Purpose
The purpose of this Pilot program is to provide seed money for research that has not yet reached the stage of maturity necessary for funding by traditional NIH mechanisms such as RO1s and PO1s. Such research ideas should be considered innovative and may potentially be high risk. These applications are funded for one or two years and have a maximum funding limit of $65,000 per year. Research areas deemed relevant to the scope of this program include, but are not limited to:
- Development of new gene therapy vectors for CF.
- Study of inflammatory responses to vector delivery of CF affected organs.
- Assessment of host cell/vector interactions and the mechanisms of transduction to CF affected cell types.
- Cystic fibrosis related diabetes and pancreatitis.
- CF hepatic, gallbladder, and intestinal disease.
- Identification of stem cells targets for gene therapy and cell therapy applications in CF.
- Development of surrogate endpoints for assessing gene transfer and complementation in vivo.
- Pathophysiology of CF in any affected organ, except the lung.
- Development of animal models to test CF gene therapies in vivo.
Pilot Program
Eligibility
Eligibility for Pilot and Feasibility project grants is not limited to University of Iowa Precision Medicine Center for CF Members. Rather it applies to all members of the scientific community at the University of Iowa, and at other institutions who collaborate with PMCCF Members. Applicants must be a US citizen or have a permanent visa. This program is open to, and encourages:
New investigators who have never had, and do not currently have, extramural support for their CF-focused research program within the NIDDK mission.
Established investigators who are currently performing research outside the area of CF or gene therapy but wish to apply their expertise to a problem relevant to the goals of the Center’s research mission.
Established investigators who are currently performing CF or CF-relevant gene therapy research but wish to investigate a novel idea that falls within the Center’s focus and represents a significant departure from currently funded research.
Application
A Letter of Intent (LOI) is due November 1, 2026. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full pilot grant proposal by February 1, 2027.
Detailed instructions for both the LOI and full proposal, as well as links to required forms, are available on the “Pilot Grant Application Forms” page of the PMCCF website under the Pilot Program tab.
Pilot grants provide funding of up to $65,000 for one year, with the possibility of a competitive renewal for a second year. The upcoming grant cycle will begin on August 1, 2027.
Please submit your LOI by November 1, 2026 using the link below.
For questions, please contact:
Amy L. Ryan, PhD
Center Director
Email: amy-l-ryan@uiowa.edu