The New England Primate Research Center (NEPRC) is pleased to announce an expanded pilot research initiative supported by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. Funds are derived from an award issued in response to the NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement NOT-OD-09-056 (“Recovery Act Funds for Administrative Supplements: NCRR ARRA Funding for Administrative Supplements for Enhancing NCRR Pilot Project Mechanism”). Funds provided by this initiative will support pilot projects that are innovative, novel in approach and have the potential to lead to transformative discoveries.

Funding will be targeted toward junior faculty at the Instructor and Assistant Professor levels. The aims of the program are to:

1. accelerate the acquisition of critical proof-of-concept data;
2. provide a valuable means for early-career investigators to pursue creative new research directions;
3. facilitate development of new methodologies and emerging technologies applicable to research using nonhuman primates;
4. encourage initial investigations that are likely to lead to full-scale translational studies in nonhuman primates.

NEPRC core scientists and qualified outside investigators in the broad areas of microbiology, immunology, neuroscience, pathology and comparative medicine are eligible to apply for pilot project support under this initiative. Each award will consist of $25,000 to $40,000 direct costs per year for a 2-year project period.

The deadline for receipt of all applications is November 13th, 2009.

Applications are being accepted now and will be reviewed in December, 2009. Forms with instructions may be obtained here (please note that the forms require Adobe Acrobat 4 or higher). Applications should be submitted electronically to pilot@hms.harvard.edu; this email address may be used for any inquiries about the program.