About the Regional Research Committee
The Regional Research Committee reviews proposals and allocates funds from Kaiser Permanente’s Direct to Community Benefit Investment fund for worthwhile research. This fund is provided from Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and the regional Permanente Medical Groups. It represents an investment by Kaiser Permanente to contribute broadly to societal knowledge on issues in clinical effectiveness of different care programs and health care delivery. In Southern California, $600,000 is available annually for investigator-initiated research.
Personnel
Download a printable list of committee members.
Regional Research Committee
Antelope Valley
Baldwin Park
Downey
Fontana/San Bernardino
Los Angeles
Orange County
Emily L. Whitcomb, MD
Vice Area Research Chair (2017-2020)
Panorama City
Regional Laboratory
Riverside/Palm Springs
San Diego
South Bay
West Los Angeles/Kern
Woodland Hills/Ventura
Research & Evaluation
Calendar
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Full Committee Review |
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| Spring funding opportunities: 1. Traditional Grant – Open to all 2. RRC-GME Research Program Development Grant – Open to GME faculty only Funding cycle: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 |
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| Letter of Intent Due | Proposal Development | RRC Proposal Due | RRC Review Meeting | RRC Decision Letter |
| Friday, Feb 10, 2023 Deadline: 11:59 p.m. |
Feb. 10 – March 17, 2023 | Friday, March 17, 2023 Deadline: 11:59 p.m. |
Thursday, May 11, 2023 | Friday, June 2, 2023 |
| Fall funding opportunities: 1. Traditional Grant – Open to all 2. RRC-GME Research Program Development Grant – Open to GME faculty only Funding cycle: January 1 – December 31, 2024 |
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| Letter of Intent Due | Proposal Development | RRC Proposal Due | RRC Review Meeting | RRC Decision Letter |
| Friday, July 21, 2023 Deadline: 11:59 p.m. |
July 21 – Aug. 25, 2023 | Friday, Aug. 25, 2023 Deadline: 11:59 p.m. |
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 | Friday, Nov. 10, 2023 |
For assistance, email Regional-Research-Committee@kp.org
RRC Proposal Submission Calendar_2023
RRC Funding Opportunities
The Regional Research Committee is seeking letters of intent for potential research proposals to be reviewed for funding. The committee’s goal is to support innovative physician-led projects that will impact practice.
You may apply for either a Traditional Grant or the RRC-GME Research Program Development Grant. Please review the eligibility criteria and funding guidelines listed below.
Eligibility criteria
Traditional Grant: SCPMG partner or full-time associate physicians, Kaiser Permanente Southern California residents or fellows, or full-time Kaiser Permanente employees can apply for this grant. Retired SCPMG physicians, full-time staff in the Department of Research & Evaluation and other regional departments are not eligible.
RRC-GME Research Program Development Grant: Open to Graduate Medical Education faculty only.
Funding guidelines
The RRC allocates funds for studies that add to the evidence base for high-quality medical care. Funding is available to support small, scale pilot studies and data review studies. RRC funding awards range between $8,000 and $55,000 (maximum limit). Physician time must be donated to the project. Funding support is available for one year. Only one project may be funded within 12 months. An investigator or team of investigators are not allowed to have separate studies funded by the RRC in the same funding cycle or overlapping funding cycles. During the 12-month funding period, all study-related activities must be completed, including all analyses.
Interested applicants should only apply for one grant. To access the letter of intent template, select one of the links below.
Terms and conditions of award
The total project period for each award is one year. Regional Research Committee funding awards range between $8,000 and $55,000 (maximum). Reasonable travel expenses, necessary to the conduct of the project, are allowed. Funds for books and equipment are not allowed.
The award also does not provide salary support for personnel employed at other institutions. Reimbursement for physician time is not provided. With permission of their chief of service, physicians can spend their educational half-day and educational leave doing research. It should be remembered that each physician involved in research projects, regardless of source of funding, must have local administrative clearance for time involved in the form of signatures from the chief of service and area medical director.
If you have questions, please contact us at Regional-Research-Committee@kp.org
Researcher of the Year
Each year, the Southern California Permanente Medical Group recognizes a physician or surgeon for their outstanding contribution to research at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
John K. Nguyen, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center was named 2021 Researcher of the Year.
Dr. Nguyen is the director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at Downey Medical Center. Read more about Dr. Nguyen and the Researcher of the Year award.
Previous Researchers of the Year
| Shireen Fatemi, MD (2020) Endocrinology Panorama City Medical Center |
Jashin J. Wu, MD (2013) Dermatology Los Angeles Medical Center |
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| Brian S. Lim, MD (2019) Gastroenterology Riverside Medical Center |
John J. Sim, MD (2012) Nephrology Los Angeles Medical Center |
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| Lester D. Thompson, MD (2018) Pathology Woodland Hills Medical Center |
Neal M. Lonkey, MD (2011) Obstetrics-Gynecology Orange County Medical Center |
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| Gary W. Chien, MD (2017) Urology Los Angeles Medical Center |
Malcolm G. Munro, MD (2010) Obstetrics-Gynecology Los Angeles Medical Center |
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| Gerald D. Levy, MD (2016) Rheumatology Downey Medical Center |
Maher Abbas, MD (2009) Surgery Los Angeles Medical Center |
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| Donald S. Fong, MD (2015) Ophthalmology Baldwin Park Medical Center |
Albert Yuh-Jer Shen, MD (2008) Cardiology Los Angeles Medical Center |
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| Robert S. Namba, MD (2014) Orthopedics Orange County Medical Center |
Michael Schatz, MD (2007) Allergy San Diego Medical Center |