The Pilot/Feasibility Projects (P/FP) are key components of Core activities. The goal of this program is to provide seed money for projects, eventually leading to successful competition for funding at the national level. The P/FPs provide $10,000-$25,000, typically given each year to up to four investigators/projects. Alternatively, up to $50,000 can be awarded for collaborative projects between a new investigator and a more senior investigator (#2 under Eligibility below). There is no requirement for permanent residence status or US citizenship. Preference is given to young investigators (see criteria of eligibility below); funding is usually for one year. All recipients of P/FP project funding are required to submit a yearly update on their progress for five years and formal presentation of progress after the 2nd year.
Pilot Project applications are due on April 1, 2020. Funding begins July 1, 2020.
ELIGIBILITY
Four groups of JHUSOM investigators are encouraged to apply.
- New investigators, who have never held extramural NIH support other than a K or R03 award and have not been PIs on R, P or U grants, are the preferred group for funding. Those with MD, PhD or MD/PhD are eligible and applicants should be junior faculty or will be junior faculty at the start of this funding.
- New investigators (as in #1 above) can apply in collaboration with a more senior investigator as co-principal investigator. These awards can be up to $50,000. These funds may be shared between the investigators, for example, if the senior PI contributes specialized reagents, access to unique instruments, or licensed software. A detailed budget is required for these applications, and a majority of the funds should be designated to the junior investigator.
- Established investigators who are interested in entering the GI field and initiate the GI-related projects.
- GI investigators who are starting a new, innovative project that represents a significant departure from their on-going, funded research.
