Pilot and Feasibility Program

University Of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Pilot and Feasibility Program The P&F Program will be a major pillar on which the success of the UCSF-NORC will be built. This program will provide $10,000-$50,000 awards (for a total of $150,000 per year) for proposal that are meant to be exploratory in nature. P&F Awards will allow applicants to collect the preliminary data needed for subsequent grant applications necessary to develop sustained, long-term new research directions. The intentions of this program relate directly to the major UCSF-NORC goal of strengthening a growing interactive community of Obesity & Nutrition researchers by: · Facilitating and allowing new investigators and junior faculty to establish NORC-relevant research programs. · Attracting scientists with established research programs in other areas into the fields of nutritional sciences, obesity, and related disorders. · Fostering highly innovative directions in basic and clinical obesity- and nutrition-related research, including clinical studies in minority and other underserved patient groups. · Developing new and innovative collaborations among NORC investigators and between NORC investigators and other faculty. A straight forward guideline driven review process will be implemented to select P&F proposal for funding. The request for applications will be conducted through a UCSF-wide website, the Research Allocation Program, that today lists 27 intramural funding opportunities. UCSF investigators routinely turn to this site to identify intramural research opportunities, which ensures that the NORC P&F program reaches its primary target of investigators (those new to the nutrition, obesity and metabolism field). The review process will involve extra- mural review of applications following an initial assessment by an ad hoc internal NORC committee including the UCSF-NORC P&F Director and the Directors of the NORC Programs. That same committee shall allocate grants based upon the recommendations of the external reviewers while ensuring a mixture of funded projects in a diversity of areas. The committee also will identify established researchers who, when required, can mentor P&F Awardees who are junior and/or new to the field. Collection of success metrics, regular review of the program by the executive committee and advice from the external board will ensure the continuation of a high quality UCSF NORC P&F program.