

PILOT TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE & MENTORED SCIENCE GRANT PROGRAM
ABOUT PILOT TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE & MENTORED SCIENCE GRANT PROGRAM
The CCTST Pilot Grant Program will support projects by established principal investigators, or by new/early stage investigators mentored by established investigators, focused on applying discoveries generated during research in the laboratory, and in preclinical studies, to the development of trials and studies in humans. The Program also promotes the establishment of new, innovative cores with a clear translational focus, to build a local or networked infrastructure.
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DETAILS & IMPORTANT DATES​​
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2nd Cycle: December 30, 2026 - December 30, 2027
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CTS Consultations: Prior to submission of the LOI, each applicant is advised to schedule a 30-minute consultation with the Pilot Program Directors or CCTST Co-Directors to confirm alignment with the new Translational Science focus.
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April 2026 Consult Dates To Be Determined - Coming Soon​
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NIH resources for assisting with Translational Science:
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APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
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Full Application Documents (Recently updated effective February 17, 2026)
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LOI/FULL APPLICATION SUBMISSION & CONTACT
LOIs and invited full applications must be submitted through the CCTST Competition and Awards Program Site (CCAPS). Log in using your UC (“6+2”) or CCHMC username and password. Click here for the CCAPS login guide. If you have questions about this grant mechanism, please contact Venois Peebles. If you do not have a UC or CCHMC username and password, please contact Jamie Tharrington.
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GRANT TYPES
There are two specific grant types within the Pilot Translational Science and Mentored Science Grants Program:
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Translational Science Grant (TSG): Supports established investigators seeking to conduct a novel translational science project. The funding period is limited to one year. The maximum allowable budget (direct costs) is $50,000. Applicants with more than $500,000 in total direct costs for all currently funded research will not be eligible to apply for this grant type.
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Mentored Translational Science Grant (MTSG): Supports new and early stage investigators seeking to conduct a novel translational science project. Important requirements of this grant mechanism are the inclusion of a clear letter of support from an established mentor and a detailed description of the Mentee’s training plan and interactions with the mentor. The funding period is limited to one year. The maximum allowable budget (direct costs) is $50,000. Applicants with more than $500,000 in total direct costs for all currently funded research will not be eligible to apply for this grant type.
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RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Priority will be given to projects which:
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Are farthest along in preclinical or early clinical development
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Seek to increase communication and collaboration between clinicians or clinical researchers and basic scientists
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Seek to increase collaboration between investigators in different institutions within the Academic Health Center (AHC). The program is particularly interested in promoting collaborations between investigators at UCMC and CCHMC and between investigators at either UCMC or CCHMC and those at UC’s west campus
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Have clearly described plans to utilize the results as preliminary data in an application soliciting extramural funding
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Are focused on new research or technological development with a high likelihood of leading to patent or licensing opportunities
When and as appropriate, consideration will be given to proposals that promote interactions between AHC investigators and members of the community.
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ELIGIBILITY
Investigators with a faculty appointment of at least 80% FTE at the AHC (UC, UCMC, CCHMC, VAMC) or UC west campus, including basic scientists, physicians, nurses, and other health care faculty with advanced degrees (MD, PhD, MD-PhD, or equivalent) are potentially eligible. The PI or Co-I who is applying must either currently hold a faculty appointment at UC or CCHMC or expect to hold one at the time of the award at the level of Instructor, Assistant Professor, Research Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. Collaborative teams of investigators spanning disciplines and programs made up of basic and clinical faculty are strongly encouraged to apply. See the program announcement for complete details on eligibility. Applicants must be CCTST members. Join here free of charge.
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PREVIOUS FUNDING ROUNDS (LAST 5 YEARS)
1st Cycle: June 1, 2026 - May 31, 2027
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2026 Letter of Intent ​​​​​​​​​
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE PILOT GRANT
The purpose of this pilot grant program is to promote community-engaged translational science research projects. This pilot mechanism supports community-engaged translational science projects that move promising discoveries toward real-world impact, emphasizing innovations that overcome common translational barriers (e.g., recruitment/retention, adaptation across populations, data interoperability) and produce generalizable solutions that improve the efficiency, quality, and speed of translation. Each applicant will have the opportunity to receive a max of $50,000 in funding for this grant program.
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DETAILS & IMPORTANT DATES​​
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2026 Letter of Intent (important dates outlined below)​​​​​​​​​
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NIH resources for assisting with Translational Science:
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​About Translational Science Principles
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Recommendations for Planning Pilot Studies in Clinical and Translational Research
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APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
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Full Application Documents (coming soon)
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LOI SUBMISSION & CONTACT
LOIs can be uploaded via the REDCap submission link. If you have questions about this grant mechanism, please contact Stacey Gomes, PhD. For more information about the CCTST's Community and Stakeholder Engagement program, please click here. ​
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ELIGIBILITY
Investigators with a faculty appointment of at least 80% FTE at the AHC (UC, UCMC, CCHMC, VAMC) or UC west campus, including basic scientists, physicians, nurses, and other health care faculty with advanced degrees (MD, PhD, MD-PhD, or equivalent) are potentially eligible. The PI or Co-I who is applying must either currently hold a faculty appointment at UC or CCHMC or expect to hold one at the time of the award at the level of Instructor, Assistant Professor, Research Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. Collaborative teams of investigators spanning disciplines and programs made up of basic and clinical faculty are strongly encouraged to apply. See the program announcement for complete details on eligibility. Applicants must be CCTST members. Join here free of charge.


