Clinical and Translational Research - Infrastructure Network (CTR-IN) Pilot Grants
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the purpose of the CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program?
What type of research activity will the CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program support?
Are animal or cell culture studies supported by the CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program?
Who is eligible to apply for a CTR-IN Pilot Grant?
Does the Pilot Grants Program accept multiple Principal Investigator applications?
What are the responsibilities of a Pilot Grant recipient?
What are the permitted expenses for a CTR-IN Pilot Grant?
Does the Pilot Grants Program allow large equipment purchases (i.e., > $5,000)?
How much should I budget for the CTR-IN Annual Scientific Meeting in my pilot grant application?
What approvals are required for conducting human research?
How will pilot grant applications be reviewed?
How are funding award decisions made?
What are the program priorities that help to guide funding decisions?
What are the reporting requirements for pilot grantees?
Will there be opportunities to meet with other grantees and network with potential research partners?
What other resources are available through the CTR-IN?
What is the CRDEB?
How much time will the CTR biostatistician have toward my pilot project?
Will the biostatistician help with my pilot application?
What if I use a biostatistician that is not supported through the CRDEB?
What is the CREMCaD?
What is the purpose of the CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program?
The CTR-IN funds Pilot Projects with the objective of enhancing nationally competitive clinical and translational
research activity at Western IDeA institutions. The program has a goal of equitable distribution of pilot grant
support across the 11 partner institutions whose faculty are eligible to apply. Two of our 13 partners, the
University of Hawaii and the University of New Mexico, have independent programs to support similar work
and investigators at those schools are not eligible for these awards (see also ‘Who is eligible to apply for a
CTR-IN Pilot Grant?’ below).
What type of research activity will the CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program support?
Eligible clinical or translational research embraces a spectrum of scientific disciplines (e.g., epidemiology,
statistics, pharmacology, social and behavioral sciences, nutrition, nursing, dental health, and medicine),
methodologies (e.g., observational and experimental), health professions (e.g., nursing, public health,
pharmacy, clinical psychology, sports physiology, physical therapy), and medical specialties and
subspecialties. Any application proposing clinical translational research meeting the NIH definition will be
eligible.
Clinical research includes (1) patient-oriented research; (2) epidemiologic and behavioral studies; and
(3) outcomes research and health services research. Further detail of this definition can be found in the
Human Subjects Research Definitions and Terms of the PHS 398 (Part III-25):
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.doc
Translational research (T1-T4) includes:
CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program FAQs. Last modified: March 17, 2014.
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T1, Translation to Humans: Testing basic science discoveries in humans for clinical effect
and/or applicability;
T2, Translation to Patients: Testing new interventions in human subjects under controlled
environments to form the basis for clinical applications and evidence‐based guidelines
T3, Translation to Practice: Research on the application of new interventions or therapies in
general practice; research that yields knowledge on best ways to implement new medical
interventions in the clinic; and
T4, Translation to Population: Investigations of factors and/or interventions that influence the
health of populations; ultimately results in improved health of the public.
Are animal or cell culture studies supported by the CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program?
We appreciate the fact that many pre-clinical (animal and cell culture) studies provide important information
that are essential before translation to human studies is possible. However, the NIH program that funds the
CTR-IN requires us to follow a strict definition of translational type 1 (T1) research that excludes most preclinical animal and cell culture studies. This policy supports the CTR program goal of developing new clinical
and translational research programs in the region, following NIH guidelines for this type of work. These
guidelines also serves to complement (rather than duplicate) support provided by other INBRE and CoBRE
mechanisms at IDeA institutions that emphasize support for pre-clinical programs.
Who is eligible to apply for a CTR-IN Pilot Grant?
Applications will be welcome from all investigators who are eligible to apply for independent NIH funding. New
investigators, junior faculty, and experienced faculty researchers are equally eligible. While the Principal
Investigator of a pilot project application must be a faculty member (or hold a letter of academic title) from one
of the partner institutions, other collaborators will be encouraged to participate as co-investigators to foster new
clinical collaborations. Funding preference may be reserved for:
 Promising new faculty pursuing clinical or translational research;
 Funded senior clinical and translational research faculty pursuing a new research direction; or
 Senior basic science researchers with plans to develop clinical or translational research.
Does the Pilot Grants Program accept multiple Principal Investigator applications?
The CTR-IN encourages multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional collaborations, but the CTR-IN pilot grants are
designed to fund a single Principal Investigator. The inclusion of co-investigators and consultants on pilot
projects is strongly encouraged.
What are the responsibilities of a Pilot Grant Recipient?
Pilot Grant recipients are expected to interact with the CREMCaD, work with a mentor, utilize educational and
statistical resources provided by the CRDEB, provide brief quarterly reports and a final report, and attend the
CTR-IN Annual Scientific Meeting. In addition, Pilot Grant recipients are expected to use the knowledge and
data obtained through CTR-IN support to develop and submit “R-level” grant proposals to NIH Institutes to
continue their research, and to report on those activities both during and after the period of their Pilot award.
What are the permitted expenses for a CTR-IN Pilot Grant?
Permitted expenses will include salary support for the principal investigator, research personnel, and supplies.
Per the Request for Proposals (January 29, 2014), the principal investigator must be able to devote
20-50% effort on the pilot grant. The resources allocated by NIGMS for the CTR Pilot Grants must remain
within the Western IDeA states (i.e., Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming).
CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program FAQs. Last modified: March 17, 2014.
Although projects can include co-investigators or consultants from outside the Western IDeA states, pilot
project funds cannot be used to support their effort. Budgets must also include expenses to travel to, and
present at, the CTR-IN Annual Scientific Meeting. Other travel expenses are permitted if necessary for
conducting field work as part of the pilot project, or for domestic travel if justified for establishing a mentorship
relationship, accessing experts or other resources, or presentation of peer-reviewed findings from the project at
up to one national meeting per year. Budgets may not support office supplies, phone costs, or other costs
considered to be indirect expenses under NIH guidelines, unless justified as directly related to research data
collection. Facilities and Administration rates (i.e., indirect costs) will be held to 10% according to the
agreement endorsed by the responsible official at each of the partner institutions. Budget items not welljustified may be reduced or removed upon the recommendation of scientific reviewers, and/or the Internal
Advisory Committee.
Does the Pilot Grants Program allow large equipment purchases (i.e., > $5,000)?
The CTR-IN is particularly focused on building Clinical and Translational Research capacity at partner
institutions by focusing on researchers and the provision of support expertise and training. Large equipment
purchases (i.e., > $5,000) are not allowable expenses for Pilot Grant projects.
How much should I budget for the CTR-IN Annual Scientific Meeting in my pilot grant application?
The pilot grant applicant should plan on a two day meeting with expenses to include hotel, airfare and local
travel. There will be no registration fee. The location for the meeting will rotate between the 13 partner
institutions. Budgeting $1500 for the pilot grant PI to attend the meeting should be sufficient.
What approvals are required for conducting human research?
As with any NIH-funded research, projects must adhere to all requirements regarding protection of human
subjects, including approval by the grantee’s Institutional Review Board when relevant. Funds related to
collection of human subjects data will not be released to the investigator until necessary IRB approvals are in
place. Other regulatory requirements such as the use of biohazard materials will be monitored per the
procedures and guidelines of the investigator’s institution.
How will pilot grant applications be reviewed?
Pilot grant application will be assigned to experienced grant application reviewers. In addition to the projects
significance, innovation and approach, reviewers will be asked to qualitatively respond to the following
questions: (1) Are plans for future extramural grant application(s) clear?; (2) If the proposed pilot project is
successful, will the findings yield sufficient preliminary data to support a future NIH grant application?; and (3)
Does the pilot project include, or have the potential for leading to, multi-disciplinary and/or multi-institutional
collaboration? Reviewers will be asked to adhere to standard conflict of interest guidelines.
How are funding award decisions made?
Following the meeting of the scientific review committee, the external peer reviews and funding
recommendations will be forwarded by the Pilot Grant Core Director to the CTR-IN Internal Advisory
Committee (IAC) for review. The IAC will make funding recommendations to the CTR-IN Principal Investigator.
The CTR-IN PI will make final decisions on the awards based on peer-review, IAC recommendations and
program priorities.
What are the program priorities that help to guide funding decisions?
The primary program priorities are 1) to develop new clinical and translational research programs in the region;
2) to foster the development of investigators in the region who can conduct clinical and translational research;
CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program FAQs. Last modified: March 17, 2014.
3) to foster collaborations that can help achieve those goals; 4) support health research relevant to rural and
vulnerable populations; and 5) to provide distribution of program resources across the 11 eligible partner
institutions concordant with the guidance of scientific peer review.
What are the reporting requirements for pilot grantees?
Brief quarterly progress reports and a final report will be required of all pilot grantees. Quarterly reports will
include a brief summary of research progress and milestones, expenditure of project funds, unanticipated
barriers or problems, meetings with mentor(s), publications and abstracts submitted or accepted, presentations
made at professional meetings, grant applications submitted or accepted, and goals for the next quarter. The
first quarterly report will also identify support linkages that have been established to include, at minimum, a
mentor and a biostatistician.
Will there be opportunities to meet with other grantees and network with potential research partners?
Pilot Grant investigators will present interim findings and progress in a poster at the CTR-IN Annual Scientific
Meeting that will be attended by Network members, experts from the External Advisory Committee, and invited
outside scientists. This will serve as an opportunity for pilot investigators to highlight research progress and
pose emerging questions, receive expert feedback, and develop external collaborations.
What other resources are available through the CTR-IN?
Pilot Grant recipients will have access to, and be expected to participate in, the educational and career
development activities provided by the CRDEB and the CREMCaD. They will also have access to editorial
assistance for abstracts and manuscripts based on their supported work, and to editorial assistance with
human subjects applications.
What is the CRDEB?
The Clinical Research Design, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics (CRDEB) is a Core resource within the CTR-IN.
The CRDEB provides education in the fundamentals of clinical and translational research. It supports CTR-IN
investigators through assistance with study design, biostatistics, and basic data management. The CRDEB has
identified a biostatistician at each partner institution who is funded by the CTR-IN and available to investigators
for local support. Additional resources are available to CTR-IN investigators through the CRDEB Core, located
at the University of New Mexico Clinical Translational Science Center. For more information on CRDEB
please see http://ctrin.unlv.edu/?page_id=184.
How much time will the CTR-IN biostatistician provide to assist with my pilot project?
Investigators who request biostatistical support on their project are expected to meet with the CRDEB
biostatistician at their institution during the planning stage of the pilot grant proposal. Up to 50 hours of free
biostatistical support on funded pilot projects will be provided through the CRDEB, exclusive of time spent
preparing the proposal.
Can I include biostatistician who is not supported through the CRDEB on my pilot project?
No, the CTR-IN and CRDEB will only support the designated biostatistician(s) at your institution. Another
biostatistician from one of the eligible institutions could be the Principal Investigator or collaborator on a pilot
grant application, but this biostatistician’s effort on the pilot grant would not be financed by the CRDEB.
What is the CREMCaD?
The Clinical Research Education, Mentoring, and Career Development (CREMCaD) is a Core resource within
the CTR-IN that will work with each individual Pilot Grant recipient to facilitate their development towards
CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program FAQs. Last modified: March 17, 2014.
independent clinical or translational research. Investigators will receive access to coursework developed for
training in all aspects of clinical and translational research. This will be provided via multiple modalities to
facilitate access by investigators with diverse backgrounds and locations. For more information on CREMCaD
please see http://ctrin.unlv.edu/?page_id=163.
CTR-IN Pilot Grants Program FAQs. Last modified: March 17, 2014.