Pilot Grants Program
Early Career Investigator Pilot Awards
Mentored Pilot Research Project awards (similar to K08, K23 and K99 awards) provide one-year of funding to support research projects and career development activities that will enhance the applicant’s ability to compete successfully for an independent R- or K-series award (e.g., acquisition of preliminary data, training in grant preparation). The projects can address a variety of topics, including vaccinology, therapeutics, laboratory studies and statistics. Scientists (MD, PhD or equivalent) nearing completion of postdoc or in early faculty positions (instructor or assistant professor) and those whom not have served as principal investigator (PI) or MPI on an R-grant (other than an R03) with NIH are eligible. Serving as PI on a K-series or other mentored career award does not preclude eligibility.
2022-2023 Pilot Award Recipients
Assistant Professor, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics & Epidemiology, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Project Title: Statistical methods for evaluating vaccine efficacy against asymptomatic and symptomatic infections using infrequent diagnostic testing data
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine
Project Title: Epigenetic immune changes after BCG vaccination in adults
Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases, New York University
Project Title: Cross-reactive IgG antibodies to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection
Acting Instructor, Infectious Diseases, University of Washington
Project Title: Single cell analysis of human secondary syphilis skin lesions to measure innate and pathogen-specific immune responses
2022 Pilot Award Recipients
Research Associate, Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Project Title: Human intestinal TRM: Distinct cross-reactive responses against enteric pathogens
Fellow, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Project Title: Population PK/PD of Beta-Lactams in Critically Ill Children and Adults
2021 Pilot Award Recipients
Infectious Diseases Fellow, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Project Title: Seasonal coronavirus immunity and effects on SARS-CoV-2 immune response
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine; Director, Emory VTEU Research Laboratory
Project Title: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Fc glycosylation and its role in COVID-19 immunopathology