The UK CCTS provides multiple types of pilot funding to catalyze collaborative, translational research. In partnership with disease-specific centers at UK and with academic medical centers around the country, we have provided more than 120 awards totaling $3.3 million, which have garnered $46.5 million in extramural funding, a return on investment of 14:1.
Our funding prioritizes multidisciplinary research and projects that focus on health disparities, particularly in Appalachia.
Funding Categories
Early Career Pilot Awards
This award is intended to support pilot studies by early stage investigators to obtain preliminary data for an extramural grant submission. This award is only open to investigators in the early stage of their career, or investigators who are transitioning into a new area. Applicants must identify a mentor to assist with the investigator’s training. A maximum of $25,000 will be awarded for a period of 18 months.
High Impact Pilot Awards
This award is for investigators at all stages of career development and is intended to stimulate innovation for pilot studies that will lead to extramural funding. A maximum of $50,000 will be awarded for a period of 18 months
Disease-Focused Pilot Awards
CCTS-Markey Cancer Center Collaborative Pilot Awards
Translational projects with a focus on Appalachian Eastern Kentucky will be given high priority. Potential studies could range from basic mechanisms that contribute to the high incidence of cancer in Appalachia to population-based cancer prevention and control studies. A maximum of $50,000 will be awarded for a period of 18 months.
CCTS-Sanders Brown Center On Aging Collaborative Pilot Awards
Studies that stimulate innovation and dynamic basic, translational, and/or clinical research relevant to both aging and Alzheimer's disease are encouraged. . A maximum of $50,000 will be awarded for a period of 12 months.
CCTS-Barnstable Brown Diabetes And Obesity Center Collaborative Pilot Awards
Applications are encouraged that address translational aspects of diabetes and/or obesity. A maximum of $50,000 will be awarded for a period of 18 months.
CCTS-Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Collaborative Pilot Awards
Applications are encouraged that address injuries to the spinal cord and brain that result in paralysis or other loss of neurologic function. A maximum of $50,000 will be awarded for a period of 18 months.
Inter-Institutional Collaborative Pilot Grants
Appalachian Translational Research Network Pilot Awards
The purpose of this funding mechanism is to fund pilot projects that support to strengthen development of sustainable partnerships between academic research and community stakeholders for translational research.
Western States Consortium Pilot Awards
The Western States Consortium consists of five institutions (University of Arkansas, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of New Mexico and University of Utah) that have received Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). Eligibility for this pilot funding application is limited to members of the institution's faculty, including early career or senior investigators across all title series. At least two of the participating CTSAs must be collaborating on each protocol, and projects must be approved at each CTSA in order to qualify for funding.
Community Engagement Pilot Awards
This award is for investigators at all stages of career development and is intended to support pilot studies founded on community-engaged research. A maximum of $25,000 will be awarded for a period of 18 months.
Learn more about the CCTS Community Engagement & Research Core.
Drug Development Awards
This award is intended to support new drug discovery and development research with the goal of augmenting the translation of scientific discoveries to therapeutic development. Specifically, the purpose is to assist in the transition from biology and target identification to clinical targets and to facilitate the transition of discovery through development and delivery to all phases of clinical trials and subsequent commercialization. A maximum of $50,000 will be awarded for a period of 18 months.
Learn more about the CCTS Drug Development & Discovery Core.
Education and Training Awards
The CCTS provides clinical and translational research career development training awards for faculty, (KL2 and Physician/Scientist Career Development Program), residents/fellows (TL1 and Physician/Scientist Career Development Program), predoctoral students (TL1), and professional students (TL1 and PSMRF).
Learn more about Education and Training Awards.
Multidisciplinary Value Program (MVP) Pilot Awards
The purpose of this funding mechanism is to provide a new opportunity and resources to support innovative, collaborative research projects with investigator initiated clinical studies that are developed by multi-disciplinary teams, inclusive of colleges and centers across UK. This initiative creates multiple teams bringing new discoveries to clinical care, creating a research, as well as an educational opportunity, for all learners to see first-hand how rapid approaches bring discovery and technology to patients. The MVP Program is supported by the UK CCTS, the UK College of Medicine, and the office of the UK Vice President for Research.
Small Grant Awards
Small grants of up to $5,000 are available to help strengthen applications for extramural research grants (for example, NIH R or K-awards or awards from private foundations).
Emphasis is given to applications that promote translational research on human conditions and involve a clinician in the investigating team (i.e. nurse, pharmacist, clinical social worker, etc.). Projects that do not directly involve human subjects must include a clear description of how those studies, if funded, will develop new knowledge that will lead to translational studies, and how such studies will have an impact on health and disease in Kentucky.
Community Partner Funding
Community Leadership Institute of Kentucky (CLIK)
The Community Leadership Institute of Kentucky is a leadership development training program offered by the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health, the Kentucky Office of Rural Health, and the UK CCTS Community Engagement and Research Program. The Institute is designed to enhance community research and capacity-building competencies in community leaders, directors, and administrators.
Community Mini-Grant Seed Funding
We provide competitive mini-grant awards (seed grants) to community partners to support community-oriented projects. We partner with recipients to provide oversight including financial management, human subjects advice, data collection, and protocol/conduct input.
Learn more about the CCTS Community Engagement & Research Core.
UK Internal Research Support Programs
Each year, the Office of the Vice President for Research hosts a series of workshops on various topics designed to help faculty accelerate their research activities. These include Faculty Support Grant Programs and Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs.
Learn more about UK Internal research Support Programs.
In the News
Contact
Joel Thompson, PhD
- Research Development Director & Pilot Funding Project Manager
- joel.thompson@uky.edu
