CU DRC Pilot and Feasibility Program

CU DRC Pilot and Feasibility Program

The CU DRC Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) Program provides critical seed funding to support innovative diabetes research spanning basic, translational, clinical, and health disparities domains. Focused on Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes and their complications, the program aims to accelerate the development of promising early-career investigators, as well as established investigators who are new to diabetes research, and to foster novel, high-impact projects that advance understanding and treatment of diabetes. By offering up to $50,000 per year for up to two years, the CU DRC P&F Program enables researchers to generate preliminary data, establish interdisciplinary collaborations, and build competitive research programs within the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and affiliated institutions.


Purpose

The CU DRC P&F Program aims to accelerate diabetes research by funding promising scientists across basic, translational, clinical, and health disparities research focused on Type 1, Type 2, or Gestational Diabetes and their complications. The program is a key strategy for recruiting and training early-career diabetes researchers and supporting innovative research directions.


Funding and Duration

  • Up to $50,000 per year, for a maximum of two years ($100,000 total).
  • Initial funding is for one year; a second year is contingent on satisfactory progress in year one.


Eligibility

  • Applicants must be full-time faculty (MD, MD-PhD, PhD, DO, or PharmD) at CU Anschutz Medical Campus or DRC-affiliated institutions.
  • Faculty appointment must be held by the award start date.
  • Priority is given to early-career investigators (junior faculty).
  • Early-career investigators with NIH K, R21, R03, or career development/young faculty awards from JDRF, ADA, or AHA are encouraged to apply.
  • Not eligible: Those who currently hold or have previously held NIH R01, VA Merit, DOD Project Award, or equivalent as PI for diabetes-related research.
  • Established investigators may apply if:
    • They are new to diabetes research, or
    • They propose innovative, high-risk projects not competitive for standard grants (priority for interdisciplinary projects). Prior major awards are allowed if not in diabetes or related to the proposed project.

Funding Support

  • Project costs only; no subcontracts or tuition.
  • Limited PI salary support is available per project
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