Research Funding Support Mechanisms
UNC CCCR Pilot Grant Funding
This pilot grant funding mechanism is intended to support innovative pilot studies that promote new collaborations between the CCCR and researchers at UNC that will lead to new extramural funding.
UNC researchers can apply to receive up to $10,000 of pilot funding in a calendar year. Allowable costs for this funding include CCCR resources (e.g., statistical, methodological or other clinical trials support), research supplies, travel, computing/analytic/data costs, publication fees, staff/student support, but exclude allocation towards the researcher’s salary. The applicant’s successful use of this pilot funding will be evaluated by metrics such as paper(s) submitted to journals, preliminary data used in grant submissions, and abstracts presented at national and/or international meetings.
If interested in applying for pilot grant funding from the UNC CCCR, please complete and submit this form.
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The number of awards will depend on available pilot grant funding and CCCR priorities. All pilot award recipients will be asked for brief progress reports focused on these metrics every 6 months for up to 2 years post award end and will be expected to present at an ABC session and at TARC Research Day. Recipients may also present to the broader CCCR community and/or the Community Advisory Board as appropriate. Awardees should cite the grant support in any products, e.g., “this project was funded in part by NIH/NIAMS P30AR072580.”
UNC CCCR Statistical Support Vouchers
Researchers at all stages can apply to receive up to $2,500 in the form of a voucher to use towards receiving statistical/methodological support from the CCCR. The $2,500 voucher translates to approximately 50 hours/year or 4 hours/month of statistician time. This voucher is intended to be used only for requesting statistical/methodological support. If the researcher requires additional support, we recommend applying for the full pilot grant mechanism described above. A voucher can be requested in addition to pilot funds if additional CCCR statistical support is needed for a proposed pilot. The voucher projects should also lead to abstracts, publications, or preliminary data, but need not be innovative.
If interested in applying for a statistical/methodological support voucher from the UNC CCCR, please complete and submit this form.
Please reach out to Abby Mihalkovic (abby_mihalkovic@med.unc.edu) with any questions about applying for pilot grant funding or statistical support vouchers.
Pilot Grant Funding Awardees
Astia Allenzara, MD, MSCR
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology
UNC School of Medicine
Project Title: “Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy diagnosis and features associated with diagnostic delay”
Aaron Smith, MD
First-Year Rheumatology Fellow
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology
UNC School of Medicine
Project Title: “Lupus related fatigue and cognitive dysfunction – an unmet need”
Ashley Buck, MS
PhD Candidate in the Human Movement Science Curriculum at UNC
NIH/NIAMS T32 Pre-Doctoral Fellow in the Thurston Arthritis Research Center
Project Title: “Biomedical and Biological Phenotypes Emerging Within One Year Post-Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Machine Learning Approach to Understanding Early Knee Osteoarthritis”
Sandra Soto, PhD
Assistant Professor
UNC School of Nursing
Project Title: “A Longitudinal Observational Study of Psychosocial Factors Related to Physical Activity Maintenance in Adults with Arthritis”