Newly Added Funded Opportunity

The College of Medicine has added a new targeted focus area to the Research Innovation/Pilot Grant Program to support projects centered on organoid-based research and/or the application of artificial intelligence (AI). While proposals across all scientific areas remain eligible and responsive to this funding mechanism, additional funding has been set aside specifically to support projects aligned with this new focus.

Projects in this priority area may leverage advanced organoid-based model systems—including patient-derived organoids, 3D tissue platforms, and engineered microphysiological models—and/or artificial intelligence (AI)–driven approaches, such as machine learning, deep learning, data analytics, and computational modeling, to address complex biological and clinical questions.

All Research Innovation/Pilot Grant Program funding restrictions, eligibility requirements, review criteria, and program guidelines apply to applications submitted under this focus area. Consistent with the overall goals of the program, projects should generate critical preliminary data that strengthen the investigator’s competitiveness for future extramural funding.

Application Deadline: To accommodate the timing of this additional notice, applications that are classified as AI/organoid research are due on Tuesday, May 19 at 8am via online portal.

Research Innovation/Pilot Grant Program

Background: The Research Innovation/Pilot Grant Program was established to assist College of Medicine faculty with generating preliminary data necessary to develop highly competitive NIH or other grant applications, or to take their research in a new direction.

This program seeks to support the development of innovative studies with a high potential for future extramural funding and is designed to enhance new or current faculty research programs. A research study is responsive to the RFA if it:

• Uses innovative approaches or discoveries to address relevant problems in the field of biomedical science;
• Contributes critical experiments or data gathering to an existing research program that will enhance funding success;
• Brings interdisciplinary expertise to initiate a new research direction for the principal investigator.

Project priorities: A wide spectrum of projects can be considered responsive to this funding opportunity. Proposals may include basic, translational, epidemiological, outcomes, data analytics, or clinical studies. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate the highest potential for a critical finding and are most likely to lead to a successful application for extramural funding. Projects with well-developed concepts in which additional data are required for proposal submission, as well as innovative ideas that require further testing, are also encouraged.

In alignment with these goals, the College of Medicine has designated a targeted priority area within the Research Innovation/Pilot Grant Program to support projects focused on organoid-based research and/or the application of artificial intelligence (AI). While proposals across all scientific areas remain eligible and responsive to this funding mechanism, additional funding has been set aside specifically to support projects aligned with this targeted focus area.

Projects within this priority area may leverage advanced organoid-based model systems, including but not limited to patient-derived organoids, three-dimensional (3D) tissue platforms, and engineered microphysiological models, and/or AI-driven approaches, such as machine learning, deep learning, data analytics, and computational modeling, to address complex biological and clinical research questions.

All Research Innovation/Pilot Grant Program funding restrictions, eligibility requirements, review criteria, and program guidelines apply equally to applications submitted under this targeted focus area. Consistent with the overall objectives of the program, proposed projects should generate critical preliminary data that strengthen the investigator’s competitiveness for subsequent extramural funding (e.g., NIH or other external funding mechanisms).

Funding pool: Funding for this program is derived from the College of Medicine Office of Research. It is anticipated that up to three (3) awards, not to exceed $30,000 each, will be awarded. In addition, designated funds have been set aside to support projects aligned with the targeted priority area focused on organoid-based research and/or the application of artificial intelligence (AI).

Project periods must be no longer than one year. Any balance remaining after the one-year project period will not be available for carryover.

Eligibility: Applications will be accepted from UC paid, full-time faculty members whose appointment is at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and where said faculty member will submit any resulting application for funding to an outside agency through UC’s Sponsored Research Services. The lead Principal Investigator must be a College of Medicine full-time faculty member. Co-Investigators may be from affiliated institutions, e.g. VAMC, CCHMC, or other colleges but cannot be the principal investigator or co-principal investigator. Applicants who have received CoM Research Innovation/Pilot funds in the past will need to indicate how the funding contributed to their research program, e.g. resulted in an R21, R01.

Collaborations: Collaborations among investigators spanning disciplines and programs are encouraged, including those between basic scientists and clinicians to foster the development of translational research projects.

IRB and IACUC: If applicable, applicants must have already submitted or have received IRB or IACUC approval. Applicants who have not yet submitted for IRB or IACUC approval are not eligible. These awards are intended to provide funding for a year and the lack of such approval can significantly delay the start of the proposed studies.

Overview of review process: The review of applications occurs in 2 phases: (1) Application/Scientific Review by a panel of peers and (2) Administrative Review. During the first phase, applications are reviewed by three UC faculty members using a rubric similar to the NIH scoring system. Applicant rankings and scores are then reviewed by CoM Office of Research, which has final decision authority. Some budget cuts may be made during this phase if necessary. Critiques will be provided to the applicants after awards are announced, upon request.

Priority of funding will be given to applicants who clearly articulate how the outcomes of their proposed research will lead to future extramural grant funding.

Supplemental items:Supplemental items cannot be submitted and will not be accepted.

Submission of applications:

Use NIH margins and font requirements. All applications must be submitted to the online portal. Applications received after the applicable deadline will not be reviewed. The final application must be submitted as one PDF document.

• Applications not classified as organoid-based and/or AI-focused research are due Monday, May 12, 2026, by noon.
• Applications classified as organoid-based and/or AI-focused research are due Tuesday, May 19, 2026, by 8am.
  

Composition of applications:

1. Face page, budget, budget justification, NIH biosketch, current and pending internal and external funding (use required forms). Be sure to include a biosketch for PIs and all Co-Is. You must use this application package: CoM Research Innovation/Pilot Application package

2. Application to include specific project details with sufficient rationale and appropriate background/significance information. (limit to 3 pages)

3. Outcomes of Research. Must include specific information and a plan of how this pilot funding will be specifically used to support a future grant submission, including the broad hypothesis and/or specific aims to be examined. Applications will not be reviewed if this section is missing from the application package. (limit to half a page, not included in the 3-page application page allocation). 

- Example: "We propose to use (enter expected pilot data or innovation) obtained from this funding to support our central hypothesis of XXX and thus expand the study into an R01 grant through the following aims...."

- Include an estimated timeline for a subsequent extramural grant application.

4. Literature cited (limit to 1 page, not included in the 3-page application page allocation)

5. Applicants who have received CoM Research Innovation/Pilot funds in the past should include the impact of the previous funding as demonstrated by any extramural funding (e.g. R01, R21) received based on pilot funding data. (limit to 1 page)

Funding restrictions: This is a College of Medicine internal award funding mechanism. Therefore, there are limitations as to what is an allowable expense. Please review the funding restrictions below. No exceptions will be made. Applications that include non-allowable expenses will not be considered or scored.

• Funds may not be used to support faculty salaries (including emeritus faculty), travel, meetings, food expenses, capital purchases, or publication costs. UC College of Medicine trainee and staff salaries are permitted.
• Funds may be used to cover core services at UC and CCHMC; however, for services available at both institutions, the UC services must be used, unless otherwise fully justified.
• Subcontracts to outside universities are not permitted nor are fees for services. Money allocated for this internal funding mechanism cannot support outside institutions.
• Funds are not permittable to faculty and staff outside of UC College of Medicine.

Acceptance of this award: Recipients of College of Medicine Office of Research support are expected to assist with future activities (i.e. internal grant reviews, serving on appropriate research committees, etc.). Recipients are expected to report metrics associated with the award, such as a funded grant or publication, when solicited by the Office of Research and to acknowledge pilot awards on any resulting publications.

Grant awardees are expected to use a grant pre-review mechanism for subsequent NIH applications related to data gathered using these Pilot funds. Either the OoR Grant Pre-Review program or a department-specific program can be used.

For questions, please contact Brieanne Sheehan, sheehabe@uc.edu.