About the Regional Research Committee
The Regional Research Committee includes (front row) Dr. Vivienne Hau, Dr. Rachid Elkoustaf, Dr. Bechien Wu, Dr. David Cohen, Dr. Ali Ghobadi, (back row) Dr. Emily Whitcomb, Dr. Armen Aboulian, Dr. Eugene Chu, Dr. Javed Sheikh, Dr. Mingsum Lee, Dr. Conrad Liang, and Stephanie Tovar
The Regional Research Committee receives Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Community Health funding to review proposals and allocate resources 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
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. The award duration is one year, with a budget of up to $55,000 in research support. 2. RRC-KPSOM Research Program Development Grant – Open to SCPMG physicians who are are KPSOM faculty only. The award duration is one year, with a budget of up to $75,000 in research support. Funding cycle: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 Earliest start date: July 1, 2025 |
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| Letter of Intent Due | Proposal Development | RRC Proposal Due | RRC Review Meeting | Award Notice |
| Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 Deadline: 11:59 p.m. |
Feb. 28 – March 24, 2025 | Friday, March 24, 2025 Deadline: 11:59 p.m. |
Thursday, May 1, 2025 | Friday, May 30, 2025 |
| Fall funding opportunities: 1. Traditional Grant – Open to all. The award duration is one year, with a budget of up to $55,000 in research support. Funding cycle: Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2026 Earliest start date: Jan. 1, 2026 |
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| Letter of Intent Due | Proposal Development | RRC Proposal Due | RRC Review Meeting | Award Notice |
| Friday, July 18, 2025 Deadline: 11:59 p.m. |
July 18 – Aug. 22, 2025 | Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 Deadline: 11:59 p.m. |
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 | Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 |
For assistance, email Regional-Research-Committee@kp.org
RRC Proposal Submission Calendar 2025
RRC Funding Opportunities
The Regional Research Committee is seeking letters of intent for potential research proposals to be reviewed for the spring funding cycle. 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-KP School of Medicine (KPSOM) Research Program Development Grant. Please view 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, per-diem physicians, and full-time staff in the Department of Research & Evaluation and other regional departments are not eligible.
RRC-KPSOM Research Program Development Grant: Open to SCPMG physicians who are KPSOM 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. 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. There is a one-year statute of limitation after the funding end date to submit a manuscript for publication.
- RRC Traditional Grant: The award duration is one year, with a budget of up to $55,000 in research support.
- RRC-KPSOM Research Program Development Grant: The award duration is one year, with a budget of up to $75,000 in research support.
Interested applicants should only apply for one grant. The deadline to submit a letter of intent for the spring cycle is Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. To access the letter of intent template, select one of the links below.
- Traditional Grant Letter of Intent (Open to all)
- RRC-KPSOM Research Program Development Grant (Only open to SCPMG physicians who are KPSOM faculty.)
Terms and conditions of award
The total funding period for each award is one year. The funding period is fixed; there is no opportunity for an extension in funding and funds may not carry over beyond the funding period. Reasonable travel expenses, necessary to the conduct of the project, are allowed. Funds for books, software, medical devices, 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.
Javed Sheikh, MD, is 2024 Physician Researcher of the Year. He is the vice area research chair for Los Angeles on the Regional Research Committee and chief of Allergy and Immunology at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. He has significantly advanced medical research and clinical care. Dr. Sheikh has published over 50 research articles and influenced national asthma guidelines, while mentoring numerous residents and fellows. Read more about Dr. Sheikh.
Previous Researchers of the Year
| Michael Fassett, MD (2023) Maternal-Fetal Medicine West Los Angeles/Kern County |
Gary W. Chien, MD (2017) Urology Los Angeles Medical Center |
Neal M. Lonkey, MD (2011) Obstetrics-Gynecology Orange County Medical Center |
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| William Towner, MD (2022) Infectious Diseases Los Angeles Medical Center |
Gerald D. Levy, MD (2016) Rheumatology Downey Medical Center |
Malcolm G. Munro, MD (2010) Obstetrics-Gynecology Los Angeles Medical Center |
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| John K. Nguyen, MD (2021) Obstetrics-Gynecology Downey Medical Center |
Donald S. Fong, MD (2015) Ophthalmology Baldwin Park Medical Center |
Maher Abbas, MD (2009) Surgery Los Angeles Medical Center |
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| Shireen Fatemi, MD (2020) Endocrinology Panorama City Medical Center |
Robert S. Namba, MD (2014) Orthopedics Orange County Medical Center |
Albert Yuh-Jer Shen, MD (2008) Cardiology Los Angeles Medical Center |
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| Brian S. Lim, MD (2019) Gastroenterology Riverside Medical Center |
Jashin J. Wu, MD (2013) Dermatology Los Angeles Medical Center |
Michael Schatz, MD (2007) Allergy San Diego Medical Center |
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| Lester D. Thompson, MD (2018) Pathology Woodland Hills Medical Center |
John J. Sim, MD (2012) Nephrology Los Angeles Medical Center |
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