Pilot Project Grant Program

Pilot Project Grant Program Project Summary In the Phase I and Phase II award periods, the pilot project grant program was administered via the administrative core and had a significant impact on the research landscape in the field of respiratory and infectious diseases across the State of Oklahoma. In Phase III, we will continue the successful pilot project grant program to nurture junior investigators in the field of respiratory infectious disease research and attract established investigators who are not currently engaged in respiratory infectious disease research into the center's thematic area. The major objectives of the pilot project grant program are to provide seed funding to generate preliminary data for an extramural research grant application and to provide research and career guidance to the pilot project leaders for their short- and long-term success. The specific aims are (1) solicit, select and award up to 6 pilot project grants annually; (2) provide infrastructure and research guidance to pilot project leaders to facilitate project development; and (3) provide career guidance to pilot project leaders for long-term success. Maintaining a constant influx of investigators and guiding them to a productive extramurally funded career in respiratory infectious research is essential for sustaining the center both during and beyond Phase III.