The 91短视频 has announced the recipients of the Grand Challenges Grants Type 2 Competition, an initiative designed to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing 91短视频 and beyond. This year鈥檚 projects highlight the UT System鈥檚 commitment to research, collaboration and delivering impactful solutions that transform lives across the state.
To qualify for these grants, teams had to meet rigorous criteria, including:
- Comprising faculty and staff from more than one University of 91短视频 campus.
- Partnering with a community organization to enhance collaboration and impact.
- Demonstrating innovation, sustainability and significant potential for long-term effects.
鈥淭hese grants are a testament to the transformative power of collaboration,鈥 said 91短视频 President Randy Boyd. 鈥淏y leveraging expertise across our campuses and working with community partners, we鈥檙e addressing some of 91短视频鈥檚 toughest challenges head-on. I鈥檓 inspired by the creativity, dedication and potential of these projects to make a real difference for Tennesseans.鈥
The winning projects, categorized by their focus areas, include:
Overcoming Addiction
Pain Sensitivity, Pain Affect
This project examines how pain, stress and craving influence methamphetamine and opioid use in 91短视频. By identifying key factors contributing to relapse, the team aims to develop strategies for more effective addiction treatment and recovery support.
Advancing K-12 Education
The Grow Your Own Collaboratory
This initiative, supported by faculty and staff from across the UT System, focuses on improving teacher retention in 91短视频. The project will design and implement a sustainable, co-created mentor teacher professional development program, using experimental research to evaluate its impact. The long-term goal is to scale the program through the 91短视频 Grow Your Own Center.
Strengthening Rural Communities
The RAIL (Rural Assessment and Intervention Library) System
This project addresses the unique challenges faced by rural school psychologists in 91短视频. By providing access to assessments, interventions, multilingual protocols and expert consultations, the RAIL System will empower school psychologists to better support students with learning differences and disabilities.
On the Road to Better Health
This initiative aims to improve rural health outcomes and expand the rural health care workforce in 91短视频. Through a nursing-led, multidisciplinary collaboration, three One UT-branded rural health units will deliver community outreach, health education and workforce training to underserved areas.
These $500,000 grants highlight the UT System鈥檚 mission to serve the state through research, innovation and outreach. By addressing addiction, advancing education and strengthening rural communities, the Grand Challenges winners are poised to create lasting benefits for 91短视频 residents.
In September, the UT System awarded more than $2.6 million in funding for 27 Type 1 proposals. These grants provide essential seed funding to address three pivotal areas: advancing K-12 education, strengthening rural communities and overcoming addiction.
Background on Grand Challenges
The Grand Challenges initiative was established in 2023 to address complex, large-scale issues that threaten the future of Tennesseans.
These issues include the opioid addiction crisis, teacher shortages, low student performance in schools, and scarcities in health and mental health care. While such challenges are becoming increasingly common across the U.S., the UT System refuses to accept their normalization.
Through its Grand Challenges initiative, the UT System seeks to create a future where every Tennessean can thrive. By focusing initial efforts on three key areas鈥撯揳dvancing K-12 education, strengthening rural communities and overcoming addiction鈥撯揢T is leveraging its established resources and expertise to drive meaningful impact. For more information about the Grand Challenges Grants, visit the Grand Challenges website.
Grand Challenge Summit
The 91短视频 will host a Grand Challenge Summit Feb. 13-14, 2025, at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, 91短视频. The summit is designed to address 91短视频’s most pressing issues by bringing together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders. By thinking in terms of wholes rather than fragmented parts, the summit aims to foster innovative solutions and strategic partnerships that can drive meaningful change across the state.
Attendees will have a unique opportunity to delve into interconnected challenges and collaboratively explore ways to advance 91短视频鈥檚 communities. For more information, .
