This award will support pilot studies that test a systems alignment (SA) intervention on a small scale in order to assess its acceptability and feasibility. This award is appropriate for applicants who have a compelling idea for an SA intervention but have not previously completed a pilot study to examine the feasibility of implementing the intervention or the research procedures necessary to evaluate the success of the intervention. After completing a successful pilot study through this CFP, applicants will be well-positioned to apply for subsequent research funding from other funding sources in order to conduct a comprehensive study that evaluates the impact and effectiveness of their chosen SA intervention.

Regarding acceptability, pilot studies should be designed to investigate the extent to which the proposed SA intervention is perceived as needed, reasonable, worthwhile, and consistent with the values and preferences of relevant collaborators and contributors, including: (1) representatives from the medical, social, and public health systems who must be engaged in implementing the intervention; (2) representatives from the communities who are effected by systemic racism and who will benefit from the intervention if it is successful in dismantling or disrupting racism; and (3) representatives from potential funders and financing systems who will need to be engaged in supporting and sustaining the intervention if it is successful.

Regarding feasibility, pilot studies should investigate the extent to which the SA intervention can be implemented successfully on a small scale, and should answer key questions such as: (1) To what extent are representatives from the relevant medical, social, and public health systems able to implement the intervention components as planned? (2) To what extent do representatives from the relevant medical, social, and public health systems have the appropriate levels of staffing, resources, training, and expertise necessary to implement the intervention as planned? (3) To what extent does the intervention promote necessary levels of communication, coordination, and collaboration across systems? (4) To what extent does the intervention reach and engage representatives from communities that experience systemic racism?