Spark Awards RFA
Please read all of the Spark Awards RFA instructions below before submitting your application.
CTSI will award Spark Awards to Ohio State and Nationwide Children's Hospital investigators worth up to $3,000. CTSI will award up to $5,000 for projects involving researchers from two different Ohio State colleges or a collaboration between Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s investigators.
Scope of Projects
Proposals must encompass activities to support a future grant application or major scientific initiative, or provide additional support critical to the success of an existing project.
Award Amount
$3,000 - $5,000
Application Dates
Applications will be received through March 15, 2026, or until designated funds are exhausted.
To Apply for a Spark Award
- Complete a MyCTSI Profile
- Contact the core service for a cost calculation (quote/estimate) and upload it as a PDF with you application.
- You are required to contact the core service provider and work collaboratively to obtain the quote.
- The personnel who helped you must be listed on the intake form.
- Complete the Spark Awards application form. Make sure to answer all questions and attach the PDF of your cost calculation.
Eligibility
Eligible Investigators must meet the following criteria:
Applicants must be early to mid-stage career level.
- Post-Doctoral Fellow (academic track)
- Instructor, Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor, less than two years of appointment at Ohio State/Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Research Scientists
Applicants must be IRB approved as key personnel or investigator to work on the protocol.
Spark awardees may receive only one Spark award (single or collaborative) per funding cycle. A new funding cycle will start no earlier than August 1 of each subsequent year.
Projects must fall into one of these categories
- Clinical research
- Clinical implementation
- Public health
Ineligibility
Before applying, please review the following restrictions to ensure your role, project type and requested services meet eligibility criteria. The following are not eligible for Spark Award consideration:
Ineligible Roles
- Students (undergraduate, graduate and medical)
- Residents
- Research managers
CTSI Previously Funded Investigators
- Individuals currently funded by CTSI mechanisms (K, T, Pilot, Element E)
- Researchers who have already received a Spark Award during this funding cycle
Ineligible Project Categories
- Basic science
- Pre-clinical research
- Animal model studies
Unsupported Core Services
- Core services not explicitly listed in the table below
- Services involving animal models, biomarker testing or genomic research
Other Important Details:
- If applicable, Projects must have IRB approval before funds are disbursed.
- Applicants must satisfy all IRB requirements, including required training and reporting of conflicts of interest.
- You must be approved by the IRB to work on the protocol.
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with funding decisions provided within four weeks.
- Applications are reviewed for eligibility, completeness, feasibility to complete within the required time frames, and scientific merit. Revisions or clarifications may be requested by the program.
- Awarded services must be completed by July 31, 2026. Final invoices must be received by August 31, 2026.
- Awardees must complete a post-award survey about related publications, abstracts and/or grant submissions/awards.
- Awards may include funding from more than one core service for a single project.
- Research must be conducted within the US.
- Awardees must be in good standing with CTSI (compliant with citing all publications and requirements of past CTSI funding).