
Funds may be used for personnel (including PI, students, postdocs, technicians, QA manager), equipment, and supplies. Travel to the HEI Annual Conference is covered separately by HEI.
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants:
- Academic institutions
- Independent, non-profit, free-standing research institutions
- Non-regulatory government agencies (may participate but not lead)
- For-profit companies (may participate as consultants only)
- Principal Investigator Requirements:
- Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent)
- Affiliation with an eligible research organization
- Demonstrated expertise and publication record in relevant fields
- Geographic Focus: Research must focus on air quality in the United States and its relevance to human health.
Application Process
Stage 1: Preliminary Application
- Deadline: May 27, 2025
- Format: Up to 5 pages (excluding references, biosketches, and support letters), 11-point font, 1-inch margins
- Content: Project summary, background, aims, methods, anticipated results, team qualifications, and a multi-sectoral engagement plan (if applicable)
- Submission: Email PDF to funding@healtheffects.org
- Form: Preliminary Application Form
Stage 2: Full Application (by invitation)
- Deadline: September 24, 2025
- Eligibility: Only invited applicants may submit
- Format: Detailed project plan, budget, biosketches, letters of support, data sharing plan, QA/QC plan
- Submission: Email PDF to funding@healtheffects.org
- Forms and Instructions: Full Application Form, Application Instructions
Review Process
- Preliminary applications are reviewed by the HEI Research Committee.
- Selected applicants are invited to submit a full application, which undergoes external peer review and further review by the Research Committee.
- Final funding decisions are made by the HEI Board of Directors.
Additional Information
- Project Focus: Outputs must be directly applicable to health research, with clear added value over existing data products.
- Pollutants of Interest: Multiple pollutants should be considered; NO₂, O₃, and PM (mass and composition) are of highest interest.
- Data Access: All data, code, and tools developed must be made publicly available and well-documented for future use.
- Statistical Rigor: Proposals must include robust statistical and analytical methods for uncertainty quantification.
- Quality Assurance: A QA manager must be named; funded projects must adhere to HEI’s QA/QC and data access policies.
- Community Engagement: Proposals involving community engagement must include a dedicated plan and, if applicable, letters of collaboration.
External Links
Contact Information
For questions about the RFA or application process, contact Dr. Allison Patton or use the general funding email above.