Application Information

The NIH/NIDDK P30 Liver Center grant provides for the annual submission of pilot projects ($40,000 direct costs each) from both Liver Center and non-Liver Center investigators.

The purpose of the pilots is to provide support for investigators to collect preliminary data sufficient to support a grant application for independent research support and/or to test a novel, even high-risk, hypothesis. Pilot projects are expected to support research that primarily aligns with NIDDK's scientific mission rather than liver disease research that is better aligned with the mission of another NIH Institute or Center.

Pilot support is not intended for large projects by established investigators that should be submitted as separate research grant applications, nor is it intended to provide bridging support for established investigators who are PI of one of more R01 or R01-equivalent grants that will be active for at least two years. Pilot funds are also not intended to support or supplement ongoing funded research of an investigator.

Investigators should meet one of the following criteria:

1. new investigators applying new methodologies or approaches to the study of liver pathophysiology
2. investigators from other areas of biomedical research to apply their expertise to an area of need in liver research.
3. established investigators who will have no independent R01 or R01-equivalent grant support if they do not secure a substantial grant award in the near future

Pilot grants will undergo two levels of review: first from Center executive committee and then from our External Advisory Board. The Board will convene at Yale in July or August to determine a priority score for each request and can approve or disapprove the project or modify the budget. No pilot projects can be submitted for more than two consecutive years. All current pilot project recipients must follow the same guidelines to request a second year of funding.

Please note the following dates on your calendar:

Friday, July 12, 2024

Deadline for submission of Letter of Intent (PDF) emailed to Christine Abu-Hanna by 5:00pm.

The letter of intent mustinclude the following:

1. Academic position, VISA status and future scientific plans regarding liver-related research
2. Title of pilot project
3. Applicability of the pilot project to the Liver Center
4. Projects must make use of the Center’s facilities – please describe which Core(s) you plan to use
5. Provide a brief lay research summary that highlights the potential impact of this project on liver health – this will be reviewed by the Community Advisor of our Executive Committee.

Upon Letter of Intent review by the Executive Committee, applicants will be notified whether they can submit a full application.Friday, August 16, 2024

Deadline for submission of full applications (one electronic copy) emailed to Christine Abu-Hanna by 5:00pm. This should include all documents listed below. Due to pilot projects being internally funded, a TranSum and Office of Sponsored Projects approval/signature is not required.

Friday, September 27, 2024

Internal reviews of most competitive applications are returned to investigators for revisions.

Friday, October 25, 2024

Receipt of revised application deadline (one electronic copy) emailed to Christine Abu-Hanna by 5:00pm.

November/December 2024 or January 2025

External Advisory Board meets to make final decisions on awards. Applicants will be expected to present their pilot project to the Board on this date (approximately 15 minutes).

March 1, 2025

Approved projects will begin funding.

The general format of the NIH research project applications on fillable individual PHS 398 forms Rev. 3/20 approved through 02/28/2023 must be used to request pilot funding. Please only use forms listed in the instructions and submit in the order listed. To download forms, please click here. If using the PDF forms, Adobe Acrobat Professional software is required to save/edit your application on the forms required when submitting your application.

Only the pages listed are required for this application. Pilot project applications should not exceed the page limits and format instructions. Please read the instructions carefully.

If you have any questions, please contact Program Manager, Christine Abu-Hanna at 203-785-5610 or email.