An integral part of the CCTST mission is stimulating development of pre-clinical and human clinical trials that seek to improve medical care. 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 & SUBMISSION​

• The Notice of Award for the CCTST was provided in August. Last year applicants will receive notice of Awards by November 14, 2025.

• NIH resources for assisting with Translational Science:

  • ​About Translational Science Principles

  • Recommendations for Planning Pilot Studies in Clinical and Translational Research

• LOI Application Documents

• Full Application Documents

• LOI revisions accepted (by invite only): Coming Soon

• Full applications (invited only) accepted: Coming Soon

• Funding period: Coming Soon

• Revised RFA: Coming Soon

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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 three specific grant types within the Pilot Translational Research and Innovative Core grants program:

• 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.

• 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:

• Are farthest along in preclinical or early clinical development

• Seek to increase communication and collaboration between clinicians or clinical researchers and basic scientists

• 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

• Have clearly described plans to utilize the results as preliminary data in an application soliciting extramural funding

• 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)

• Table of Awards, FY 2025

• Table of Awards, FY 2024

• Table of Awards, FY 2023

• Table of Awards, FY 2022

• Table of Awards, FY 2021