Ob-Gyn Pilot Research Awards
The UNC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) is now accepting applications for a new, intra-disciplinary pilot program to support Ob-Gyn research. Funded by departmental resources, the goals of this award are to:
- Support research in the field of Ob-Gyn through basic, translational, clinical, and population science
- Foster collaboration across divisions within the Department of Ob-Gyn
- Generate preliminary findings to support future grant applications, through federal and/or non-federal sources
We are accepting research proposals of up to $20,000 in direct costs. The scope of the project can span the discipline of obstetrics and gynecology. Projects should be feasible within 12 months following ethical approval and within the allotted budget.
Applications should designate two co-leaders, each with a primary appointment in separate divisions within the UNC Department of Ob-Gyn. Faculty (regardless of academic track) and fellows are eligible for these roles.
All departmental collaborations are eligible. Projects that propose new partnerships are encouraged and will be prioritized. Investigators can build upon existing research, education, or clinical care platforms (although not required); however, the proposal should remain discrete from ongoing work.
The proposal comprises the following components, to be submitted on an online portal:
- Project information – including title and proposed leads
- NIH biosketches for proposed leads – please follow the latest instructions here
- Research plan (max 5 pages) – significance, research approach, timeline, and future directions (including possible future funding)
- References – optional, with no page limit
- Budget and budget justification (max 2 pages) – PI/co-PI effort is not permitted; however, funds may be allocated to staff, equipment, and specific services
- Letters of support from division chiefs (2 in total) – required; should include commitment of effort and, as relevant, other division resources
- Additional letters of support (max 2 additional letters) – optional
For these components, font size should be 11 points or larger (Arial, Georgia, Helvetica, or Palatino Linotype) with half-inch margins. Consistent with NIH guidelines, font size should also be legible in tables/figures. Adhere to the page or word limits for each section.
The department expects to award up to two meritorious applications in early 2026. Funds will be available once ethical reviews (and other relevant approvals) are obtained. The program will be administered by the Center for Women’s Health Research.
The deadline for submissions is February 6, 2026. Please direct any questions about the funding opportunity itself—or the submission process—to cwhr@unc.edu.