Pilot Project Program

North Carolina State University Raleigh, Raleigh NC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – PILOT PROJECT PROGRAM The PPP serves the core mission of the Center for Human Health and the Environment (CHHE) by fostering early-stage investigators; serving as a mechanism to recruit new scientists to EHS research; supporting innovative research initiatives that are difficult to fund at early stages; and cultivating multi-disciplinary projects that integrate the Center’s strengths in basic, applied, clinical, and public health research. Specifically, the PPP supports short-term projects to explore the feasibility of new areas of study, with a major emphasis on the effects and potential consequences of environmental exposures on human health as it relates to the five CHHE thematic research interest areas. Funded pilot projects should lead to the collection of sufficient data to pursue support through extramural funding mechanisms, especially from the NIEHS. Consequently, the PPP will be a hub for promoting an expansion of EHS research at NC State, East Carolina University (ECU), and North Carolina Central University (NCCU). In addition, the PPP accepts applications between CHHE members and community partners, especially when they address community issues that align with the Center’s thematic research interests and the mission of the NIEHS. Building on CHHE’s prior success, the overarching goal of the PPP in this renewal is to provide support for high quality individual, collaborative, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional research aimed at understanding the adverse impacts of environmental factors on human health and disease. CHHE PPP aims to foster EHS research in areas relevant to the five CHHE research interest groups (RIGs), which are: 1) Behavior and Neuroscience, 2) Water and Emerging Challenges, 3) Genes, Environment and Precision Health, 4) Health and Airborne Contaminants, and 5) Environmental Health Disparities. CHHE PPP also supports high quality environmental health research outside of its thematic areas. The PPP has a track record of supporting high risk/high gain research using cutting-edge techniques and translational research addressing environmental health concerns. PPP applicants are encouraged to seek assistance and consultation with CHHE Cores prior to submission. PPP awardees, especially early career researchers, are supported by the Admin Core’s Career Development Program. Community Engagement Core (CEC) Co-Directors will work with PPP and CHHE investigators to identify and connect stakeholders with CHHE members sharing mutual interests in specific environmental problems. This mechanism will be part of a pipeline that provides opportunities for partnerships and aids in the development of community-engaged projects. Through both grant and institutional commitments, CHHE expects to fund 8-10 pilot projects/year at $25,000/project for single investigator applications and $50,000 for dual investigator applications. An additional $5,000 will be available for multi-institutional projects or projects supporting community engagement activities aligning with the NIEHS mission. CHHE PPP will sponsor at least 1 pilot project/year for community-engaged projects.