CNS-Met Pilot Projects

PILOT PROJECT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

THE CENTER FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH EXCELLENCE ON 

CNS Metabolism (CNS-Met) 

The NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) on CNS Metabolism, in collaboration with the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) announce the availability of limited funds to support pilot projects focused on researching the role of CNS metabolic mediators of brain function and disease. Emphasis for support will be placed on pilot projects that examine the relationship between CNS metabolism and neurological disease including but not limited to Alzheimer’s Disease, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, or CNS injury. The pilot grants are intended to assist investigators new to this area of research to generate sufficient data to be competitive for extramural funding. 

Funding Amount:

Individual projects are awarded on a competitive basis (up to $50,000/project in direct costs only). 

Eligibility:

Eligibility is limited to full-time regular, research, special, and clinical title faculty with appointments at the University of Kentucky. Junior faculty members are especially encouraged to apply.

All applicants are highly encouraged to meet with COBRE CNS-MET CORE Directors to establish project feasibility. Failure to do so might result in application rejection.

Investigators in training (this includes residents, post-doctoral fellows, and clinical fellows) are not eligible to serve as PIs but may be co-investigators.
 

Pilot Applications should include:
 

1. NIH format Biosketch
2. Abstract including project title (one page max).
3. Research Proposal (three pages max) The Research Proposal should follow standard NIH format, with a Specific Aims page followed by background/significance, preliminary data, and experimental approach (single-spaced using no less than 11-point Arial font and 1/2” margins).

Reference page is not included in the 3-page limit
 

If selected for funding the following will be needed within one month of award notification:
 

4. NIH budget form and justification.
5. IRB or IACUC approvals. Applicants do not need IRB or IACUC approvals to submit a pilot grant application, but necessary IRB or IACUC protocols should be in the submission process.  

Funds may not be awarded if required items 4 and 5 are not obtained in time.

See the CNS-Met website, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center | CNS-Met COBRE | University of Kentucky College of Medicine (uky.edu) for a description of the overall CNS-Met program. Please read the entire Pilot Projects page on the website (including the FAQ & the links to the latest NIH forms) for additional details to assist you in developing and submitting your proposal.

Submit your Full Application (1-3 above) as ONE single Word Document to Maj-Linda Selenica (maj-linda.selenica@uky.edu) COBRE Pilot Program Co-Director, and Mark Schwarcz (Mark.Schwarcz@uky.edu) COBRE Program Administrative Coordinator. 

For administrative questions, please contact Mark Schwarcz at (Mark.Schwarcz@uky.edu).