Pilot Research Program

The purpose of the Pilot Research Program is to provide funds to investigators who show promise of developing a strong career in nonhuman primate biomedical research or who wish to add a nonhuman primate component to their existing research programs. The program is also open to investigators with established research programs using nonhuman primates who wish to develop substantially new research directions.

The Program will fund 2–4 pilot research projects per year depending upon receipt of meritorious applications, the availability of base-grant funds and resources to support the project. The direct cost for a single research project should not exceed $75,000 for no more than one year of support. No funds will be provided to cover facilities and administration (indirect) costs. No-cost extensions of up to one year will be permitted, with appropriate justification. Pilot research funds will not provide interim support for established projects or for any projects that have qualified for support from other sources.

Priorities for the TNPRC pilot funding will be given to research projects focusing on infectious diseases and/or how they may impact metabolic diseases including cardiovascular or CNS disease, diabetes, or other co-morbidities. AIDS-related applications should focus on NIH AIDS-related priorities including cure strategies, and effects of co-infection such as SIV/SHIV and TB co-infection, or comorbidities of SIV infection and cardiovascular, renal, and/or CNS diseases, etc. Preference will be given to proposals using existing NHP samples or animals already assigned to projects.

Pilot projects are typically exploratory or high risk / high impact rather than confirmatory, and only require preliminary data or results that are normally needed to obtain support from other sources of funding. The proposed study must have the potential to lead to a robust research grant application to outside funding agencies.

Investigators must be beyond the postdoctoral rank and must be based at a nonprofit academic or research institution. If the applicant is not a TNPRC Core Staff member, a Core Staff Scientist must sponsor him or her. The overall purpose of the project must contribute to the objectives of the Center’s research programs, and the projects themselves must have the potential to lead to an extramurally funded grant application. The proposal must be substantially different from the applicant’s funded projects. A Core Staff Scientist must assume responsibility for the overall management, coordination and reports concerning the project. In general, all major activities related to the approved project must be conducted and carried out on-site at the Center. 

Grant submission procedures and review criteria