Pilot Projects Program

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PROGRAM SUMMARY/ABSTRACT - STEM CELL AND AGING COBRE PILOT GRANT PROGRAM Building on the success of our Phase 1 and 2 COBRE program, we propose the Stem Cells and Aging (SCA) COBRE Pilot Grants Program with an objective to recruit promising teams of early-stage investigators by providing a funding mechanism for pilot projects and provide intellectual, technical and instrumental infrastructure. In Specific Aim 1, we will select teams of translational researchers (consisting of basic and clinical scientists, with at least one early-stage investigator) for 3 pilot project awards ($50,000 per year for 2 years and minimum of 6 awards for the duration of the program), with additional summer stipends for students from under- represented groups to enhance diversity. The request for proposals will focus on projects with high potential of translating basic research into clinical practice. In Specific Aim 2, we will provide structured, formal mentorship (provided by senior, extramurally-funded investigators) for participating early-stage basic- and clinician-scientist investigators focused on stem cell and aging research, regenerative medicine and age-related diseases to facilitate their transition to research independence with extramural funding. In Specific Aim 3, we will promote the utilization and sustainability of the SCA COBRE Core Facilities (developed in Phases 1 and 2, and including Flow Cytometry, Extracellular Vesicles, Lentiviral Construct Core Facilities) through their utilization in the pilot projects as well as through vouchers to affiliated scientists participating in the program. In the Specific Aim 4, we will provide post-award mentorship, advisory and grantsmanship services for program awardees, and synergize efforts to transform funded projects into competitive applications at the R01 or equivalent level. Emphasis will be placed on rigorous, reproducible science with analysis supported by expert biostatisticians guiding the participating researchers. The core of the program will rely on the work of the SCA Pilot Grants Program Steering Committee who will provide mentoring and oversight and engage (for identification of early-stage investigators, for review of the pilot awards, and expert mentorship) the community of researchers across the multi-institutional consortium encompassing Brow University (Center of the Biology of Aging, Brown and Lifespan Cancer Centers), the Warren Alpert Medical School, the clinical experts from the Lifespan healthcare/Rhode Island Hospital and from Care new England. By establishing a multidisciplinary scientific infrastructure providing access to state-of- the-art instrumentation and technologies, as well as rigorous mentorship, advising, review and outcome guidance, the Phase 3 SCA COBRE Pilot Grant Program will contribute to expansion and transformation the biomedical and educational landscape within Rhode Island, creating a premier national center for research on stem cell, aging, and regenerative medicine. We will evaluate the program using outcome measures that include number and quality of submissions (measured by review scores), mentor and investigator evaluations and diversity of applicants and success in securing extramural awards.