Pilot Project Awards (PPA)

• Tenure-track and tenured faculty at Kentucky Colleges and Universities (except the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky) eligible for NIH R15 and/or R16 funding, and not funded by other KY INBRE grant awards mechanisms (excluding vouchers for core use). 

• Applicants must have an active research agenda and be motivated to obtain independent funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

• First time applicants must:

  • contact an NIH institute Program Officer and provide a statement confirming that the research topic area is potentially fundable by an NIH institute or center; and 

  • have attended a KY INBRE-sponsored NIH R15/R16 grant writing workshop;

• Early-stage applicants must identify a senior investigator to serve as mentor/collaborator. In addition to research expertise in the appropriate field, the mentor should have successful NIH granting writing experience and be willing to review and critique grant proposals, manuscripts, etc., prior to submission. While in-state collaborations (U of L, UK) are encouraged, out-of-state mentors are acceptable when justified by research expertise and training. A biosketch and letter of support from the identified mentor are required. It is highly recommended that you have your selected mentor and institutional KY INBRE “Lead” faculty member review your Pilot Project proposal prior to submission.

• Independent investigators (i.e., previous recipients of NIH R awards) must have a R15 or R16 competitive renewal proposal pending or in preparation.

• Applicants with prior KY INBRE and/or NIH funding must provide evidence of significant research progress (e.g., publications, presentations, student accomplishments, NIH grant submissions).

• All applicants are encouraged to contact the NIH National R16-SuRE Resource Center for advice and assistance.

• Applicants planning to use human or animal subjects in their research must submit an official institutional IRB or IACUC protocol approval along with their research proposal.

• A letter of intent to apply with the anticipated proposal title must be submitted by the annually announced due date (usually around December 1st).

• Institutions must grant the PI 50% release time from teaching for research during the academic year (assuming the normal teaching load is 12 credit hours per semester). In all cases, the PI must not teach more than 2 courses or 6 credit hours per semester.

• PIs must involve undergraduate students in their research, monitor student progress, and provide tracking information to the KY INBRE office for a period of five years after the project period ends.

• Awardees are expected to submit an NIH R15 or R16 grant proposal prior to the conclusion of the grant period.

• Awardees are expected to publish one research manuscript per year in a peer-reviewed PubMed journal. At a minimum, awardees should have at least one manuscript submitted, or ready to submit, for publication by the due date of the Annual Progress Report.

• All publications must acknowledge support from NIGMS grant # P20GM103436

• Awardees must submit an annual progress report to the KY INBRE office no later than January 15th. If the Awardee has not published during the funding period, then manuscripts submitted, or ready for submission, must be submitted along with the annual progress report form.

• Awardees are expected to present their research progress at the KY INBRE Annual Research Conference. Expenses to attend this conference will be covered.

• Maximum award is $50,000 direct costs for one-year with a start date of May 1 and end date of April 30th. 

• Requests for funding may include expenses for supplies, equipment, use of core facilities, travel (max. $2500), summer salary, and undergraduate and graduate research assistants. For graduate students, up to $6000 may be requested for tuition per grant year.

• Funds (up to $6,000 annually of the $50,000 max) may also be requested to partially cover the cost of faculty release time. Grant funds may not be used to directly pay the salary of another individual for course release time.

• Facilities and administrative (F&A) costs will be provided in addition to direct costs. 

• KY INBRE funding will terminate as of the start-date of an independent NIH research grant award.

Click here for Procedures, Instructions and Submission information.