Pilot Grant Program

Overview

The Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC) is soliciting  proposals for pilot and feasibility Studies. New proposals or initiatives for biomedical, epidemiological behavioral, legal, ethical, health systems or other research in Alzheimer’s disease are encouraged.  Two NIH funded proposals for $25,000 in direct costs for one-year non-renewable studies will be awarded. The Pilot Grant funding mechanism is intended to support new investigators from other fields eager to bring their research expertise to bear on Alzheimer’s disease, as well as feasibility testing of innovative drug and management approaches.  Pilot study support is not intended for large undertakings by established investigators, or to enhance ongoing research projects that are already funded.

How to Apply

A PDF version of the proposal on an NIH PHS 398 form is due on February 15, 2012. The PHS 398 form is available here. There is a 5 page maximum for the specific aims, background, preliminary results and experimental methods sections.  No appendices are allowed.  All proposals should be accompanied by at least preliminary animal, human studies and/or biohazard forms if applicable.   Signatures from department or administrative officials are NOT required.

The completed proposal should be e-mailed to bmyoung@bu.edu.  Two expert reviewers from outside the BU ADC Executive Committee will review each grant based on scientific merit, and the Executive Committee will then consider those grants with fundable scores (at least 3 on the NIH scale with 1 being best and 9 worst) based on programmatic grounds. The selected grants will be funded from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. 

No adjustments to this funding period and no carry-over of funds are allowed.  Proposals that utilize the BU ADC’s resources or data (including the participant registry and/or the brain bank) are strongly encouraged.  Partnerships with community-based organization, including resources directed toward the recruitment and retention of diverse research participants, are strongly encouraged as well.

More Information

For specific program guidelines and other information regarding the BU ADC Pilot Grant program , please contact:

Dr. Richard E. Fine, Pilot Grant Program Director, BU ADC
K-124-C, Dept. of Biochemistry
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, MA 02118
Tel: 617-638-4190
Fax: 617-638-5339
Email: rfine@bu.edu

or

Beverly Young, Administrator, BU ADC
Tel: 857-364-4702
Email: bmyoung@bu.edu