Published: 25 Aug 2025
Deadline: 30 Oct 2025
India is facing a growing and complex burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes (and gestational diabetes), hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory conditions, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). These conditions are driven by common modifiable risk factors, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, and psychosocial stress, and are compounded by broader social, environmental, and commercial determinants of health.
Environmental exposures such as air pollution and climate change have been clearly linked to chronic respiratory diseases, while the rising burden of metabolic and renal disorders points to the need for greater attention to unrecognized environmental and occupational risks. Furthermore, unintentional injuries, including road traffic accidents, burns, drowning, represent a critical but under-addressed area of public health.
India's commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)1, particularly SDG 3.4 (reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030), demand innovative, equitable, and scalable public health solutions. There is an urgent need to move beyond siloed approaches and towards integrated models of prevention, early detection, and management that are responsive to local contexts and populations. This call invites proposals that address the NCD burden through multidisciplinary public health strategies, with a focus on the following sub-themes:
Applications are open to intramural adjunct faculty of the CPH. Each proposal must be submitted by a Principal Investigator (PI).
The team may include Co-Investigators from within or outside the institution, including non-adjunct faculty. An adjunct faculty member may be listed as a Co-Investigator on multiple proposals but can apply for only one project as PI in each funding round.
Proposals should present well-defined research questions, clear work packages, realistic timelines, and a plan to generate preliminary data.
Up to three projects will be supported under this call
Each with a maximum funding limit of ₹30 lakhs
For a duration of up to 36 months
This call for proposals is envisioned as a kick-starter round, and awardees are expected to work toward external funding within three years of receiving a seed grant.
Applicants must submit a concept note (max 1500) words or 4 pages in DOCX format. The concept note must include:
Title of the study
Brief introduction of the project
Justification for the study addressing the criteria outlined in the checklist (Annexure II)
Research objectives (ideally not more than 3 objectives)
Methodology aligned to objectives with preliminary data if any, timelines and expected outcomes/ deliverables (including manuscript and grant submission plans)
Budget with brief justification (Annexure I)
Proposed Team & highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the proposed project
Proposed pathways to future funding and scale-up plans
A consolidated bio sketch (maximum of 2 pages each) of PI and Co-investigators as an appendix, providing evidence of relevant and/or complementary expertise in the form of previous publications, conference presentations, etc.
The proposal should clearly align with the selected theme and demonstrate scientific merit, feasibility, and potential for real-world public health impact. Proposals must be submitted through CPH RFP Submission Form.
To support applicants in preparing strong and competitive proposals, two tools are provided:
Researcher's Self-Evaluation Checklist (Annexure- II)
A tool to help applicants self-assess their proposal before submission. Kindly attach it along with the application.
Research Proposal Scoring Rubric (Annexure- III)
This rubric outlines how proposals will be evaluated by the review committee. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use these tools to refine their submissions.
Each submission will be assessed on a 5-point scale: 5 = Excellent, 4 = Good, 3 = Satisfactory, 2 = Needs Improvement, and 1 = Poor.
Please note that the criteria 'Public Health Importance', 'Quality of research proposal objectives' and 'Scalability' will carry additional weight in the overall evaluation.
All submitted proposals will undergo a rigorous, three-stage review process to ensure scientific quality, alignment with CPH priorities, and potential for impact and scale-up. Scientifically sound proposals that demonstrate feasibility for external funding will be supported.
Screening Round
In the first round, proposals will be screened by senior faculty members from within the institution who are not part of the CPH Adjunct Faculty.
Blinded Peer Review
The screened proposals will be independently reviewed by two reviewers external to the project team using the above-mentioned rubric. The average score will be used to rank the proposals for selection.
Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) Review
Shortlisted applicants will present their proposals to the SAG. Refer to Annexure-IV for the presentation template to be used by shortlisted applicants. The SAG will recommend proposals based on scientific quality, innovation, stakeholder engagement, potential for real-world impact, and alignment with CMC CPH priorities.
Interim Evaluation
An interim evaluation of each funded project will be conducted at the end of one year to assess progress and alignment with the proposed objectives.
Projects that have not made signficant progress and are unlikely to make progress may be terminated at the end of year 1.
Comprehensive External Review
A comprehensive external review will take place at the end of three years to evaluate the impact, sustainability, and potential of each project for external grants.
Don't miss your chance to contribute to public health innovation. Mark these important dates!
Aug 25, 2025
Oct 30, 2025
Dec 1, 2025
Centre for Public Health, 2nd floor CHTC Building, Christian Medical College Vellore
Email: cph@cmcvellore.ac.in
Phone: +91-416-2284556
Centre for Public Health
Seed Grants 2025