John H. Rippey Grant for Expedited Research

The Impact of Laboratory Testing for SARS-CoV-2 on Quality and Patient Safety

Coronavirus infection (coronavirus disease, COVID-19) shows no signs of abating soon. There is an urgent need to better understand the pathobiology and clinical implications of the viral infection that lead to the morbidity and mortality seen with COVID-19.

This grant honors the memory of John H. Rippey, MD, an advocate of the CAP who was devoted to improving laboratory quality assurance. The CAP Foundation is repositioning the grant to provide funding for investigation of the impact of COVID-19-related tests, principally nuclear acid amplification and serologic methods, on patient outcomes, including studies related to test accuracy, timeliness, and result communication. Applicants must demonstrate how their projects support quality assurance, quality improvement in pathology, or patient safety, with the result of improved patient care.

Individual grant amounts from $10,000 to $20,000 are available, excluding institutional indirect costs. This grant will fund testing supplies, testing equipment, and personal protective equipment, if needed to support proposals, not to exceed 20% of the submitted budget.

Because of this issue’s urgency, the foundation seeks innovative, highly impactful short-term proposals (9-12 months), which can show progress within the period of this award.

Example projects include, but are not restricted, to:

• Defining sensitivity and specificity of assays
• Correlation with clinical disease
• Analysis of pre-analytic errors
• PCR antigen versus antibody testing to identify acute disease versus immunity
• QC challenges in emerging testing
• Effects of emergency release testing on patient outcome
• Epidemiologic analysis

Eligibility

Open to all CAP members. Applicants will be considered regardless of age, race, gender, or national origin.

To Apply

Applications for funding are due by Monday, January 11, 2022, at 5 p.m. Central Time.

Submit the following materials along with your application:

1. A project proposal, to include:
   • Project title
   • Project executive summary
   • Detailed project narrative delineating goals and impact on the specialty of pathology and patient care as it relates to COVID-19 (max 3,000 words)
   • Detailed budget
   • Confirmation that the project can be completed in one year
   • A letter from your institution (eg, department chair or residency program director) granting you permission to pursue the project, if a grant is awarded
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Professional headshot for use in Foundation web and print media (Requirements: 1+ megabyte, color, professional dress, neutral background; no selfies please)