Precision Medicine Center for Cystic Fibrosis

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY (PILOT AND FEASIBILITY PROGRAM – CORE 6) Over its 25 years, the Precision Medicine Center for Cystic Fibrosis Pilot Program has proven to be instrumental in expanding the cadre of investigators pursuing independently funded research programs in cystic fibrosis (CF). The Pilot and Feasibility Program is administrated through the Center’s Administrative Core and operates under the oversight from three committees The Pilot and Feasibility Committee, which manages decisions about funding for pilot applications based on a minimum of two external reviews; The Executive Committee, which holds the ultimate decision-making authority, passing final judgment on the funding of new pilot applications and the renewal of ongoing pilot projects; and The External Advisory Board, which, together with leadership of the University of Iowa (UI) Carver College of Medicine (CCOM), provides strategic direction and guidance to the Executive Committee. In addition, two external reviews per application are solicited to perform an official review. The overarching goal of the Pilot and Feasibility Program is to provide seed money for innovative and novel research that has not yet reached the stage of maturity necessary to garner funding through traditional NIH mechanisms. The main objectives of the this program are summarized in the following specific aims: 1) to foster the career development of junior investigators carrying out research in the field of CF; 2) to attract established investigators from outside the field into areas of CF research; 3) to provide administrative and scientific oversight in the selection of pilot applications and in monitoring the progress of these projects; and 4) to ensure that the Pilot and Feasibility Program supports research of the highest quality. During the 25 years that the P30 Pilot Program has been running, it has funded 74 pilots in areas of CF research and other genetic diseases, and numerous junior investigators funded through it have gone onto develop independent and well funded research programs. The Pilot Program will maintain its requirement for the studies to be focused on CF research related to the NIDDK mission. Progress of the pilot projects is monitored through numerous forums that are supported by the Center’s Enrichment Program, and awardees are provided with extensive, constructive feedback that greatly facilitates the evolution of their research. Furthermore, each pilot awardee is paired with a CF faculty mentor to facilitate discussion, integration into the CF community at UI and provide guidance throughout the pilot duration, as needed. In this section, we summarize the progress made in past pilot projects and the success that many of the pilot holders have had to date. Notably, the pilot grants that were funded during the last five-year funding period resulted in 8 publications.