Watch this page for information about the latest funding opportunities.

F&T Pilot Grant Program

The F&T Pilot Grant is available to:

• postdoctoral and predoctoral trainees who currently hold an individual peer-reviewed external fellowship (NIH F-series or other comparable award);
• postdoctoral and predoctoral trainees currently supported by a NIH T32 or T90/R90 training grant; and
• predoctoral trainees in good standing in the MD/PhD or DDS/PhD programs.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• The program aims to provide an opportunity for early stage investigators to gain significant experience with clinical and translational research.
• Research funds up to $16,000 available for up to two years
• Requires a senior faculty mentor conducting clinical and translational research or a biostatistician mentor from the University of Minnesota.
• Applications due by noon April 15, 2013; start date of June 1, 2013.

Learn more about the F&T Pilot Grant Program.

Community Collaborative Grants

The Office of Community Engagement for Health (OCEH) annually awards pilot grants to community–university partnerships to stimulate new research in the area of community and population health. The pilot grants are also aimed at generating pilot data to allow new applications for extramural funding. Projects focused on issues in community and population health that involve both university and community-based researchers are eligible to receive pilot funding.

Application procedure: The current application cycle is open. The OCEH sponsored a pre-application workshop Monday, March 25, 2013. Download workshop materials, the partnership checklist, and Q&A. An optional letter of intent is due April 8, 2013 with full proposals due May 24, 2013.

Download the RFP. Please email ctsi@umn.edu if you have any difficulties with the submission process.

Novel Methods Pilot Funding Opportunity

The purpose of the Novel Methods Pilot program is to provide support for investigators to incorporate novel methods into their translational research programs.

Novel methods include: 1) 3D imaging based on advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology; 2) clinical trial simulations and prediction of drug response; 3) cell-based immune modulation therapy using ex vivo activated and expanded human T regulatory cells (Tregs); 4) sequence-specific nucleases for precise genome modification of cells and organisms; 5) transposon-mediated gene transfer for gene therapy or as a discovery tool for medically relevant genes and pathways.

This funding opportunity is open to full time Assistant, Associate, of Full Professors at the University of Minnesota; the PI must hold a doctorate degree. Please review the RFA for additional eligibility criteria.

Applications must be focused on human-relevant translational research with the potential to impact human health and/or disease.

Application process now open for 2013.

Download the RFA for more information about the application process.

Community Collaborative Grants

The Office of Community Engagement for Health (OCEH) annually awards pilot grants to community – university partnerships to stimulate new research in the area of community and population health. The pilot grants are also aimed at generating pilot data to allow new applications for extramural funding. Projects focused on issues in community and population health that involve both university and community-based researchers are eligible to receive pilot funding up to $40,000 in total costs (no indirects allowed).

Application procedure: The current application cycle is open. The OCEH will sponsor a pre-application workshop Monday, March 25, 2013 from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. at 717 Delaware Street SE, Room 105, Minneapolis on the UMN campus to provide information on proposal development with full proposals due May 24. Download the RFP.

Visit the Office of Community Engagement for Health page to learn more about the collaborative grants program.

Shared University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic (SUMMA) Award

• Inaugural cycle of a new, competitive award program that will support join projects at the University of Minnesota's Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Mayo Clinic in Rochester (Mayo Clinic)'s Center for Translational Science Activities.
• The overall goal of this funding mechanism is to establish long-term collaborations between both Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA) funded organizations by building on expertise and infrastructure unique to each institution and generating pilot data that can be used to support extramural grant applications.
• This initial round of the Shared University of Minnesota and MAyo Clinic CTSA Award (SUMMA Award) will solicit focused projects that allow investigators to produce pilot data and demonstrate feasibility for projects that examine issues important to community health.
• Requires a Principal Investigator from the University of Minnesota and from Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
• Funding up to $60,000 in direct costs is available for each award, for a duration of one year.
• Letters of Intent were due by April 1, 2012.
• Invited full applications were due by June 1, 2012.
• Awards commenced in September 2012.

Download the RFA for information about eligibility and the application process.

Translational Research Grants

• The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support and facilitate the highest quality translational research.
• For junior investigators conducting early stage translational research.
• Projects focus on T1, early phase translational research (see the RFA for detailed eligibility information).
• Awards are available up to $50,000 for a duration of one year.
• Funded investigators will partner with a Project Development Team (PDT) from the CTSI Office of Discovery and Translation (ODAT) that will provide project mapping and translational research expertise to facilitate the achievement of specific metrics and endpoints.
• The first round of 2012 ODAT Translational Grants recipients have been announced.
• Applications for the second round of 2012 ODAT Translational Grants were due September 17.
  

Download the RFA for information about eligibility and the application process.

Novel Methods Pilot Funding Opportunity

• The purpose of the Novel Methods Pilot program is to provide support for investigators to incorporate novel methods into their translational research programs.
• Novel methods include: 1) 3D imaging based on advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology; 2) clinical trial simulations and prediction of drug response; 3) cell-based immune modulation therapy using ex vivo activated and expanded human T regulatory cells (Tregs); 4) sequence-specific nucleases for precise genome modification of cells and organisms; 5) transposon-mediated gene transfer for gene therapy or as a discovery tool for medically relevant genes and pathways.
• This funding opportunity is open to full time Assistant, Associate, of Full Professors at the University of Minnesota; the PI must hold a doctorate degree. Please review the RFA for additional eligibility criteria.
• Applications must be focused on human-relevant translational research with the potential to impact human health and/or disease.
• Application process now open for 2013.

Download the RFA for more information about the application process.

Current 2012 Novel Methods Pilot Grant recipients.

Research Services Pilot Funding Program

• This program is designed to increase the competitiveness of UMN investigators for extramural funding to investigate novel questions in the clinical setting.
• Available to faculty members at any University of Minnesota campus.
• Provides support to cover costs of clinical research support services that allow investigators to gather preliminary data for clinical research projects.
• Clinical research support services may include, but are not limited to: Research Project Management, Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center (BDAC), Clinical Research Implementation Services (CRIS) services/support, Informatics Consulting Service (ICS), and Biomedical Ethics Consulting Service. Services not provided by CTSI, such as specialty laboratory services and Fairview Investigational Drug Services, may also be covered by the award.
• Awards will be made for $5,000 to $25,000 of support services. See below for more information about the rolling application process for awards up to $5,000.

Download the RFP for information about eligibility and the application process.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for awards of up to $5,000, also awarded as in-kind research services. This in-kind funding may be used for post-award Clinical Research Implementation Services or Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center collaboration.

• Requests for up to $5,000 of in-kind research services can be made at any time by submitting a Request for CTSI Services
• When completing the Request for Services form, select "Other" in answer to the question "How will your research be funded?"
• In the text box that appears, indicate the requested funding amount and purpose (i.e., clinical procedures, clinical staff support, or biostatistics assistance)
• You will be notified of the award decision and next steps within ten (10) business days 

Cross-Institutional Award for Health Disparities Research and Health Systems Change

• Cross-institutional funding opportunity from the University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the University of California – Los Angeles Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
• This program supports pilot projects that address health disparities and health systems problems of importance to Southern California and Minnesota, and seeks projects in which community-based organizations participate fully with faculty in the research process.
• Research questions must be relevant to community needs and community organizations must be involved in the formulation, execution, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of the research.
• Applications are required to include co-PIs from both the University of Minnesota and UCLA, and at least one community partner.
• Deadline for the required letter of intent has passed. Invited full proposals will be due on November 16, 2012.

View the RFA for more information.

Collaborative Health Equity Award

The goal of the Wisconsin-Minnesota CTSA Collaborative Health Equity Award Program is to facilitate cross CTSA translational research dedicated to addressing minority health disparities to promote health equity. The Wisconsin and Minnesota CTSAs anticipate jointly contributing to one award with a maximum grant of $150,000 in direct costs for 18-24 months. Projects may be an extension of other work, but cannot overlap with any funded project or be used as bridging support for projects for which funding has lapsed.

• RFA released November 3, 2012
• Letter of Intent due December 17, 2012
• Full proposals invited by December 14, 2012
• Full proposals due (invitation only) February 15, 2013
• Awards announced March 1, 2013

Education and Career Development Opportunities

Career Development Opportunities for Junior Investigators

CTSI offers four training programs to support clinical and translational research career development. Programs are designed to support junior investigators as they build independent research careers. Eligibility ranges from Assistant Professors in rank ≤ 4 years to Associate Professors in rank ≤ 7 years.

• New Investigator Pre-K Pilot Grant
• KL2 Scholars Program (RFA-3)
• K to R01 Transition Grant
• 2nd R01 Pilot Grant
   

Career Development Opportunity for Pre- and Postdoctoral Trainees

The F&T Pilot Grant supports postdoctoral and predoctoral trainees who currently hold an individual peer-reviewed external fellowship (NIH F-series or other comparable award); postdoctoral and predoctoral trainees currently supported by a NIH T32 or T90/R90 training grant; and predoctoral trainees in good standing in the MD/PhD or DDS/PhD programs.

Career Development Opportunity for Health Professional Students

Learn about the Summer Advanced Research Program for health professional students.

Career Development Opportunity for Undergraduate Students

Learn about the Center for Health Equity and Clinical and Translational Science Institute Undergraduate Research Program (URP).