Link: University of Iowa

Pilot Grant Program

Read important information below and visit our Pilot Grant Application website to apply for a grant. Link to Apply


Important Dates (2009-2010)


November 16, 2009      Invitation will be sent inviting PIs to submit a letter of intent

January 10, 2010      Letter of intent due

March 1, 2010      Pilot Grant applications due

June 1, 2010      Pilot Grant funding begins


Providing financial support for pilot grants is an important way of encouraging the expansion of clinical and translational research into new areas and attracting scientists to the field. These grants allow researchers to undertake preliminary and "proof of concept" studies with the goal of developing grant proposals for external funding. The funds to support these projects flow through the Pilot and Collaborative Translational and Clinical Studies Key Function's grant research resource.


The Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) views such pilot grant opportunities as absolutely vital to the transformation of clinical and translational research at The University of Iowa. Therefore, this key function's goals foster innovation, accelerate clinical and translational research, and encourage both developing and established investigators to commit to careers in clinical and translational research.


Our objectives include:

  • providing access to pilot funding for both junior investigators and established scientists seeking to redirect their research efforts toward collaborative translation research;
  • supporting innovative proposals with a high level of risk and potential reward;
  • supporting the acquisition of new technology and expertise applicable to clinical and translational science;
  • maximizing the potential success of pilot grantees by providing access to state-of-the-art resources, technology, methodologies, infrastructure cores and expertise; and
  • encouraging new collaborations and new interdisciplinary research.

Pilot Grant Background


Clinical research includes

  • Patient-oriented research involving mechanisms of human disease, therapeutic interventions, clinical trials, or development of new technologies
  • Epidemiologic and behavioral studies
  • Outcomes research and health services research

Translational research is defined as

  • The application of discoveries generated during research in the laboratory and in preclinical studies to the development of trials and studies in human subjects
  • Research aimed at enhancing the adoption of best practices in the community

Pilot Grant Attributes


  • $50,000 pilot grants will be funded for one year.Investigators are encouraged to take advantage of ICTS core resources, which substantially increase the effective value of these awards.
  • Both hypotheses-driven and hypothesis-generating proposals will be considered. It is expected that hypothesis-generating proposals will be either "high-risk/high reward" or will be directed towards establishing methodologies that are necessary to accomplish subsequent research.
  • No UI faculty salary or meeting travel will be supported.
  • Pilot grant recipients are required to submit reprints of manuscripts that result from pilot grant projects and to report graduate theses, grants, and contracts that emanate from work supported through the pilot grant program
  • Publications that result from the pilot grant program, in whole or in part, must recognize support of the Institute's Pilot Grant Program.
  • Approval by the UI IRB may be obtained after an award is made, but in all cases IRB approval will be required prior to commencing the work.
  • Pilot grant recipients are expected to participate in and present their study findings at the ICTS Research Seminar.

Eligibility


The Pilot Grant Program is open to full-time University of Iowa clinical or tenure-track faculty members, research scientists and trainees. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have adequate protected time to carry out their proposed studies.

Priority will be given to individuals in the following areas:

  • Training and Development:
    • Trainees who are being mentored by established investigators and/or are in a formal training program.
    • Junior investigators who have established collaborations with investigators and/or mentors.
    • Junior investigators who are beginning to develop research independence and who appear nearly ready to apply for external funding.
  • Synergy:
    • New collaborations between investigators from different disciplines, especially between basic and clinical investigators.
    • New collaborations between community-based and academic investigators.
  • New Paradigms:
    • A new research direction for an established outstanding investigator that represents a fundamental shift of his or her current research program.
    • A proposal representing a high-risk/high-reward investigation from an established outstanding investigator.

Application Process


The application process involves two steps. The first step involves submitting your 1 page letter of intent and Biosketch. If your letter of intent has been accepted, you will be invited to submit a full proposal. Proposals are submitted electronically. Page limits are specified to single-spaced, Arial 11-point font. The criteria for submitting a full proposal is included in the chart below.


Page Limit Section
1 Cover Page (Title, Investigators, Affiliations, and Abstract)
5 Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Studies (if any), Experimental Design and Methods
As Needed Human Subject Issues
As Needed References
1/2 Discussion of Interdisciplinary Collaborations (if any)
1 Utilization of Institute Resources
1/2 Potential for Future Grant Support
2 Detailed Budget and Justification
1/2 Mentoring Plan (if applicable)
1 Letter of Support from Department Head or Executive Officer
As Needed Letter from Community Collaborating Institutions (if applicable)
1/2 Research Schedule and Milestones

Following review and the funding decisions, each principal investigator receives a notice of award or non-award accompanied by a synopsis of the review. In many cases, those who do not receive funding are encouraged to reapply in the next round. For funded projects, a University of Iowa grant account will be established in the amount of the award, with the principal investigator given control of those funds. Pilot grant funds are to be expended within 12 months. No requests for further support of a previously funded project will be granted.


More Important Information:


Contact Person


The Pilot and Collaborative Translational and Clinical Studies Key Function is directed by Dr. Joseph Zabner, Internal Medicine Vice-Chair of Translational Research and the Interim Division Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care. Please contact him by email with any questions or comments.