The Research to Advance Racial and Indigenous Health Equity initiative will award up to $5 million in research grants aimed at supporting actionable, solutions-oriented health equity research. This opportunity is offered through two funding streams: Rapid Response Research awards and New Research Support awards. The initiative is led by Evidence for Action (E4A) in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Rapid Response Research awards are designed for early- to mid-career health equity researchers whose federally funded research was interrupted due to funding shifts, whereas New Research Support awards aim to fund community-driven projects uplifting the knowledge and power of Indigenous and historically marginalized communities of color.

The Rapid Response Research awards will distribute approximately $2 million, with awards ranging between $50,000 and $200,000 for projects lasting up to 24 months. These awards specifically target researchers whose projects were halted by a formal cease and desist, stop-work letter, or similar disruption in federal funding. Applicants must be early- to mid-career health equity researchers and may not currently receive more than 25% of their salary from an RWJF grant. Priority will be given to Indigenous researchers and researchers of color conducting antiracist and anticolonial health equity research.

To apply, interested individuals must submit a brief proposal by May 28, 2025, at 3pm EDT through the RWJF Application & Review System. Key submission requirements include documentation verifying the interruption of federal funding, responses to specific project information questions, a CV outlining relevant work, and information aligning with E4A’s mission and values. A webinar will be hosted on May 2, 2025, providing an overview of the application process, and weekly office hours will be available beginning May 7, 2025 for applicants seeking individualized support.

Applications will be evaluated based on the applicant's demonstrated commitment to racial and Indigenous health equity, alignment with E4A program values, sustainability of the applicant's research vision, and timeliness. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions during the week of July 14, 2025, with grants anticipated to start on September 1, 2025. Should an applicant's original federal funding resume after receiving a Rapid Response Research award, they will be required to reallocate the RWJF funds in a manner consistent with E4A and RWJF’s mission.

The main contact for inquiries is evidenceforaction@ucsf.edu. Additional support materials, including webinar recordings, FAQs, and registration forms for office hours, are available for prospective applicants. Participation in office hours requires pre-registration and submission of specific questions via SmartSheet.