The research Pilot Project Leader must be a junior investigator employed in Rhode Island. The junior investigator is defined either as (1) an individual who does not have and has not previously had an external, peer-reviewed research project grant (R01) or Program Project Grant (PPG) from either a Federal or non-Federal source that names that investigator as the PD/PI, or (2) an established investigator who is making a significant change to his/her career focus. Senior, funded investigators who are not making a significant career change are not eligible; if such a project is submitted, it will be deemed as non-compliant and will not be reviewed.
With respect to item (1), grants that name an applicant as a co-investigator, collaborator, consultant, or a position other than PD/PI, do not disqualify the applicant. Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) grants, exploratory/pilot project grants (such as NIH R03 and R21 awards), mentored career development awards (such as NIH K01 and K08 awards), or other Federal or non-Federal funding whose purpose is to provide preliminary support in anticipation of a RPG or PPG also do not disqualify the applicant. The intent of this FOA is to support and develop promising investigators whose early career support consists of awards geared toward initiating their intended area of research. Each Pilot Project Lead should indicate in his/her Biographical Sketch their current and previous history of peer-reviewed research support.
A junior investigator must hold a faculty appointment (or equivalent at a research institute) at the time that the award is made. Postdoctoral fellows or other positions that do not carry independent faculty status at the applicant institution will disqualify that individual and his/her research project from further consideration, unless evidence is provided that a faculty appointment is forthcoming.
With respect to item (2) above, support may be provided to an established investigator who is making a significant change to his/her career goals by initiating a new line of research that is distinctly and significantly different from his/her current investigative program. The current or previous history of independent peer-reviewed research support, which should be indicated in the Biographical Sketch, in a different investigative area than that proposed in this application does not disqualify the investigator from serving as a Pilot Project Lead. Furthermore, this individual can be of any faculty rank. Investigators who propose to develop a new or alternate line of research, but whose intention is to maintain support of an active RPG or PPG in a different area of research are also not eligible.
Because the pilot project funds derive, in part, from our NIGMS-funded COBRE, awarding of a COBRE-funded Pilot Project will require one to relinquish any other NIGMS sponsored NIGMS IDeA programmatic funding.
Foreign components are not allowed.