Yvonne L. Munn Nursing Research Grants (2024)

Overview
Debra Burke, RN, MBA, DNP, NEA-BC, Chief Nurse, Patient Care Services, and the leadership of the Department of Nursing support research grants annually through the Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research. These studies focusing on original research that are initiated by MGH staff nurses for the purpose of advancing nursing science and improving outcomes for patients and families. The intent is that the studies support and advance Patient Care Services' annual strategic plan and the professional practice model. Completed studies are featured as presentations throughout the year at the quarterly Munn Nursing Research Grand Rounds.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants seeking a Yvonne L. Munn Nursing Research Grant must be a registered nurse, in a staff nurse role, working at least 20 hours per week as a permanent benefits-eligible employee at MGH. Part-time nurses are encouraged to work collaboratively with a full-time co-PI. Registered nurses currently enrolled in a doctoral program or at the post-doctoral level are not eligible (contact the Munn Center for other funding options). Team members may consist of nurses and other multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

Each team is required to have a mentor to provide guidance and oversight, and to enhance the rigor of the investigation. The nurse mentor must have a PhD; however, a team-based mentoring approach consisting of a PhD and DNP prepared nurse is also acceptable. The Munn Nursing Research Grant Committee, in conjunction with the Munn Center, can also provide assistance to potential applicants in locating a mentor.

It is not necessary to have MGH Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval prior to proposal submission; however, all funded proposals must be reviewed and approved by the MGB IRB before the study is conducted. Additionally, participating in research studies requires the completion of the new MGB IRB’s online educational program. Please review the Munn Grant IRB and Project Initiation Policy.

Proposal Preparation and Mentoring
Doctorally prepared nurse mentors, along with the Munn Research Grant Committee, will provide guidance in proposal writing, budget preparation, study implementation, and evaluation. For information regarding Mentor responsibilities please review the Mentor Role Guidelines.Questions regarding proposal preparation, budget development, and submission should be emailed to the Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research at munncenter@partners.org 

All applications for the Y. L. Munn Nursing Research Grant go through a series of steps as outlined in the timeline below. The co-chairs of the Munn Grants Committee are responsible for facilitating these activities. A formal review of all Munn Grants submitted is completed by a Selection Committee that includes representation from within the MGH community.

The Selection Committee Members include the co-chairs and members of the Munn Grants Committee, and the Director of the Munn Center for Nursing Research. Each reviewer receives a packet of materials containing all of the applications, review guidelines, PCS goals, and a scoring sheet. Reviewers are asked to rank all proposals. The co-chairs of the Munn Review Committee and the Director of the Munn Center review all the data and make a final selection. Each application is presented in rank order with a summary of the study review to the Chief Nurse and Vice President for Patient Care Services for final approval. All submissions are reviewed with proposal authors and the winners are announced during Nurse Research Day celebrations.

Time Frame and Contact Information for Proposal Submission

October 21, 2024 by 5 pm	Letters of Intent  Nursing Director Support, your CV, and Mentor’s CV will need to be uploaded as part of the Letter of Intent application.
December 9, 2024 by 5 pm	Proposal  due for review, submit via REDCap
January, 2025	Preliminary feedback to applicants
February 10, 2025 by 5 pm	Final proposal  with requested revisions (if any) due, submit via REDCap
February, 2025	Review Committee ranks proposals
March, 2025	Final recommendations for funding sent for approval
April, 2025	Candidates notified of grant decisions
May, 2025	Grants presented during Nurse Research Day Week

Proposal Format and Evaluation Criteria
Proposals must meet Institutional Review Board (IRB) criteria for proposals. This can occur once funding has been awarded. The MGB Human Research Committee IRB may be reached at their Website, email: IRB@partners.org ; or phone: 857-282-1900.

The Grant Review Committee utilizes the format and criteria below in evaluating proposals. It is required that applicants use these criteria to develop their proposals and comply with the associated page limits. Formatting for all proposals should be margins of 1” all around, a font of 12 pitch, and single spacing. A cover page stating applicant name, unit of employment, mentor’s name, and title of project should be included. See below for guidelines.

Original Research Proposal submitted through REDCap:

• Cover page completed in REDCap
• Abstract (300-word maximum/include word count after last line of abstract)
• Background and Significance
• Specific Aims as stated as objectives or hypotheses being tested (1-paragraph)
• Research Design (1-paragraph)
• Subject Selection including sample inclusion/exclusion criteria (1-page maximum)
• Subject Enrollment and consent process (how, when, where, and by whom subjects will be recruited) and the consent procedures (how, when, where, when and by whom subjects will be consented) (1-page)
• Study procedures including study plan and outcome measurement (3-page maximum)
• Expected risks and discomforts and steps to take to reduce relevant risks (1-paragraph)
• Benefits to subjects and potential benefit to society (1-paragraph)
• Statistical Analysis with power analysis (1-paragraph)
• Monitoring and quality assurance (1-paragraph)
• Plans for maintaining privacy and confidentiality (1-paragraph)
• References
• Timeline, and roles and responsibilities of team members
• Budget template
• Notification of budget approval (required)
• Alignment with PCS goals (1-paragraph)
• Potential Contributions to Nursing and Dissemination Plan (1-page maximum)
• Appendix including all questionnaires/surveys that will be used

Note:  The information slide presentation elaborates on all grant requirements.  Proposals not conforming to guidelines will be returned.

Resources to Support Your Project

• Meeting with Munn Grants Chairperson (email dcarroll3@mgh.harvard.edu)
• Your mentor
• Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research staff
• Treadwell Library Online
• Your Nursing Director and CNS
• Munn Research Grants Committee

Grant Notification and Funding

Approved grants may be funded up to $3,000. All Munn Grant applicants will be notified of their funding status prior to Nursing Research Day. Formal announcements will occur at the annual Yvonne L. Munn Research Lecture held during Nursing Research Day. Recipients are not expected to attend the grant ceremony. Awardees’ names will be placed on a plaque in the Ellison corridor.
Key Timelines for Applicants

• First step: Post Grant planning meeting with Munn Grant mentor, Committee co-chairs, and a Nurse Scientist from the Munn Center.
• The funding period for the grant is 2 years. Actual studies are usually conducted over 6-12 months.
• Submit a progress report to the Munn Center every six months until the research is completed.
• Investigators will present results of completed study at Munn Nursing Research Grand Rounds, have a poster at MGH Nursing Research Day or a similar venue.

Follow-up
All funded grant applications will be reviewed with team members by a member of the Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research shortly after Research Day. Plans for project implementation or resubmission will be discussed during these sessions.

Acknowledgement 
Dissemination resulting from this grant (publication, presentation, and grant) should include the following statement: “Research support for this investigation was provided by the Yvonne L. Munn Nursing Research Grant and the Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research, Institute for Patient Care, Massachusetts General Hospital.”