What’s New?

• Application and Review Process
  The new CCTS Pilot Funding Program has no set deadlines, funding parameters, or themes. You can apply any time with any project that meets the review criteria outlined below.
  
  Applications should be submitted via the CCTS Service Request Form. 
  
  Applications for funding of $5,000 or less will receive an expedited review; applications for more than $5,000 will be subject to a standard NIH-type study section assessment with the new CCTS Scientific Review Committee (SRC). The SRC will provide written feedback to the principal investigator, and meritorious applicants will be invited to 15-minute session addressing the committee’s feedback. Applicants will be informed immediately following this SRC session if their proposal will be funded, will not be supported, or if committee requests amendments to the proposal.
   
• Budget
  There is no set parameter for funding amounts. Proposed project budgets should be in line with the work proposed.  Budgets should describe CCTS services requested (i.e. participant recruitment, coordinator support, etc.) in addition to an estimate of non-CCTS services. For example, instead of getting a budget that includes the rate and the number of hours for a coordinator, simply include in your application you intend to recruit 20 participants.  If your application is meritorious, the CCTS will establish a credit for the amount of coordinator effort required for that recruitment.
   
• Project Periods
  The project period for funded proposals can be up to 36-months distributed in three twelve-month allocations. Projects will be evaluated annually. Only projects that demonstrate sufficient progress will receive continued funding.

Who is eligible to apply?

UK faculty and fellows are eligible. 

• One PI per study with co-investigators (mentors) listed
• One request per study, eligible for amendments

What are the review criteria?

Proposed studies must meet all the following criteria:                          

• Translational: ties findings directly to human health and/or develops insights that can improve research across settings or conditions

• Hypothesis driven or hypothesis generating specific research question(s)
• Pilot sized: smallest number of subjects or samples necessary to obtain preliminary data
• Involve human subjects, human tissue, human cell lines, and/or human information (e.g., medical records) and have application to human health

Investigators should consider one or more of the following criteria when developing the proposal:

• Will the project advance preliminary data for an important grant submission, e.g., an R01, P01, K23, SCCOR, etc.?
• Will this project promote the career of an early career investigator?
• Will the research likely result in a publication?
• Will the research improve translational research and/or translational science infrastructure?
• Will the project enhance our community outreach?
• Is the project multidisciplinary?