• #1 Junior Investigator Pilot:  Funding for early T3-T4 investigators who need pilot data to support a career development award or other early career award  ($20,000-$30,000)
• #2 Novel Idea Pilot:  Funding for T3-T4 investigators at any stage who need pilot data to provide justification for pursuing funding to launch a new and innovative idea (generally $30,000-$50,000 or higher).  Rarely, highly impactful and innovative proposals may be considered for funding at a higher level at the discretion of the Ergen Family Chair in Pediatric Outcomes Research (Chair).  Consideration for higher funding levels should be discussed prior to submission with the Chair.

If you have any questions about the suitability of your project for this T3-T4 funding mechanism, you are welcome to provide an overview of your proposal (one paragraph) to Dr. Allison Kempe who currently holds the Ergen Family Chair in Pediatric Outcomes Research.  She will provide input about whether the proposal falls into T3-T4 science category, but will NOT provide an evaluation about the quality of the project. 

The Pilot Grant Selection Committee will be convened to review all submitted proposals and funding decisions will be based on the results of their review.  In general, projects must be completed within a one-year period.  If they cannot be, the PI must apply for a no-cost extension and provide justification to the Chair.  The number of proposals selected for funding will be determined by the funds available for the given year.  The Chair will make all final decisions about funding.  A brief final report detailing the outcomes of the study and next steps will be required after the end of the study period.

Incomplete submissions and application materials that exceed the requested page limits will NOT be considered for review

• Importance of the topic for improving future pediatric healthcare.  Proposals with a focus on either highly prevalent or highly “costly” conditions (either financially or in morbidity) will be given priority. 
• Alignment of proposal with selected funding path
• Mentorship engagement with proposal (for junior faculty)
• Study design
• Innovation
• Study feasibility
• Potential for project to result in further funding, either to support career development or to support a new area of T3-T4 research
• Potential for project to contribute to evidence base/gap in literature

All application materials must be combined into a single PDF

Each applicant must include the below items in their full proposal submission:

• Cover Page (1 page) must detail the following:
  • Project title
  • PI name and contact information
  • Selected funding path
  • Primary Mentor name and contact information (for junior faculty seeking career development award)
  • Division Director and Department Chair

     

• Proposal (no more than 5, single-spaced pages, using font and size Arial 11, with 1” margins) must include description of the following:
  • Specific aims
  • Background
  • Significance (how the findings will address a gap in the literature; potential impact of topic for improving child health)
  • Preliminary studies (if applicable)
  • Detailed Methods
  • Analysis plan
  • Plans for seeking further funding sources and how the pilot funding will enhance likelihood of funding
  • Timeline (project generally should be completed within 1 year)
  • Description of key personnel
  • Tables and Appendices (optional, included in page count)
  • References/Citations (single-spaced and do NOT count towards the page limits)

     

• Draft Budget and Budget Justification (no more than 2 pages) must adhere to the following guidelines: 
  • Budget should NOT include overhead (indirect costs), salary for the PI or Primary Mentor, equipment for long term use (e.g. computers), or travel or publication costs
  • Budget will be evaluated on whether the resources are appropriate for the work proposed

     

• Biographical Sketches of Applicant & Primary Mentor (if applicable)
  • Use the standard NIH biosketch form and do not exceed five pages
  • Use the Personal Statement to describe how the proposed research agenda relates to and will help facilitate the investigator’s career path or how it will lead to future impactful research

     

• Letters of Support
  • Each Junior Investigator Pilot proposal must include a letter of support from the applicant’s primary mentor (no more than 2 pages). Additional letters should be included on an as-needed basis to support the feasibility and impact of the project (for example, if collaborating organizations are part of the proposal).  The primary mentor letter should include:
    • Mentor’s research experience and skills in relation to the proposal
    • How the mentor will supervise the PI including plans for communication and meeting
    • Institutional support for the proposed research (e.g. in-kind resources, infrastructure to support the young investigator and the proposed research project, expenses not covered by the pilot)
  • Novel Idea Pilots must have included a LOS from a senior investigator in a field relevant to the proposal that supports the potential impact of the proposed work.  Additional letters should be included on an as-needed basis to support the feasibility and impact of the project (for example, if collaborating organizations are part of the proposal).  Any institutional support for the proposed research should be discussed.