Pilot Projects Program

The Pilot Projects Core The overall objective of the Pilot Project Core in Phase III is to sustain the research environment developed in the first two phases by providing support for pilot research projects, career guidance, and enhancement activities. As part of the Administrative Core in prior phases, we have awarded 25 investigators with 29 pilot projects from multiple disciplines. These Pilot Project awardees, guided by experienced mentors, have developed new research collaborations, published 280 manuscripts, received 93 independent extramural awards with a total amount over $33.9 million, served as mentor for over 170 trainees, and presented at 343 invited sessions, including 47 international, 100 national, and 196 local venues. Building on our past success, the Pilot Project Core in Phase III, along with support from the Administrative Core, is poised to meet the needs of the Pilot Project Investigators in the area of CPVB with professional development activities and pilot funding to test out new, novel, innovative ideas, obtain preliminary data for grant submissions, develop techniques or scientific approaches, and establish new collaborations. Moreover, our pool of potential pilot project applicants remains strong and is anticipated to grow with key faculty recruitment in cardiovascular and pulmonary divisions ongoing at Ocean State Research Institute/Providence VA Medical Center and at our affiliated hospitals and universities. Congruent with the overarching goals of CPVB COBRE, the Specific Aims of the Pilot Projects Core are to: i) award high-impact pilot projects in area of cardiopulmonary vascular biology; ii) promote professional development and extramural funding of early career faculty pilot project awardees through structured programming, mentorship, and exposure to leaders in the field; iii) facilitate new collaborations and research teams through prioritization of interdisciplinary, interinstitutional, and bench to bedside collaborations; and iv) enhance the user base for technical core services and leverage stakeholders to sustain pilot funding in CPVB. Availability of the CPVB COBRE supported Pilot Project funding over the next 5 years, coupled with the CPVB COBRE technical core expertise and services and professional development activities, will be critical to retain early career faculty and faculty focused on vascular biology in RI.