Development Grants

The Development Grant is for funding up to $10,000 to create the initial framework for future partnership and collaboration. Development Grants are awarded to projects that build a UMB/UCR partnership that can later apply for an AYY Seed Grant or other extramural funding mechanisms. Funds awarded under the Development Grant stay at UMB but can be used to fund travel by UCR faculty and staff. All templates for the application can be found under Application Templates.

The 2026 application cycle closed June 1.

Activities supported by the Development Grant include the following:

Developing research partnership infrastructure
Facilitating formal and informal meetings for partners to identify shared goals, priorities, research interests, and sharing of resources and funding
Facilitating open dialogue and bidirectional learning through workshops and joint meetings around a research question and proposed research partnership
Identifying UCR partner(s) and community partners to help define a research question
Building capacity for community partners who will be part of the research collaboration (e.g., IRB training, training on research design and methods, etc.)
Building capacity for academic partnerships (e.g., tackling cross national and/or cross institution research partnership challenges and opportunities)
Identifying the needs of traditionally underserved or marginalized aging populations in the US and/or Costa Rica that could benefit from a UMB/UCR research project

The grant length is 18 months in total. This includes a six-month startup period to allow for the disbursement of funds and IRB approval (if needed), followed by the 12-month grant period. AYY leadership will meet with investigators throughout the project period to monitor progress. If a request for a no-cost extension has not been requested by the eighth month of the grant period (not the startup period), project activities will cease at the end of the grant period (18 months) and any remaining funds will be returned to the AYY Initiative.

Up to $10,000 in direct costs for 12 months (no indirect costs are allowed).
No salary support is permitted.
Allowable expenses: stipend for external contractors or community partners in Costa Rica or the US; travel costs to Costa Rica or US, lodging, supplies, facility use fees, activity costs such as research training for partners, and other expenses required to develop the partnership.
Unallowable expenses: tuition, refreshments, purchase of office or laboratory furniture, phone services, and professional membership fees.
All expenditures must comply with UMB regulations.

The proposal should be typed double-spaced in 12-point Arial font (no more than five pages). The Development Grant application template is on AYY website. The application will be submitted via the AYY application portal on the AYY website.

Sections in the Development Grant application that should be included are:

Proposal Abstract: 250-word limit
Project Purpose and Study Objectives: A statement on how this Development Grant funding will lead to the next grant submission as well as advance the investigators’ future research in aging.
Background: What is significant about the research that is being considered and what background does the research team have in this area or related areas.
Research Team: There can only be one PI who is a UMB faculty member. However other researchers, including UCR faculty, can be part of the research team and should be noted in the application.
Methods and Research Plan: Including how ongoing partnership between UMB and UCR will be facilitated
Impact: How the Development Grant will contribute to developing and sustaining a research partnership between UCR and UMB and the impact on the field of gerontology.
Timeline: Consider need for IRB approval and start up period (6 months)
References: Separate section, not included in page limit
Budget and Budget Justification: Separate sections, not included in page limit. Budget can be completed in Excel in any reasonable format, but budget justification must use AYY template (found on website)
Letters of support from partners: e.g. UCR faculty and community organizations; optional but encouraged; not included in page limit

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Applications will be peer-reviewed, evaluated, and scored using the following criteria:

Relevance to AYY. Is there a likelihood that the Development Grant will lead to a sustained research partnership between UMB and UCR?
Research Team and Environment. The research team has the expertise to accomplish the goals of the proposed research project and the appropriate research environment to conduct the study. Is there evidence of success in previous research activities, grant awards, and publication history in the field of aging of at least one investigator? Are optional letters of support representative of strong collaborative intent?
Appropriate Study Design and Methods (Scientific Merit).
Scientific Impact in the field of aging and gerontology, novelty, and merit.
Feasibility within defined budget period.
Potential for additional funding to further expand the research partnership and Development Grant endeavors.

Development Grants

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Project Examples

Consultation

Eligibility

Development Grant Term

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Reporting

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