Community Health Initiated Research Partnership (CHIRP)

Now Accepting Applications!

The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences is now accepting applications for the Community Health Initiated Research Partnership (CHIRP) Fellowship Awards, which will be awarded to four teams, ideally one from each CCTS region (El Paso, Houston, Rio Grande Valley/Brownsville, Tyler/East Texas). Teams will receive community-engaged proposal development training, resources, and mentorship from experts in their field of study to refine a protocol and submit to the IRB. Upon completion of the training and IRB approval, each team will receive $20,000 to implement their research.

View/download the RFA

Deadlines

• Full application due: Monday, January 12, 2026, by 5 pm CST
• Notice of acceptance: February 2026

Free October Webinar Series: Thursdays, 1-2 pm CST

• Oct. 9: Understanding the RFA
• Oct. 16: How to Find Community Partners
• Oct. 23: Grantsmanship
• Oct. 30: Theoretical Models and Frameworks in Community Engagement Research

Register to attend

Questions / More Info

Email us at: [email protected]

What is CHIRP?

The Community Health Initiated Research Partnership (CHIRP) Fellowship Awards support collaboration between faculty and community organizations to conduct research and pilot studies that address community health needs. The goal of the program is to bring the public and academic communities closer together through collaborative research, with mutual ownership of the processes and products, for more long-term, meaningful impact on the overall health of all populations.

In defining health, the CHIRP program takes into account variations in health outcomes that result from several factors, including access to healthcare, that may directly or indirectly affect mental and physical well-being. Program participants are expected to develop innovative, impactful research projects to be conducted in community and clinical settings.

Each CHIRP team will be provided with:

• training and resources for the development of a research study proposal
• mentorship from experts in their field of study

Teams will refine a protocol to be submitted to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Upon completion of training and IRB approval, each team will receive up to $20,000 to implement their research. After successfully completing the CHIRP program, participants will be able to:

• articulate the concepts and components of CHIRP and other methods of community-engaged research
• apply CHIRP principles to research practices
• communicate with audiences in both community and academic settings about CHIRP principles
• implement a CHIRP project to address a shared community health priority
• incorporate CHIRP principles and approaches in funding applications
• develop a plan for subsequent CHIRP funding

Each team must consist of at least one community partner and one academic partner. Collaborations with multiple partners across institutions or locations are welcome, and partnerships may be either new or established.

What is a community partner?

Anyone who is employed by or volunteers with a community organization is considered a community partner. 

What is a community organization?

An established entity that meets the following criteria is considered a community organization:

• The organization has a documented interest in improving the health of the community it serves (e.g., a mission statement).
• The organization demonstrates a history of serving the health needs and interests of the community it serves.

Examples of community organizations include public schools, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, community-based health provider organizations, and advocacy groups. 

What is an academic partner?

Anyone with a research or clinical faculty appointment at the following CCTS institutions qualifies as an academic partner:

• UTHealth Houston (including the School of Public Health Brownsville)
• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• UT Tyler Health Science Center
• UT Rio Grande Valley
• Rice University
• Texas Tech Health El Paso

Can students participate?

Students and postdoctoral fellows may be included, but a faculty member is required to be the principal investigator (in collaboration with the community).

To request an application form or join our email list, please click below.  

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