Current Environment:

Discovery Pilot Grant for Clinical Research

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the clinical and translational research activities of Boston Children's Newborn Medicine faculty and fellows.

All faculty members in the Division of Newborn Medicine who are part of the Boston Children's network are eligible to apply. Newborn Medicine fellows are also eligible, provided the fellow has a designated faculty mentor in Boston Children's Newborn Medicine.

Funding is available for the following services, which are provided by the Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research at Boston Children's Hospital:

  • Biostatistics, including study design and analysis
  • Database development and management
  • Clinical research form development
  • Survey development and administration
  • Data and specimen collection
  • Project management
  • Clinical Translational Study Unit (CTSU) services, including specimen processing, neurodevelopmental assessments, etc.

Funding is also available to support laboratory supplies and/or services.

Funding is NOT provided for salary (principal investigator, research assistant / technician), computers, or travel.

Funding will be considered for the following types of projects:

  • Clinical/translational
  • Epidemiology (primary data collection, secondary analysis of existing datasets)
  • Quality improvement
  • Observational and interventional (e.g., randomized trials)

Application process

The process for applying for this funding is outlined in the flow diagram.

As a first step, the investigator prepares a one-page Concept Paper briefly describing the study and submits the Concept Paper for preliminary review.

Concept Papers are accepted on a rolling basis. A “green light” to proceed with the full submission, or recommendations for additional steps, will be issued within two weeks.

Once the Concept Paper receives the “green light,” the investigator develops a three-page Full Proposal including ICCTR resources and budget in collaboration with the ICCTR navigator, Ms. Erica Denhoff, and the ICCTR biostatistician, Dr. Henry Feldman.

Deadlines for submission of Discovery Pilot Grants Proposals are March 1, June 1, Sept. 1, and Dec. 1.

Once Discovery Pilot Grants are awarded, funds and requested ICCTR resources will be available to the investigator following approval by the IRB.