CAP Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Announcement

Community-Academic/Provider Partnerships (CAPs)

Deadline for submissions:
November 20, 2026

Project funding period: January 2027–June 2027

What is a CAP?

Community-Academic/Provider Partnerships (CAPs)
are structured collaborations among academic researchers, healthcare providers, and community partners to develop and conduct research addressing identified health priorities in Puerto Rico.

CAPs promote meaningful community engagement, strengthen sustainable partnerships, and support innovative research, preliminary evidence generation, and future research opportunities.

Projects may build upon priorities identified through the Community Health and Research Council (CHRC), community forums, recent and comprehensive needs assessments, and the GROW PR Network.

What Types of Projects Are We Looking For?

We welcome innovative, collaborative research projects, including exploratory and pilot studies, feasibility assessments, community-engaged and practice-based research, health services research, intervention development, and approaches to improving healthcare delivery.

Projects should generate preliminary evidence, strengthen research partnerships, or create opportunities for future research and practical applications.

Funding and Support

Up to $20,000

In direct costs, subject to confirmation.

Up to 12 months

Project duration.

Alliance resources

Access to Alliance Core resources, consultations, mentoring, and technical assistance.

Who Can Apply?

The Principal Investigator must be a faculty member at UPR, UCC, or PHSU. Each project must include at least one non-academic community or healthcare partner and demonstrate meaningful collaboration and clearly defined responsibilities.

Interinstitutional and multisectoral partnerships are encouraged. Investigators at all career stages are welcome.

Application Requirements

Applicants must complete the REDCap application form and upload a three-page research proposal or work plan, along with supporting documents, including:

NIH biosketches.
Budget.
Project timeline.
Applicable research certifications.
Collaboration plan.
Letters of commitment or memoranda of understanding (MOUs).
Other required materials.

Applications will undergo a multisectoral review considering scientific relevance, feasibility, meaningful community engagement, and potential for future research development.

Eligibility

The Project Lead (PL) must be a faculty member at one of the Alliance partner institutions.
At least 2 institutions must be involved; participation from all three is preferred.
At least 1 non-academic partner from Puerto Rico is required.
Investigators at all career stages are welcome.
Collaboration between sectors; collaboration between Alliance institutions is prioritized.