The call for applications to the 2024 Advance-CTR Pilot Projects Program is now closed. 

Learn more about the program and see the RFA below. 

The Pilot Projects Program brings investigators together from institutions across the state to develop interdisciplinary collaborations that span the translational research spectrum. The program funds research that addresses Rhode Island's health challenges and community health priorities.

The 2024 Pilot Projects Program will fund five to eight pilot projects for one-year research grants:

Category 1

Proposals with a single PI may apply for up to $50,000 in direct costs

Category 2

Proposals involving at least two PIs (multi-PIs) from different disciplines may apply for up to $100,000 in direct costs. A Contact PI who is a junior investigator or a  faculty member transitioning to a new area of clinical or translational research must be designated.

See the 2024 RFA

Investigators with faculty appointments at Brown, URI, Care New England, Lifespan, and the VA Providence Healthcare System are eligible to apply for the Pilot awards. 

Postdoctoral graduates, medical residents, and fellows are also eligible to apply for the awards contingent upon a letter from their department chair stating that they will have a faculty appointment upon receipt of the award. 

Please refer to the RFA for complete eligibility criteria. 

See the 2024 RFA

Community Engagement

While the best science will be prioritized, special consideration will be given to fund projects that incorporate community engagement into the proposed research. For the purpose of the Pilot Projects Program, Advance-CTR utilizes the CDC-supported definition of community engagement:

Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of those people.

Advance RI-CTR’s Community Engaged Practice Based Research Network (CEPBRN) is available to researchers through the Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) Core. The mission of the CEPBRN is to support research among researchers, clinics, clinicians, and community organizations that is collaborative and meaningful to all stakeholders.

Coaching for such applicants will be available from Advance RI-CTR’s Community Engagement and Outreach Core.

Additional Considerations

In addition, special consideration, in no particular order, will be given to investigators who:

Pursue research that addresses the health goals and priorities set forth by the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Strategic Framework. 

Priority areas (in no particular order) include, but are not limited to:

• Access to healthcare services especially among underserved populations including Latinx
• Mental health in adults and youth - including prevention, services, programs, community resources and related stigma
• Food access and nutrition
• General community well-being, health awareness and improvement of community health resources
• Chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer)
• Substance use disorder
• Obesity
• Health of mothers and their children

Employ robust use of Advance-CTR Service Cores:

See below.

Clinician-scientists:

Clinician scientists are defined as scientists with professional degrees who have training in clinical care and who are engaged in biomedical research

Are from historically underrepresented groups:

Advance RI-CTR uses the current NIH definition of underrepresented groups. More information about the NIH definition can be found here.

In addition to research funding, Pilot Project Awardees have the opportunity to leverage Advance-CTR’s Service Cores in both the pre-submission and post-award stage of the application process. 

Applicants who are selected to submit a full application are prioritized by the Service Cores and may consult with faculty experts on their research design, methodology, and overall application. 

Awardees are always able and encouraged to consult with the Service Cores throughout the life cycle of their project. 

Advance-CTR offers services in biostatistics, research design, and epidemiology; qualitative and mixed methods research; survey design, development and analysis; and biomedical informatics.