Penn Faculty, Staff, and Students
Pilot and Seed Grants
Many of the SOM’s centers and institutes sponsor pilot and seed grant programs. Each of these programs has different deadlines; and these vary from year to year. Contact the individuals listed below for current information:
- Abramson Cancer Center Pilot Projects Program
- Cardiovascular Institute (CVI)
- Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Safety (CHIPS)
- Diabetes Research Center
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT)
- Penn Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases
- Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Penn Genome Frontiers Institute (PGFI)
- Robert Wood Johnson Health & Society Scholars Pilot Program
Abramson Cancer Center Pilot Projects Program
The Program is currently closed to submissions. Please check back in the Fall of 2012.
The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania will provide seed money grants up to $50,000 to University faculty members at any faculty level for innovative cancer research projects that have the potential for national peer-reviewed grant funding. Investigators who have already received peer-reviewed funding for their proposed projects will not be eligible for this award. However, investigators with new grants submitted to the NCI requiring a second submission (A1) are encouraged to apply for a pilot award. Investigators whose projects use Abramson Cancer Center Cores, involve significant new collaborations, and/or relate to the strategic priorities of the ACC are also encouraged to apply.
The Scientific Strategic Priorities are:
• Identification of factors in the tumor microenvironment that promote carcinogenesis and tumor growth
• Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells in solid tumors, and/or of understanding their interactions with the tumor microenvironment
• Evaluation of novel compounds that target pathways required for tumor maintenance in investigator-initiated human trials that validate target effects
• Identification of host genetic signatures and gene-environment interactions that predict cancer susceptibility and cancer outcomes
• Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying key behavioral cancer risk factors (e.g. obesity, tobacco, and physical inactivity) and/or development of novel interventions to modify these factors and prevent cancer
• Translation of evidence-based strategies for personalized risk assessment, prevention, and early detection into improved population health
Covered costs include faculty salaries, laboratory personnel costs, data management or research nursing support, laboratory supplies, animals, and small equipment; no travel or patient costs are allowed. Projects must have all necessary human subject or animal certifications to be eligible.
Cardiovascular Institute (CVI)
Periodically, generally in preparation for multi-disciplinary awards (PO-1’s, SCCORs, Roadmap initiatives), the Penn CVI leadership will issue Request for Proposals (RFPs) in order to generate strategically targeted preliminary studies required prior to, or in preparation for, an institutional application or award.
Any Penn faculty member working in the strategically-targeted area, or a closely related area, is encouraged to apply for this funding. These funds are not restricted to investigators with a track record of cardiovascular investigation. Applications from research scientists who have not historically focused their studies in cardiovascular science are encouraged to apply for funding.
The amount of available funding will vary depending upon the RFP, but generally range from $25,000 per year to $200,000 per year. The application process has been streamlined to encourage faculty members to apply for funding.
For more information, please visit the Penn CVI Business Office at http://www.med.upenn.edu/cvi/fiscal_admin.shtml
Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Safety (CHIPS)
CHIPS supports comparative effectiveness research and research designed to reduce human and system errors and thereby improve the outcomes for patients in hospital and ambulatory care settings.
In an effort to stimulate quality improvement and patient safety research within the Penn community, the Center offers grants of up to $10,000 to new investigators to conduct pilot studies in preparation for larger research projects. The awards provide new investigators with funds to obtain preliminary data regarding feasibility and methodology, effect sizes and findings relating to new research ideas relevant to healthcare quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness. Eligible pilot projects should be designed to collect sufficient preliminary data to enable the investigator to prepare a hypothesis-based proposal for future research funding.
To apply for pilot grant funding, please complete the CHIPS pilot grant application form and return it via email to crosset2@mail.med.upenn.edu.
Diabetes Research Center
Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program
The Diabetes Research Center (DRC) of the University of Pennsylvania is currently accepting applications for support to perform pilot and feasibility studies in diabetes and related endocrine and metabolic disorders.
The P&F program is particularly directed at new investigators and established investigators new to diabetes research. Established diabetes investigators pursuing high impact/high risk projects or projects that are a significant departure from their usual work are also eligible for support under the DRC P&F program. Applications are welcome from basic, clinical and translational investigators.
If human subjects will be participating in the proposed research, it will be necessary to submit an IRB approval letter. If animal research is being proposed, a copy of the IACUC approval letter is required. Approval may be pending at the time of application but funds will not be disbursed without these approval letters. Equipment, travel funds, and investigator salary are not permitted on this award.
Investigators who are currently in the first year of support through this P&F Program may reapply for an additional year of funding. Such continuation requests need to be carefully justified, however, and will be considered as a competing renewal application.
Eligibility
- All eligible investigators must have faculty appointments (at the commencement of the award) and be independent investigators.
- As the definition of faculty appointment varies, one is eligible for a P&F grant if they are eligible to submit an R01 as a PI at the start of the grant period.
- Applications are welcomed from basic, clinical and translational investigators.
- A second P&F grant on a separate topic is allowed for previous awardees (but only once and typically only for young investigators who demonstrated success as a result of their first P&F)
- A second year of funding is possible with demonstrated productivity. Support for a second year is not allowed if the applicant received external funding for the same project.
- Applicants must be US. citizens or have permanent visas.
Submission - Applications can now be submitted electronically. APPLY NOW
Your application will include the following:
- Cover page – includes abstract/project summary of up to 250 words
- NIH-formatted biosketch for PI and collaborators
- Budget and Budget Justification: – for one year, up to $50,000; 1 page only (equipment, travel, and PI salary are not permitted on budget)
- Grant body including specific aims, research strategy (significance, innovation, approach) and preliminary studies – up to 3 pages total
- References – 1 page only
- Status of Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for clinical studies or IACUC approval for animal use. If approvals are pending at the time of submission, they must be obtained before funding commences.
- If human subjects will be participating in the proposed research, an NIH Targeted / Planned Enrollment Table needs to be completed
- For Year 2 funding only: please include progress report and an NIH Inclusion Enrollment Report if human subjects were involved in your research.
- Submission is electronic. Please click the following link APPLY NOW
Grants will be reviewed by the DRC Pilot and Feasibility Review Committee and internal and external reviewers.
Funding level maximum is $50,000.
Current Award period: April 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014.
Post-Award Requirements
Once a grant is awarded, the responsibilities of successful applicants include involvement in the local diabetes community through seminar presentations and participation in local events of the diabetes research community, acknowledgement of Diabetes Center support in any publications emanating from the supported project, as well as progress reports and reporting of successful and independent grant applications resulting from the work supported by the DRC P&F grant.
- Awardees are required to inform the DRC in the event that the Pilot/Feasibility Project receives external funding during the project period.
- All awardees are asked to acknowledge the DRC support in all scientific posters, presentations and publications. Specific language is provided on the DRC website.
- Awardees may be invited to present a seminar at the weekly IDOM/DRC Seminar Series.
- All awardees must present a poster at the Annual Diabetes Spring Symposium in March
- A final progress report is due one month after the close of the project period. The one page report will contain a synopsis of scientific progress, a list of resulting collaborations, publications, and grants, and a description of the relationship of the project to Core usage.
- Awardees must report yearly for 5 years and every five years after on publications, grants, awards, patents and promotions on core utilization.
For additional information, please contact:
Melissa Reilly
Tel: 215-898-4365, Fax: 215-898-5408
e-mail: mereilly@mail.med.upenn.edu
OR
Dr. Doris Stoffers, Director
Pilot and Feasibility Grants Program
Tel: 215-573-5413, Fax: 215-898-5408
e-mail: stoffers@mail.med.upenn.edu
Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
TAPITMAT Transdisciplinary Awards Program in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
Application due date: Friday, December 7, 2012, at noon.
The Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT) invites proposals from ITMAT Members and ITMAT Associate Members in the Research Associate or Instructor A category. It is not too late to become a Member or an Associate Member if you would like to apply for the grant and meet membership criterion. If you are interested, please visit the membership section of our website (http://www.itmat.upenn.edu/membership.shtml) for details.
The proposals must center on the translational space – in terms of drug development, from proof of concept in cells or model systems through to mechanistic studies in humans or, in drug development, completion of dose selection in Phase II. Programs that plan to progress within that space and which deploy technologies and approaches conventionally segregated from each other within the traditionally boundaries of academic medicine will be especially favored. The proposals are due by December 7, 2012 for a proposal start date of February 1, 2013.
TAPITMAT Translational Biomedical Imaging Core
Application due date: Friday, December 7, 2012, at noon.
The Translational Biomedical Imaging Center (TBIC) was established under the
leadership of the ITMAT in part “to broaden and accelerate translational
imaging research through the development of a center to bring together
investigators with diverse backgrounds that contribute to various aspects of
imaging science and who share a vision of contributing to the advancement of
clinical medicine.” Among the approaches adopted by the TBIC to promote
the use of imaging technology to facilitate translational research are the
support of core facilities, collaborative imaging scientists, and
retreats/seminars. Building on this foundation, the TBIC announces a new
collaborative pilot grant program to help catalyze collaborations between
primary imaging scientists and primary biomedical/clinical researchers that
integrate novel imaging approaches to enhance translational science and
medicine.
These proposals require at least two Co-Principal Investigators, one investigator whose primary research focus is in imaging methodology development and another investigator whose research is focused on biomedical science. At least one of the co-principal investigators should have a primary appointment in the School of Medicine. The TBIC adopts a broad definition of imaging science and seeks proposals that focus on anatomic or functional imaging approaches that span from the microscopic to in vivo regimes. Proposals that include a broad range of imaging methods including image acquisition techniques, image analysis, imaging probe development will be considered. Funding will be based on scientific merit, potential downstream clinical impact and the likelihood that the project will generate independent funding to sustain the effort. Post-pilot award outcomes will be surveyed. The deadline for applications is December 7, 2012 for an award start date of February 1, 2013.
For additional information, please visit our website or contact Drs. Mitchell Schnall at mitchell.schnall@uphs.upenn.edu or James Gee at gee@mail.med.upenn.edu.
Penn Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases
Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program 2013 Competition
Application Instructions
Purpose and Research Focus
The purpose of Penn’s Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases is to unite investigators with interests in digestive and liver physiology and disease and to stimulate others in the biomedical community to enter this area of research. One of the most important aspects of this effort is the funding of Pilot/Feasibility Projects.
The Pilot/Feasibility Project should be related to the focus of the Center, which encompasses molecular studies on the biology or disease of the alimentary tract, pancreas, and liver. Relevant investigations include those in developmental biology, nutrition, regulation of gene expression, growth, differentiation and carcinogenesis, the biology of stem cells, molecular genetics, gene therapy, and immunology, including growth factors and cytokines.
Eligibility
All faculty members of the University scientific community who meet the eligibility requirements below are invited to submit proposals. Applicants must be a US. Citizen or have a permanent visa.
1. New investigators who have never held extramural support (R01, and P01).
2. Established investigators in other areas of biomedical research who wish to apply their expertise to a problem in digestive and liver disease.
3. Established digestive and liver investigators who wish to study an area that represents a significant departure from currently funded work.
4. Pilot project awardees are eligible for two years of funding; renewals are evaluated competitively.
Proposal Preparation
1. Submit a pdf via email to kimmeyer@mail.med.upenn.edu. Complete proposals due by Friday, April 12, 2013 in the Gastroenterology Division, 600 CRB/6140.
2. Format
- Cover page: includes abstract of up to 250 words and list of approved or pending IACUC/IRB protocols; see attached.
- NIH biographical sketch
- NIH other support
- Budget and justification: one year, $20,000; one page only
- Background, preliminary results, estimated core usage, research plan, and future directions; up to four pages total.
- Senior Investigators should indicate how this project represents a new direction in their research.
- References: one page only.
- Appendix: pertaining to preliminary data only, no reprints.
For additional information, please contact: Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases, tel: 573-4264, fax: 573-2024, email: kimmeyer@mail.med.upenn.edu.
Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders Program
PCMD Funds Available
We would like to introduce you to a new funding mechanism within our Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders. In short, if you have a recent summary statement from an NIH grant (eligible NIH mechanisms include all “R” grants such as R03, R21 and R01 and “P” grants such as P20, P50, P60 on their first submission – please inquire regarding eligibility of other proposal mechanisms) which requires you to run additional experiments, gather additional data, provide feasibility for an approach, or similar, we can provide small funds ($1,000-$15,000) with a very short turn-around time in order to allow you to complete these experiments and resubmit your proposal with the best chance of success. Requests for funding will be evaluated on a rolling basis and priority will be given to Assistant Professors with encouraging initial review priority scores better than ~30-35%. The format of the “Summary Statement Driven Funding Request”, which is limited to one page, is as follows.
- Name of PI (must be a PCMD member)
- Title of Project Request
- Specific Purpose of Request with Stated Outcome/Goal Referring Explicitly to the Summary Statement for Justification
- Research Design and Methods
- Budget with Brief Justification
In addition to the one page proposal, the PDF of the complete summary statement must be provided. Funding through this mechanism is available by submitting the one page proposal and summary statement to pcmd@mail.med.upenn.edu. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at pcmd@mail.med.upenn.edu.
Penn Genome Frontiers Institute (PGFI)
The Penn Genome Frontiers Institute provides support to PENN researchers in several ways, including providing funding opportunities for faculty and graduate students.
PGFI has funded research in strategic areas of the genome sciences. These pilot grants provide the means to pursue innovative, and often risky, ideas to the point that the investigators are able to apply for conventional funding mechanisms. Typically grants are awarded for one to two years, for up to $120,000.
For more information, please visit the PGFI website.
Robert Wood Johnson Health & Society Scholars Pilot Program
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars Program at the University of Pennsylvania (RWJF H&SSP at Penn) has set aside a Competitive Research and Education Fund to promote interdisciplinary research and education in population health at Penn. These funds will be used to help Penn faculty develop pilot projects which will attract external support for larger-scale studies, as well as new and innovative didactic material.
Please visit www.upenn.edu/rwjhssp for more information and further details.
For additional information, please contact Melissa Kulynych, Program Coordinator by telephone at (215)746-7744, fax (215)746-0397 or email mkulynyc@wharton.upenn.edu
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