Texas A&M Center for Environmental Health Research (TiCER)

Pilot Project Abstract The Texas A&M Center for Translational Environmental Health Research (TiCER) is a major hub for the development and growth of health research on campus through attracting faculty from multiple schools, colleges, and departments. In addition, TiCER scientists play leading roles in ongoing environmental health programs including the P42 Superfund Basic Research Program, the T32 Toxicology Training Grant in Regulatory Sciences, and the Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology (IFT). The Pilot Project Program (PPP) plays a key role in many aspects of the center by stimulating research in areas consistent with center goals and by funding novel studies conducted by faculty not previously committed to environmental health research. The PPP is a critical element in both the ongoing and future health research activities of the center as is evidenced by the large number of applicants for PPP funding from multiple academic units. In order to maintain and improve the PPP, four major Aims will be pursued: 1) Maintaining a well-organized Pilot Project structure that will announce, disseminate, receive review, and fund individual and collaborative projects in a timely fashion as outlined in the grant application; 2) Attract junior faculty and investigators new to environmental health research in order to expand this field and develop new collaborations and themes; 3) Enhance collaborative research not only in “individual” Pilot Projects but also through “collaborative grant” competitions; 4) Encourage inter- Center collaborations that will involve faculty from more than one center as this will further enhance the overall impact of proposed collaborative research.