PIDS Partners with the Academic Pediatric Association (APA) on Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID)

Research Funding Opportunity for Fellows and Junior Faculty

PIDS has partnered with the American Pediatric Association for the Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) funding cycle to support two young scholars dedicated to the treatment, control and eradication of infectious diseases affecting children. Funds will be available to support up to $15,000 per selected Scholar to complete a one-year research project, receive mentoring by senior expert investigators, and attend the 2024 RAPID Conference.

Program Overview
Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) Research Grants target early career scholars (fellows and junior faculty) who identify as underrepresented in medicine (UIM), disabled, or from a socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged background, and who are committed to a career in academic general pediatrics.

This initiative began in 2012 funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and continues to receive support through this mechanism, providing mentorship and research opportunities to young scholars with specific interests in pediatric obesity, nutrition, and/or sickle cell disease, in addition to other NIDDK research areas (R25DK096944).

PIDS is pleased to announce the partnership with APA for the 2023 RAPID funding cycle to support young scholars dedicated to the treatment, control and eradication of infectious diseases affecting children.

As part of this program, RAPID-PIDS Scholars will:
(1) Complete a 1-year research project
(2) Receive mentoring and networking during the annual Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting (at a minimum, RAPID-focused events)
(3) Attend RAPID’s Annual Mentoring and Career Development Conference in 2024
(4) Be matched with a national advisor who will provide ongoing support to the Scholar on their research, and onward
(5) Participate in: monthly conference calls to provide peer support, peer mentoring, networking, a venue for presenting research progress, and opportunities for potential research collaborations
(6) Participate in and complete program evaluations

Funding
Funds will be available to support up to $15,000 per selected Scholar to complete a one-year research project, receive mentoring by senior expert investigators, and attend the 2024 RAPID Conference.

The application portals for the 2023 RAPID small research grants and the 2024 Career Development Conference is open. The deadline is Friday, January 26, 2024.

How to Apply
(1) Talk with your local mentors about your research ideas – Proposals to the RAPID-PIDS funding path must address the treatment, control, and eradication of infectious diseases affecting children.
Please ensure that both the applicant and the chosen mentor(s) are current members of the Academic Pediatric Association and/or the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, depending on the selected funding path.
(2) Click here to download the Initial Proposal Checklist. Review the Application Process for other details.
(3) Stay tuned to the APA and PIDS websites for updates on information sessions and application deadlines.

Please take care in reviewing the following steps before submitting an Initial Proposal:

• Select your Funding Path: NIDDK or PIDS
• Ensure you are within the eligibility requirements for a RAPID Scholar
• Confirm that both you and your chosen mentors are current members of the Academic Pediatric Association (for NIDDK Funding Path) and/or the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (for PIDS Funding Path)

The RAPID National Advisory Committee (NAC) will review initial submissions and select Principal Investigators (PIs) who will be invited to submit full proposals.

Incomplete submissions and application materials that exceed the requested page limits will NOT be considered for review.

Learn more about RAPID

Questions?
Send a message to pids@idsociety.org.

Past Recipients

• Ana Quintero (2022) – “Being a RAPID scholar was a transformative experience for me. Far beyond the financial support, the mentorship from senior expert investigators, who are genuinely invested in my success, has been an invaluable asset. Besides the academic benefits, the RAPID program enabled me to interact with fellow scholars from various backgrounds, leading to lasting friendships and collaborations that I know will endure long after the program ends. It’s a journey I’ll always cherish and recommend. I am immensely grateful to PIDS and APA for this wonderful opportunity and to my mentors for their support.”
  
  
• Marisa Orbea (2022) – “I am incredibly grateful to have been a RAPID/PIDS Scholar. Thanks to this program, I was able to fund my randomized trial in messaging strategies aimed to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake in a racially and ethnically diverse hospitalized patient population. I also received fantastic mentorship from leaders in academic medicine. In addition, I established lifelong relationships with peers engaged in a wide variety of research across the nation. Together, as RAPID scholars, we learned how to further our scholarly endeavors and how to become successful NIH funded researchers. I found this experience extremely gratifying and thank RAPID and PIDS for creating this amazing opportunity for young scholars.”