Pilot Projects Program

Our Call for Pilot Project Proposals is now closed, and Letters of Intent are currently under review for Round 8. Applicants were notified on September 1, 2023, and full applications are due on November 1, 2023.

Pilot Project Awards provide one year of seed funding for initiation of preclinical, clinical, or translational research that has the potential to impact health or healthcare in our region. Advance your careers with research & professional development support through our Pilot Projects Program!

ABBREVIATED TIMELINE FOR APPLICATION PROCESS

6/30 - Call for Letters of Intent opens

7/14 - General Information Session on Application Process

8/01 - Letters of Intent deadline

9/01 - Acceptance notification/invitation to submit full proposal application

9/29 - Q&A Workshop for applicants on budget and other forms

11/01 - Full application submission deadline

2/26/24 - Recommendations for Funding Announced

3/08/24 - Meeting w/Project Leads who are recommended for funding (to discuss next steps, regulatory approvals, etc)

6/15/24 - Regulatory approvals and other JIT materials due

7/01/24 - Intended Project Start Date, subject to regulatory and NIGMS approval

 

About the NNE-CTR Pilot Project Awards

  • Pilot Project Awards provide one year of seed funding for initiation of preclinical, clinical, or translational research that has the potential to impact health or healthcare in our region.
  • We encourage proposals that involve collaborations between institutions, specialties, and communities.
  • All PIs on the application must be registered with the NNE-CTR. (Need to become a member? Learn more about membership and sign up here!)


Click here for Application Materials and How-To Guides

Special Funding Announcement:

The Gund Institute/NNE-CTR Joint Catalyst Award (JCA)

The Gund Institute for the Environment and the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network (NNE-CTR) have joined forces to offer a $100,000, two-year award for research at the intersection of rural health and the natural environment. This collaboration is aimed at better understanding how environmental concerns relate to human health. The Gund Institute and the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network (NNE-CTR) are the co-conveners of this Joint Catalyst Award.

The JCA follows the same timeline and review process as the NNE-CTR Pilot Projects but will have separate and distinct application documents and criteria. Link HERE for the full announcement, eligibility requirements and instructions for submitting the Letter of Intent.

The application process is now closed.  If you have been invited to submit a full proposal, we stand ready to provide you with guidance and support in developing your application.  During the course of developing your LOI, please feel free to contact us for assistance in identifying collaborators to reinforce your initiative, and for assistance in developing your concept.  To get started, please contact: Sheila Clifford-Bova, Administrative Program Manager, NNE-CTR.

What We Do

Our Pilot Projects are designed to stimulate new collaborations and multidisciplinary partnerships between laboratory scientists, physician investigators, and rural practitioners looking to begin a career in clinical and translational research. We provide funding and professional support for clinical and translational research, from project development through completion, for NNE-CTR members. Our core leads play a pivotal role in assisting investigators throughout the Pilot Project cycle, such as:

  • Serving as your first point of contact for inquiries about the program
  • Connecting you with one of our experienced Research Navigators to help guide you through ideation, design, application process, IRB & IACUC process, and the actual project itself
  • Monthly check in meetings between awardees and our core leads and navigators to ensure you are progressing smoothly
  • Arranging research progress presentations for awardees to present to our core leads and navigators
  • Collection of data throughout the process to produce a final report and analysis for the Administrative Core
  • Connecting you to other NNE-CTR initiatives as appropriate

 

Our Team

RobKoza pic_tif (002)Rob Koza
MaineHealth
Core Lead

Janet Stein headshot

Janet Stein, PhD
University of Vermont
Core Co-Lead
email

How to Apply:

Access application materials, examples, and guidelines on our application page.

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Meet Past Awardees:

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Questions?

Please email us with any questions or for assistance accessing services.

Become a Member

Applicants are required to register as NNE-CTR members in order to be eligible for a pilot award. Learn more about the free benefits of membership, and join today!

NNE-CTR Pilot Project Information Session 7/14/2023

Click the link above to view the Pilot Project Information Session hosted by Core Leads Dr. Rob Koza and Dr. Janet Stein. Interested pilot project applicants attended to learn about the Pilot Project Proposal Process, requirements and tips for submitting a Letter of Intent, and some of the eligibility requirements and budgetary guidelines involved in our pilot project process.

 

NNE-CTR Pilot Project Navigator Training Session 8/2023

Click the link above to view the Pilot Project Navigator Training Session hosted by Core Leads Kimberly Luebbers and Susan Santangelo. The session focuses on the regulatory requirements involved in pilot project grants (based on NIH guidelines), and is beneficial both to our NNE-CTR navigators and analysts as core service providers to our members, but also to pilot project applicants if they want to learn more about the application requirements.