Developmental Pilot Project (PP) Awards

The Developmental Pilot Project (PP) opportunity is currently closed.

This one-year funding opportunity supports early-stage and established investigators at Alaska INBRE network partner institutions to conduct biomedical and health-related research aligned with Alaska INBRE’s One Health theme. The program strengthens research capacity and expands student training opportunities. The application cycle opens annually in October.

IMPORTANT DATES

This mechanism is currently closed. The application cycle opens annually in October.

See Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application below

Purpose

Pilot Project awards should propose compelling basic, translational, clinical, behavioral, or community-engaged research relevant to the One Health framework. Collaborative and interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged, especially those that leverage INBRE core resources the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Core, Data Science Core, and Research Analytics Core.

Student Research and Mentorship

A central aim of this opportunity is to involve undergraduate students in hands-on research. Projects that include support for student researchers may receive up to an additional $8,000. Each Project Leader (PPL) must also work with an experienced research mentor who supports the project’s development and the professional growth of the investigator.

Mentorship plans and student engagement are key components of the application. Projects are expected to result in research presentations, student development, and preliminary findings that may support future grant applications.

Funding Details

Each PP award offers up to $50,000, with $42,000 designated for research activities and up to $8,000 available to supplement undergraduate research support. Applicants must demonstrate that they have at least three 12 months of effort dedicated to research. Effort dedicated to this project can be a fraction or all of the three months. Project leaders are expected to submit a detailed budget, including mentor costs and any planned conference travel if PPL wants to use the funding to support travel.

Funding is contingent on NIH approval and must be fully expended within the award period. Carryover is not allowed.

Eligibility

Applicants must be full-time faculty or investigators at one of Alaska INBRE’s six partner institutions, which include UAA, UAF, UAS, Ilisagvik College, ANTHC, and SCF. Early-stage investigators are strongly encouraged to apply, but established researchers pursuing new directions are also eligible. Collaborators from other IDeA states may participate, but a qualified investigator at an Alaska INBRE partner site must lead each PP.

Application and Review Process

Applicants are encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent for feedback before applying. Final proposals must follow NIH formatting through the ASSIST system and include all required documents, such as a research strategy, budget justification, and letters of support.

Proposals are reviewed by experts in the field and the External Advisory Committee. Funding decisions are based on scientific merit, alignment with INBRE goals, collaboration, and potential for future extramural funding. Only complete, compliant applications can be forwarded to NIH for approval.

Competitive applications will:

Include meaningful student training
Demonstrate relevance to One Health
Propose high-quality, feasible research
Demonstrate high potential for generating publications and external grant proposal applications

INBRE Annual Reporting

Cite INBRE

CONTACT