University of Kentucky Center on Trauma and Children

The purpose of the Anchor Lab is to provide an incubator for new and innovative ideas to prevent or address violence against children and families, which can be developed and tested independently based solely on scientific merit. The Anchor Lab is a hub for sustainable, independent scientific discovery.  This "blue skies" research environment is a setting where scientific inquiry is driven purely by curiosity, with no predefined commercial goals or immediate applications. This unrestricted approach, also known as curiosity-driven or fundamental research, can lead to revolutionary, unforeseen breakthroughs that create entirely new fields of study. This Anchor Lab provides seed funding to projects that align with the mission of the Center on Trauma and Children, which is to develop and disseminate knowledge, technologies, and evidence-based treatments that contribute to reducing and ending violence and addressing the effects of trauma on children, families, and the workforce. Funding for the Anchor Lab comes from private sources, with the intent to ultimately move projects from the Anchor Lab into state or federal funding streams. 

The UK Center on Trauma and Children is now accepting applications for Anchor Lab Pilot Projects. The purpose of the Anchor Lab is to provide an incubator for new and innovative ideas to prevent or address violence against children and families, which can be developed and tested independently based solely on scientific merit. The Anchor Lab is a hub for sustainable, independent scientific discovery. This "blue skies" research environment is a setting where scientific inquiry is driven purely by curiosity, with no predefined commercial goals or immediate applications. This unrestricted approach, also known as curiosity-driven or fundamental research, can lead to revolutionary, unforeseen breakthroughs that create entirely new fields of study. This Anchor Lab provides seed funding to projects that align with the mission of the Center on Trauma and Children, which is to develop and disseminate knowledge, technologies, and evidence-based treatments that contribute to reducing and ending violence and addressing the effects of trauma on children, families, and the workforce.  Funding for the Anchor Lab comes from private sources, with the intent to ultimately move projects from the Anchor Lab into state or federal funding streams. 

1. Problem-focused innovation research ideas involve tackling real-world challenges by applying technology, social enterprise, accessible diagnostics, or new service delivery models to create solutions for disseminating and implementing evidence-based treatments. Examples might include developing digital and/or alternative service delivery models for traditional psychotherapy approaches.
2. Team Science approaches that combine knowledge from different fields to develop novel solutions.  These collaborations can foster unique solutions by synthesizing diverse expertise, methods, and perspectives to address challenges that single disciplines cannot. An example might be combining economics, computer science, pediatrics, and behavioral health experts to develop novel ways to guide the development of affordable, accessible treatments.
3. Disruptive innovations that fundamentally change how people access or use services through new technology. This might include targeting overlooked groups or designing products based on event-specific phenomena versus applying traditional models of prevention, assessment, and treatment to the masses. For example, using task extenders (i.e., lay people, paraprofessionals) to provide services that traditionally have been only delivered by licensed experts. 

1. The project meets the definition of early stage, pilot, or preliminary
2. The study aims are consistent with CTAC’s mission and/or priority areas 
3. The project represents innovation in conceptualization, methodology, and/or potential application
4. Findings of the study have the potential to advance other work in the Anchor Lab or CTAC
5. The study involves one or more faculty from CTAC.
6. The budget is congruent with available funds, spending priorities, and/or funding parameters.
7. Study outcomes are measurable, feasible, and likely to be modifiable within the specified time.
8. The recipient of the funds is a faculty member at the University of Kentucky (all title series and ranks are eligible)
9. For team science projects, a minimum of two different disciplines are included on the team. 
10. Investigators who have previously been supported through the Anchor Lab Pilot Program are welcome to reapply. 
11. Priority will be given to applications with well‐defined future extramural funding plans and timelines (ex. Targeted mechanism, identification of the study section). 

This award is up to $25,000 direct costs, which must be spent over 12 months. 

Allowable expenses 

• Salary support and fringe benefit costs for the Principal Investigator(s) is required. 
• Salary support and fringe benefit costs for faculty and staff conducting the research is optional. 
• Funds are to be used for the conduct of the project, including supplies, subject payments, assays, etc. 
• Travel funds for refereed conference presentations are allowed up to $5,000.
• Travel funds needed for study execution are allowed, if essential. 

Non‐allowable expenses 

• Equipment cannot be purchased using this mechanism 
• No indirect costs can be charged to the Anchor Lab