Dates of funding: One to two years beginning June 15, 2021
Eligible Centers: All PIDTC Centers in North America that have at least one IRB-approved PIDTC protocol and have enrolled at least one patient.
Eligible Investigators: Must have an appointment as an independent faculty member, eligible to apply for NIH grant funding, at an eligible PIDTC center. Junior faculty (within 5 years of their appointment) are encouraged to apply and will receive special consideration.
Pilot Project Background: The Pilot/Feasibility Core is a critical component of the PIDTC, funding pilot projects relevant to the mission of the PIDTC. Pilot projects in the past cycles have pursued innovative topics and/or performed in-depth biological studies using patient samples and data from ongoing or planned PIDTC protocols. Such pilot investigations may 1) promote discovery in the field resulting in new peer-reviewed publications, 2) “prime the pump” for investigators to pursue additional funding, and 3) maximize the potential for PIDTC projects to generate preliminary data necessary to fuel the design and implementation of clinical trials with robust mechanistic studies. Pilot awards using samples from PIDTC patients, involving more than one institution, and/or with high potential for expansion to multiple institutions are considered high priority.
This RFA has been re-issued for the spring of 2021 and we welcome applications, prioritizing projects that relate directly to areas of PIDTC investigation. Protocols in the current PIDTC funding cycle will include: Protocol 6906 on Primary Immune Regulatory Disorders (PIRD), 6907 on SCID, and 6908 on Chronic Granulomatous Disease.
Applications to study aspects of these disorders are strongly encouraged. Those focusing on other PID will also be considered.
In keeping with the size of the award and the pilot nature of the projects supported, we expect that studies proposed for funding may be limited in scope and intended to fuel future investigations. The application must include a timeline of the studies to be supported by the award and distinguish pilot funded studies from future directions.
Award Amount: $50,000 Direct Costs per year. Upon demonstration of sufficient progress during the first 8 months, recipients may receive a no-cost extension for a second year. Only one pilot project can be awarded per person over the life of the PIDTC Pilot/Demonstration Project Program.
Time line and application process:
- March 15, 2021: Call for applications.
- March 31, 2021: Submit optional letter of intent (up to 500 words) that describes specific aims, hypothesis, and approach. If you are concerned about the appropriateness of the topic, please submit your letter of intent in advance of starting the application to PIDTC Senior Program Manager Sharon Kidd at sharon.kidd@ucsf.edu.
- April 26, 2021: Submit application as an electronic pdf file to Sharon Kidd at sharon.kidd@ucsf.edu
- Application must include:
- Letter of support from PIDTC site PI.
- Application (up to 3 pages excluding references, single spaced, Arial 11 font, 0.5 inch margins).
- NIH grant format with: i) Specific Aims; ii) Significance; iii) Innovation; and iv) Approach.
- NIH format Biosketch with Other Support.
- Budget with justification and timeline for completion of studies (1 page).
- May 28, 2021: Notification of award. The Review Committee will provide brief feedback to all applicants.
- June 15, 2021: Start date.
Guidelines for applications:
- The purpose of this Pilot/Demonstration Project is to facilitate development of new approaches to the diagnosis, treatment and predictors of outcome for patients with primary disorders of immunity that are under study in the PIDTC. Proposed studies should demonstrate a relationship or synergy with current or future goals of PIDTC.
- Studies that take advantage of patients, samples, tissues or data associated with ongoing or proposed PIDTC protocols are given high priority.
- Proposed studies may be prospective or retrospective.
- Development of new assays or biomarkers is encouraged.
- Ideally, results should lead to larger studies/applications within PIDTC.
- Multi-institutional projects that involve at least 2 PIDTC centers are encouraged.
- Awardee is expected to attend the yearly PIDTC Scientific Workshop (in 2022) to present research in progress.
- Awardee is expected to participate on one of the protocol working teams.
Selection Committee Chair: Dr. Roshini Abraham, roshini.abraham@nationwidechildrens.org