Pilot Project Program

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Abstract: The Pilot Project Program of the Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC) is key to multiple goals of the Center, including: establishing and developing new and novel research to expand translational environmental health sciences, supporting career development, attracting new Center members, strengthening existing areas of Center research, and promoting engagement between researchers and community partners to address identified needs. Two types of pilot project awards are offered on a bi-annual basis: Full Pilot Projects of up to $30K, and Mini Pilot Projects of up to $10K. Pilot Project applications are reviewed by a Standing Review Committee comprised of Center members with expertise ranging from epidemiology to basic science research. This committee includes both junior and senior faculty, the Director of Career Development Program and members with overlapping roles in the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). When necessary, additional reviewers from within or outside of URMC faculty serve as ad hoc members, providing additional relevant expertise or to alleviate conflicts of interest. The Community Engagement Core (CEC) and Integrated Health Sciences Facilities Core (IHSFC) foster research-community partnerships that may lead to Pilot Project proposals that are responsive to community concerns and opportunities. The Biostatistics Core provides consultation on Pilot Project study design and data analyses. All applications are read by the Director of the CEC, who works with PIs to enhance community engagement in ongoing research directions. Since the start of the current funding cycle, a total 48 Full Pilot Project applications and 29 Mini-Pilot applications were received. Of these, a total of 29 Full and 22 Mini-Pilot Projects have been awarded. Of the 51 applications that were awarded,15 were to junior faculty investigators, and 15 were awarded to non-Center members, of whom 7 have since become Center members. During the current funding cycle, approximately $993K has been allocated to Pilot Projects (both Full and Mini-pilots), which has resulted in approximately $15M (direct cost dollars) in new extramural funding. This is a notable return given not only the present extremely limited funding environment, but also considering that the most recently awarded pilot projects have not yet had sufficient time to mature into externally funded projects. Future directions include continuation of the Pilot Project Program to build new and strengthen existing areas of Center interdisciplinary and translational research, foster junior faculty career development, attract new Center members, and engage community partners. In addition, the Pilot Project Program plans to continue to lead and participate in new collaborative pilot projects with other NIEHS P30 Centers across the country.