Pilot Projects Program

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section Despite recent improvements in some areas of health, Oklahoma continues to have high rates of tobacco and substance use, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular deaths, arthritis disability and poor overall health choices. The mission of the OSCTR Pilot Projects Program is to accelerate discoveries into Oklahoma’s health priorities by fostering innovative and collaborative clinical and translational research (CTR) projects, leading to nationally and federally funded independent research programs. Our program has funded 50 pilot projects that have been immensely successful garnering more than $90M of PI-level extramural funding to these new investigators, including more than $10M annual federal funding. This program provides pilot project funding (Aim 1), coordinates infrastructure support and mentoring for pilot investigators (Aim 2), and identifies promising but unfunded junior investigators for additional mentoring (Aim 3). This strategy is built on the hypothesis that providing junior investigators with CTR funding, infrastructure, and mentorship will coalesce a new generation of well-trained, well-funded CTR scientists equipped to translate scientific discoveries into improved clinical care and patient well-being. The Pilot program prioritizes research that addresses prominent health issues in Oklahoma and other IDeA states. Building on early successes and being responsive to needs identified by past pilots, EAC and Evaluation Core feedback, the program is increasing its administrative support to Pilot PIs to provide more mentoring in grant management skills. It is continuing to offer two award types: CTR Pilot Awards provide 12 months of funding for at least five novel research projects per year; Pilot Sustainability Bridge Awards can provide 6 additional months of funding for up to 2 pilot recipients per year to address the need for interim support while analyzing, publishing, and seeking extramural funding for their projects. We encourage Pilot projects that support the unique needs of our partners with partnerships that include non-academic institutions, community development agencies, county health improvement organizations, and primary care providers. In addition to these OSCTR-funded awards, the program leverages other local funding programs when possible to provide larger or additional awards in each category. Beyond providing financial support, the program had demonstrably demonstrated that it provides an environment that nurtures the success of these junior investigators. Annual Pilot initiation meetings will introduce awardees to the OSCTR Cores, Directors, and other awardees. Throughout the award, investigators will receive structured mentoring (Professional Development Core) and training in scientific writing to foster career development and growth toward independence, including peer mentoring through proposal critique opportunities. The program continues to assist current and past awardees, as well as promising but unfunded applicants, to identify additional funding sources and develop a strategy for securing independent, national funding.