Pilot Projects Awards Supporting Innovation in Cancer and Aging Research

The Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) Infrastructure Grant is requesting applications for two pilot projects in the field of cancer and aging research. The goal is for this pilot funding to provide support for investigator pilot projects that can lead to externally funded awards.

Applications must include plans/strategies for how the study will:
1) Address an issue concerning cancer and aging
2) Support research teams focused on cancer and aging research
3) Lead to publications and extramarul funding

Deadline for submission: January 18th, 2025

In place of a Letter of Intent (LOI), please complete the brief survey of intent with your interest to apply by December 1st, 2024. Here is the Survey Link

Please see preliminary details below and visit the website for more information: Here is the Website Link

Funding Parameters:
This RFA is for two 12-month pilot awards for up to $20,000 each (which includes indirect costs). We anticipate institutions to reduce indirect costs as part of their institutional commitment. Please provide information on indirect cost rate as part of the budget justification. Pilot awards will be effective June 2025. Proposals should reflect the scope of the work with budget request up to $20,000. A separate NIH-styled budget justification is required for each institution with line items reflecting actual costs. Funds can be requested for non-faculty personnel (with strong justification for their anticipated time spent on the project), supplies, and CARING Cores. Funds cannot be used for faculty salaries, travel, books or journal subscriptions. Funds must be spent 1 year after receipt of funds.

Eligibility for Funding:

1. PI is an early stage or new investigator (using NIH’s early stage investigator policy) with a faculty position.
2. Projects must:
   1. Address an issue concerning cancer and aging
   2. Show scientific merit as well as originality and innovation
   3. Have high potential for successfully competing for an NCI or equivalent extramural grant with results from the pilot
   4. Plan to use and evaluate the CARG Core infrastructure
   5. Demonstrate a feasible 1-year completion timeline
   6. Projects should engage CARG members, CARG mentors, and demonstrate institutional commitment (i.e. reduce/waive indirect costs)
   7. Align with CARGs Statement on Diversity Equity and Inclusion. 
3.  At this time, the pilot grant awards will be limited to U.S. based institutions since our national infrastructure grant is NIH-funded.

4. Approval from NIA will be required prior to award for projects involving human subjects or animals. All questions regarding the award should be directed to the contact listed on the notice of award. Applicants should note that IRB certification (for human subjects) and/or Animal Use Committee approval (for animal subjects) must be provided before a grant award can be made. Under NIA requirements, if your IRB is categorized as not minimal risk, it is required to include the data and safety monitoring plan for the study in NIH format with your IRB approval. Awardees are required to submit an annual progress report with a final narrative and financial reports and ongoing reporting on the impact of the award on future research. The following application materials should be submitted to CARinG@coh.org by January 18th, 2025 11:59pm CST.
   
   1) The Pilot Grant Application Title Page
   2) Description of project (maximum 5 pages including aims but excluding references)
   3) Detailed budget with justification
   4) NIH biosketches of the PI(s) and co-investigators
   5) Letter of institutional support for PI investigator including leveraged resources to facilitate completion of research proposed
   6) Must discuss explicitly how CARG infrastructure resources (e.g. data, Core support) are needed and will be utilized to facilitate the next steps for the research

   
   Questions should be directed to the CARinG email (CARinG@coh.org).