The Ergen Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Outcomes Research Pilot Program is committed to supporting investigators pursuing careers in research and academic medicine who conduct T3-T4 translational science focused on improving the health and well-being of children. T3-T4 science emphasizes translating evidence into real-world practice to improve the quality, delivery, and timeliness of healthcare and to enhance health outcomes for individual patients and populations. This includes research in health services, outcomes, dissemination and implementation, and pragmatic clinical science. Funding priority will be given to projects with the greatest potential to improve child health, particularly those focused on preventing disease, optimizing healthcare delivery, and promoting lifelong health and well-being.
Applicants must:
Projects should:
Funding Pathways
The Ergen Family Chair Pilot Program offers two funding pathways designed to support investigators at different stages of research development.
1. Junior Investigator Pilot Award
Designed for early-career investigators developing an independent pediatric T3-T4 research program. The primary purpose is to generate preliminary data to support career development awards, such as K awards, or other early-stage external funding. The award provides 1 year of funding up to $30,000.
2. Novel Idea Pilot Award
Designed to support innovative pediatric T3-T4 research. The primary purpose is to generate preliminary data for a new research direction with strong potential for future external funding. The award provides 1 year of funding up to $50,000. Applicants for this mechanism must submit a Letter of Intent and receive permission from the Chair to submit an application. The letter should contain 1-2 paragraphs explaining the novel pilot idea, with a special focus on why it is novel and how it will accelerate real-world advancements in pediatric healthcare. Letters should be emailed to Dr. James Feinstein, who currently holds the Ergen Family Chair in Pediatric Outcomes Research.
The required application documents must be submitted as a single PDF in the order listed below. Applications should be prepared using Arial 11-point font, single-spaced, with 0.5-inch margins and no headers or footers. Applications that do not comply with the specified formatting requirements or exceed page limits may not be reviewed. Once submitted, applications are considered final.
| Required Documents | Instructions |
| Cover Letter (1 page maximum) | Include: - Principal Investigator Name and Credentials - Section/Division - Department/School - Email Address and Phone Number - Project Title - Selected Funding Pathway - Department Financial - Administrative Contact and Email - Co-Investigator(s), if applicable - Primary Mentor Name and Contact Information (Junior Investigator Pilot only) - Study Site(s) - Lay Summary (4–5 sentences): Provide a plain-language summary of the proposed research that can be understood by a general audience. Avoid technical jargon and briefly describe the pediatric health problem being addressed, the proposed approach, why the project is important, and the potential impact on improving child health outcomes. |
| Applicant Curriculum Vitae (CV) | Submit the applicant's current curriculum vitae. There is no page limit. |
| Applicant NIH Biographical Sketch (5 page maximum) | Submit a current NIH biosketch. Applicants should use the Personal Statement to describe how the proposed research aligns with their long-term research agenda and how this pilot award will facilitate career development and future impactful research. |
| Primary Mentor NIH Biographical Sketch (5 pages maximum) | Required for Junior Investigator Pilot applications only. Submit a current NIH biosketch. |
| Specific Aims (1 page maximum) | Clearly state the overall objective, central hypothesis (if applicable), and specific aims. Explain how the proposed work advances child health research through health services research, outcomes research, dissemination and implementation science, pragmatic clinical research, or prevention. |
| Research Plan (6 pages maximum) | Include: Background and Significance (1-1.5 pages recommended); Innovation (0.5 pages recommended); Approach (3-4 pages recommended); References (not included in page limit). Background and Significance: Describe the current scientific understanding of the research topic, rationale, gap in knowledge or practice, significance to child health, potential impact, alignment with the Ergen program, and preliminary studies if applicable. Innovation: Describe what is novel and how the work could improve pediatric health outcomes, healthcare delivery, policy, or prevention. Approach: Describe study design, methodology, recruitment (if applicable), data collection, analysis plan, expected outcomes, potential challenges and alternative strategies (if appropriate), project timeline (generally completed within one year), key personnel, and plans for future external funding, including how the pilot will enhance competitiveness. References: May be single-spaced and do not count toward the page limit. |
| Budget and Budget Justification (2 pages maximum) | Clearly outline project expenses and provide a written justification for each category. Budgets may not include indirect costs, salary support for the PI or Primary Mentor, equipment for long-term use, travel, or publication costs. |
| Applicant's NIH Other Support Document | All applicants must use the NIH Other Support format. Click here for NIH instructions. The form does NOT need to be electronically signed. |
| Letters of Support – Junior Investigator Pilot (2 pages maximum) | Include a Primary Mentor Letter of Support describing the mentor's expertise, mentoring plan, institutional support, and resources available beyond the pilot award. Additional letters may be included as needed. |
| Letters of Support – Novel Idea Pilot (2 pages maximum) | Include a Letter of Support from a senior investigator with expertise relevant to the proposal addressing the scientific merit and potential impact of the project. Additional letters may be included as appropriate. |
The Ergen Pilot Grant Selection Committee will be convened to peer review all submitted proposals and funding decisions will be based on the results of their review. Applications will be scored using standard NIH Simplified Peer Review Framework criteria. 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.
Funding priority will be given to projects that:
Awardees are expected to:
Letter of Intent for Novel Idea Pilots due to Chair
Chair will invite applications deemed eligible for Novel Idea Pilots
Application Forms for all pilot submissions due by 5:00 PM Mountain Time
Applicants may receive requests for additional information in this time window
Earliest notification of award
Start of Award Funding (may be adjusted with permission of the Chair)
The Ergen Family Endowed Chair
James Feinstein, MD, MPH holds the Ergen Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Outcomes Research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado. A nationally recognized pediatric medication safety researcher, Dr. Feinstein's work focuses on translating research into real-world improvements for children and their families.
