P and F Program

The HDDC Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) Grant Program is a centerpiece of HDDC activities with an important impact on future advances in digestive disease research. The P&F Program provides funding that primarily targets young investigators in the process of establishing their independent research careers, but also allows established investigators to initiate innovative and promising pilot projects that could lead to substantial funding for new lines of research relevant to digestive diseases. The Specific Aims of the HDDC P&F Program are: 1. To support and encourage young investigators in digestive disease-related research who have not previously held independent awards (Type I Awards). 2. To entice accomplished investigators from other fields who are not currently focused on digestive diseases to apply new concepts and technical approaches to the digestive tract (Type II awards). 3. To enable established investigators already working in digestive disease-related research to initiate a substantial, innovative change in the direction of their research (Type III awards). These projects are selected through a rigorous review process focused on innovation, scientific merit and potential for future, independent, digestive disease-related research funding. To eliminate potential conflicts of interest, final funding decisions are made by the External Advisory Board. The success of P&F awardees has been outstanding. Since 2006, 62 investigators have been supported by HDDC P&F grants. Of these, 58 (94 %) received independent funding related to the P&F award within 5 years of receipt, 59 (94%) continue to be active in digestive disease-related research, and 17 of the 34 who over the years have remained at HDDC- associated institutions (50%) became full Center members, often with leadership roles. !