Pilots Program

Pilots Program

The ITHS Pilots Program offers funding to help investigators get started with exciting new translational research projects.

What We Do

The Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS) Pilots Program is designed to support innovative, high-impact translational research projects that have the potential to advance medical knowledge and improve human health. By offering seed funding, the program encourages investigators to explore new ideas, establish proof of concept, and generate preliminary data for larger, future grant applications. The Pilots Program is particularly focused on fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical practice, with an emphasis on addressing health disparities and enhancing public health outcomes.

ITHS Funding Opportunities

Academic Community Partnership Awards

Tap into the power of the people with the Academic Community Partnership Awards! Get up to $50,000 to support research conceived and conducted through a partnership between a community organization and academic researchers. Funds can be used to pay for organization staff time and other necessities to ensure the community’s voice is heard as your team works to improve health outcomes for everyone. Applications open in May! 

New Interdisciplinary Academic Partnership Awards

Great minds don’t always think alike! The New Interdisciplinary Academic Partnership Award supports innovators who want to combine forces with others to make discoveries that they couldn’t have found on their own. This award of up to $50,000 goes to newly formed partnerships between researchers with complementary expertise. Applications open in May! 

Early-Stage Product Development Awards

The road to commercialization of health care innovation can be long and arduous, but our Early-Stage Product Development Awards are designed to smooth out the path. Get up to $100,000 to demonstrate that your envisioned product accomplishes its purpose. Use the funds to refine a prototype, evaluate usability, produce small batches of product, or conduct an early-stage clinical study. Apply in May and get that much closer to market!

Catalyst and Voucher Awards

Do you need to complete a health science project? Are you trying to collect pilot data for a larger grant application? Apply for the ITHS Catalyst and Voucher awards! Designed especially for early career investigators, Catalyst Awards offer just-in-time funds and Voucher Awards offer in-kind service vouchers to help you get your translational science projects finished. Rolling quarterly applications means these awards are ready when you need them. 

Primate Center Ignition Awards

These awards of up to $75,000 help investigators explore innovative areas of non-human primate research. Use services and resources of the Washington National Primate Research Center and ITHS to generate pilot data needed to submit research grant applications and/or go on to subsequent clinical studies. Applications open in the fall!

Our Team

Teddy Johnson
Faculty Co-Director

Nina Isoherrenan
Faculty Co-Director

Lindsie Boerger
Project Manager

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