Minority Research Grant Program
The CMS Office of Minority Health administers the Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP). The purpose of the grant program is to support researchers at minority-serving institutions through funding to explore and address health care disparities affecting people from all minority populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals residing in rural areas, and individuals adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
2024 Awardees
Six recipients have been awarded grants to expand our commitment to advancing health equity among the populations served by CMS programs. Each grantee received up to $237,500 in funding to support their projects, which will examine critical public health disparities and increase health equity research capacities at minority-serving institutions.
The 2024 grantees include:
Palo Alto College, Palo Alto Dental Hygiene Access to Care Program Enhancing Dental Hygiene Education and Community Health in South San Antonio by Integrating Advanced Sleep Health, CBCT Scans, and Oral Cancer Screening
Palo Alto College (a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)) will offer Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scan imaging at a reduced cost to remove financial barriers and improve access to care for at-home sleep study testing. This initiative aims to enhance overall oral health outcomes through early detection and management of conditions related to obstructive sleep apnea.
Research Foundation CUNY on behalf of Lehman College, Studying Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health services in the Bronx using a Health Disparities Research Approach
The Research Foundation CUNY, an HSI, and the Bronx Community Taskforce will convene with providers across the Bronx to explore factors influencing the utilization of mental health and substance abuse disorder services, including barriers to access and the cultural responsiveness of services, while conducting a rigorous assessment of the services’ availability using public federal, state, and city data.
San Diego State University Foundation, Determining Factors Associated with Loss of Independence Among Ethnic Minority Older Adults a 10-year Longitudinal Study Using NHATS Study
This study by San Diego State, an HSI, aims to identify factors contributing to the loss of independence among multiethnic populations in the U.S. using the WHO's comprehensive multi-dimensional International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model, employing a population-based cohort longitudinal design and leveraging the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) dataset.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Building a Path to Health Equity: Investigating Lead Exposure, Chronic Stress, and Cardiovascular Dysfunction
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), hypothesizes that lead (Pb) exposure, chronic stress, and their interaction contribute to adverse cardiovascular health outcomes. The main statistical analysis will use model-based methods for cross-sectional clustered data to assess a composite index of cardiovascular dysfunction as the primary outcome.
Research Foundation of the State University of New York, Expanding Access to Perinatal Healthcare and Supportive Services that Address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)
The Research Foundation of the State University of New York, an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (AANAPISI) and HSI, seeks to expand services in communities in Queens to reduce the number of pregnant and/or postpartum individuals who are uninsured or go without needed medical care, to expand access to health care and support for expectant families, and to diversify the lactation field.
Fayetteville State University, HIV/AIDS Virtual Summer Research Institute for Helping Professionals
Fayetteville State University, an HBCU, plans to expand its curriculum and training focused on HIV/AIDS education, awareness, and prevention among helping professional students by developing an interdisciplinary two-week virtual summer institute and curriculum. The program will provide students with opportunities for active engagement in reflective learning to enhance their knowledge and perception of HIV/AIDS and its prevention.
CMS OMH Research Grant Program Video
Are you a health equity researcher at a minority-serving institution who is looking for funding? View this video to learn about the MRGP’s benefits.
Eligibility
Health equity researchers at the following types of institutions are eligible to apply:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)
- Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)
- Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs)
- Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs)
Where to Apply
The 2024 funding opportunity for the MRGP is currently closed. Please be on the lookout for updates regarding the 2025 funding year.
Grant Writing Resources
- Fundamentals of Grant Writing – This course reviews the basic steps in drafting a grant proposal for funding, including planning, researching, and writing a grant as well as best practices for following up with potential funders.
- Grants 101 – Provides a brief overview of the grant lifecycle, pre-award phase, award phase, post-award phase, and getting started checklist.
- Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals – Provides helpful tips on writing grant proposals.
- Write a Strong Application – This page provides an overview of the application process including tips for writing a strong application and the submission process on Grants.gov.
Program Summary Report (PDF)
This report provides a snapshot of the MRGP from 2005-2022, in addition to the health disparities research projects of 54 MRGP grantees active during this time period. It includes an overview of the geographic distribution of their projects, their target populations and conditions, and key intervention outcomes. The research findings of MRGP-funded projects on African Americans and Hispanics have been cited in more than 190 publications.
For More Information
Download the MRGP Flyer (PDF)
Contact OMHGrants@cms.hhs.gov
Subscribe to the MRGP Listserv