Family Medicine Discovers Rapid Cycle Scientific Discovery and Innovation (FMD RapSDI)
Family Medicine Discovers Rapid Cycle Scientific Discovery and Innovation (FMD RapSDI) is a signature primary care research program funded by the AAFP Foundation in collaboration with the DARTNet Institute.
Research is an integral element of family medicine, and we are dedicated to the on-going development and advancement in the field of family medicine. Family Medicine Discovers joins our other signature programs in moving the specialty forward through meaningful research.
Rapid Cycle Scientific Discovery and Innovation
This program is a collaboration funded by the AAFP Foundation in partnership with the DARTNet Institute. RapSDI builds research capacity for family medicine by awarding practicing family physicians with the opportunity to:
Research patient-inspired and clinical questions that arise from issues in family medicine
Build research capacity skills
Partner with a mentor on a topic of importance in creating practice improvements
Two scholars will be selected annually and receive up to $40,000 to create new evidence for “what works” in real-world primary care settings.
How FMD RapSDI Works
FMD RapSDI supports short-term innovative and high-impact research projects led by practicing family physicians. No previous research experience is required. Physicians selected as FMD RapSDI Scholars will serve as Principal Investigators for their projects and will receive support and mentorship from the DARTNet Institute staff to develop and refine a research protocol, perform project activities, and conduct data analysis. Scholars have the opportunity to participate in one or more research conferences/meetings and author a manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal.
Two practicing family physicians will be selected as 2026 FMD RapSDI scholars. Each scholar receives a $40,000 grant for project associated costs and/or to offset time/salary required to conduct research. The AAFP Foundation does not provide grant funds for indirect or overhead costs, including facility and administration costs.
RapSDI Application
The 2026 FMD RapSDI application is now closed. Application submissions are divided into two competitive rounds. All complete Round 1 submissions will be reviewed, and four finalists will be selected and invited to participate and submit a Round 2 application. Round 1 decision notifications will be sent in May 2026.
If invited to submit for Round 2, selected applicants will work with a mentor to develop a more traditional research plan and budget. If an applicant has not identified a mentor at the time of application, they will be matched with a DARTNet Institute staff member and/or outside research mentor. Round 2 applications are due September 22, 2026.
RapSDI Eligibility
AAFP member
Practicing family physician
Any stage of career, post-residency
Willing to serve as Principal Investigator (PI) of proposed project over 12-month timeline
Preference will be given to qualified applicants with no/little previous research experience.
Topic or clinic-inspired question should be relevant to family medicine, and generalizable or scalable.
Project scope feasible to achieve in less than 12 months and within available budget ($40,000).
RapSDI Scholar Deliverables
Complete project/intervention as outlined in proposal submitted during Round 2 application.
Prepare brief quarterly reports due March and June, Sept., and Dec. of the project cycle year.
Write a final report, which may be in the form of a manuscript for a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Present a research poster or presentation on project results at an appropriate meeting or conference.
Allow AAFP to feature Scholar and project in promotions for FMD RapSDI.
Participate in 1-3 professional development activities as appropriate for Scholar’s career goals.
The RapSDI Program is proud to introduce past FMD RapSDI Scholars. Learn more about the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 scholars.
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 Scholars
Dr. Boris Bayerman, DO: Assess the impact of a virtual self-management education course on symptom and quality of life measures for adults living with Long COVID.
Dr. Eric Kramer, DO, MPH: Assess the feasibility of utilizing wearable fitness trackers and AI delivered text messaging of self-management education and support for adults with type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Lauren Ciszak: Medically Tailored Meal Kits as a Means of Decreasing ED Visits and Hospitalizations in Primary Care Patient with Chronic Disease.
Dr. Vijay Singh: Adapting Evidence-Based Male Intimate Partner Violence Perpetuation Interventions for use by Family Medicine Clinics and Patients.
Dr. Iman Majd MS, L.Ac: Feasibility of implementing and evaluating group Auricular Acupuncture (AA) for chronic pain management in a primary care setting
Dr. Sanjay Batish, FAAFP: Can the SaFETy score predict an adolescent-young adult’s gun violence exposure over a six-month period when conducted in a non-urban primary care setting?
Capt. Dr. Michael Arnold: Does patient-applied anesthetic prior to intrauterine device (IUD) insertion reduce procedural pain and difficulty?
Dr. Allene Whitney: Can care delivery strategies developed during the COVID-19 pandemic be utilized to increase prenatal care engagement in our community among pregnant women with substance use disorders?
Dr. Christopher Oh: Can previously established penicillin oral challenge protocols be safely and effectively implemented in primary care clinics?
Dr. T.M. Ayodele Adesanya: Can financial coaching through a medical-financial partnership improve overall, cardiometabolic, mental, and financial health (compared to a financial education booklet control group)?
The AAFP Foundation’s Signature Research Program Podcast
Emily Holwick dives into the AAFP Foundation's Family Medicine Discovers RapSDI Program alongside guests Sanjay Batish, MD, FAAFP and Christina M. Hester, PhD, MPH, Vice President of Research, DARTNet Institute to discuss how the program empowers family physicians to engage in impactful research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I propose more than one topic or idea?
An applicant can submit multiple topics, but each idea/topic must be submitted in a separate application. Applicants can submit a maximum of three topics/questions. The personal statement in each application should match the idea/topic. If more than one topic is submitted, each question must be distinct and unique from the other questions (i.e. questions can't be similar with a different practice settings.) If you have questions about this, contact program staff at RapSDI@DARTNet.info.
Do I need to be an AAFP member to apply?
Applicants must be an AAFP member. A membership number is required to submit application. Learn how you can join the AAFP.
If I am graduating from residency in June 2026 am I eligible to apply for this round of FMD RapSDI?
No, you must be a practicing family physician at the time of your Round 1 application in order to be eligible to apply to the first round.
Do I need to identify a research mentor in Round 1?
No, you do not need to identify a research mentor in Round 1. Application reviewers will not see responses to this question during the Round 1 selection phase. This question is included in the application to help the FMD RapSDI assemble a mentorship team for the four candidates that advance to Round 2. If you do not have someone to serve as a research mentor, the FMD RapSDI team will help identify researcher(s) to assist you in developing an application based on topic and/or methods.
What is expected of my research mentor?
A research mentor will be asked to help refine and develop your research question, protocol, instruments, and budget. They will be asked to have regular meetings with you to discuss your research plan. They may also be asked to connect with FMD RapSDI staff on a monthly basis during the Round 2 application phase.
Email RapSDI@DARTNet.info for more information.
The AAFP Foundation strives to create a sense of belonging through an inclusive environment that embraces the family medicine community by recognizing individual uniqueness and contributions to family medicine.