Pilot and Feasibility Program

G. PROJECT SUMMARY – PILOT AND FEASIBILITY PROGRAM The Pilot and Feasibility Program (P/F) of the Colorado NORC program allows investigators to explore the feasibility of their research ideas and collect sufficient preliminary data to compete successfully for federal funding from the NIH, disease specific sources or foundations. The P/F program is primarily designed for young investigators who desire to pursue a career in nutrition research. While we do not explicitly exclude applications from more established investigators who propose to move into the area of nutrition research or to explore new directions within nutrition research, these applications are typically reviewed less favorably. The P/F program offers a $40,000 award over a two-year period with the second year of funding contingent on the demonstration of sufficient progress during the first year. The Colorado NORC provides funding for pilot and feasibility projects for investigators who are in one of the following categories: 1. New investigators with a project relevant to Nutrition who have no independent NIH (or comparable) funding. 2. Established investigators with a project relevant to Nutrition who have not previously worked in the field of nutrition. 3. Established nutrition investigators who propose a project significantly different from previous work. Over the past 10 years we have funded 40 pilot projects. Of these, 92.5% are doing obesity/nutrition research, 82% are in university affiliated academic positions. 75% have received some type of research funding under their name, 52.5% have received individual K awards or VA career development awards, 17.5% are PI or co-I on R level awards, several investigators have multiple R level awards, and 60% remain in our research base. The P/F program has been one of the most successful parts of the Colorado NORC.