Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core

SUMMARY – PILOT / EXPLORATORY STUDIES CORE The Pilot / Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) advances the LA OAIC’s central mission of accelerating the field of translational geroscience through the solicitation, selection, and support of innovative research studies that have strong potential to contribute to discoveries integral for advancing and extending human healthspan. The PESC, in close collaboration with the Research Education Component, will support and foster the scientific development of early career investigators (ESI) and new investigators, including basic, translational, and clinical scientists . The PESC will employ an evidence-based approach that encompasses formal mentorship, education, frequent opportunities for collegial, collaborative interactions, and pilot award funding. Recognizing the critical role of well-designed pilot and exploratory studies to initiate new innovations in the field, the PESC will fund 5 pilot awards annually. The PESC will prioritize rigorously designed studies that evaluate the feasibility of new research methodologies, as well as promising pharmacological, non-pharmacological, cell-based and behavioral interventions that target fundamental biological aging processes and/or age-related conditions. The PESC will support projects spanning from basic to clinical sciences with strong encouragement of proposals bridging translational research stages. The PESC will also solicit applications evaluating the feasibility of integrating research findings into healthcare implementation strategies. In addition to the pilot study awards, the PESC will fund 6 Stimulating Advanced Geroscience Experiences (SAGE) Mini-Sabbaticals annually, which provide applicants with the unique opportunity of immersive research experience in a faculty member’s laboratory or Core Facility at any LA OAIC affiliated institution. This award mechanism is designed to allow investigators to develop new methodological approaches and/or skills that can be disseminated to the applicant’s home institution, delivering a sizable return on investment. The PESC will establish a Translational Research Activities to Completion Keystone (TRACK) team to oversee funded projects from inception to completion. The TRACK team will engage in collaborative problem-solving to overcome unanticipated obstacles, aid in strategic decision making necessary for project completion, and support the awardees in delineating and achieving next steps to advance their research. To assess the long-term impact of LA OAIC support, the PESC will monitor abstracts, publications, scientific presentations, community presentations, awards and promotions, and funding resulting from the LA OAIC activities. The LA OAIC will amplify and promote the continued success of PESC award recipients, integrating them into the overall network of scientists and institutions advancing translational geroscience.