Dr. Ned Ballatori, Deputy Director of the Center (left), is the Program Coordinator. Dr. Jacob Finkelstein, Director of the Enrichment program, continues to work closely with Dr. Ballatori in the area of solicitation and review of projects.

The Enrichment Program of the Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC) has funds to support a limited number of Pilot Projects.

The objective of a pilot project should be relevant to the theme of the Environmental Health Sciences Center, “Environmental Agents as Modulators of Human Disease and Dysfunction.”

Funding is limited to $25,000 for the duration of one year. Applications from new investigators and collaborations with existing Center Faculty are encouraged.Ê Funds are restricted to research expenses and cannot be used to support travel, faculty salary, or equipment purchases.

The application process is now conducted in a two-part process. Initial applications should include a one-page abstract describing the goals and objectives of the proposed project, the relevance to the mission of the EHSC, and the investigators involved.

Abstracts will be reviewed by the Internal Advisory Committee and those applicants selected to submit full applications will be contacted shortly thereafter. The deadline for submitting initial applications is January 26, 2007.

• encourage and facilitate collaborations among EHSC as well as non-EHSC investigators,
• attract new faculty to the Center,
• assist junior faculty to develop productive research programs,
• provide a vehicle for investigators to develop preliminary data for extramural funding applications, and
• develop innovative research initiatives within the Center.

Solicitations for Pilot Project applications are distributed throughout the Medical School two times per year. Included with the application materials are criteria for funding which include:

• scientific merit
• relevance to environmental health and the mission of the EHSC,
• utilization of EHSC Facilities Cores, and
• collaborations with EHSC faculty.

A two-tiered review system has been implemented. This was done to streamline the review process and increase the quality and relevance of grants that were subject to a full review.

Initial applications are in the form of a brief abstract and aims page that also includes any proposed interactions among EHS Center investigators. Submitted abstracts are reviewed by the Internal Policy Committee. In this manner, there is input from all research Cores and relevant scientific disciplines within the Center. Often, critiques are sought from members of other Departments or programs who have a particular expertise in certain areas.

Using the criteria defined above, each member votes on whether a full application (5-10 page proposal) should be submitted for comprehensive scientific review. The full review involves a 10-20 minute oral presentation by the applicant to the Internal Policy Committee. Its members score and rank all applications for that round.

Final decisions with respect to funding are made by the EHSC Director and Deputy Director contingent upon available funds and Center-related needs. Investigator salary, equipment and travel costs are normally not allowed.

Questions? Contact Jack Finkelstein or Pat Noonan.

Application form (page 1)

Eligibility (page 2)

Application Procedures (page 3)

Reviewing Procedures (page 4)

Application form (Word)

Application form (PDF)

Proposed Budget