As part of our NIEHS grant, our Center is tasked with awarding funds to local universities, institutions and community groups to develop pilot projects that improve children’s environmental health. Funded projects can range from lab studies and innovative field sampling to translational projects that test out interventions in the real world.
Explore our three Pilot Project award types below, and see if your idea might qualify for funding! Deadlines and eligibility vary by Pilot Project type.
Explore this page: Development Projects | Translation Projects | Rapid Response Award | How to Apply | Awarded Projects | FAQs
Types of Projects
Development Pilot Projects
The Catalyst Pilot Program is aimed at funding innovative research in any area of children’s environmental health that will provide preliminary data leading to extramural funding. This award is available to any junior or senior full- time faculty member.
The Focused Research Award is used to develop new translational products (e.g., message, material, video, mobile app, toolkit, preventive prescription, intervention, policy) and promote research in one of the thematic areas (asthma prevention, lead exposure and harm reduction, air pollution including inhaled toxicants e.g., asbestos, and endocrine disrupting chemicals) and to support research that may lead to multi-investigator grants.
Closed for Year 4! Applications open in Summer 2025 for Year 5
Applicants can request up to $25,000 for one year. Both the Catalyst Pilot Program and the Focused Research Award is open to any Center members and fellow standing/research faculty from member institutions. Underrepresented minority faculty and junior faculty are highly encouraged to apply. No Indirects Allowed.
Questions about the Development Pilot Projects, application process or our funding cycle? Email prcceh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
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It is not enough to just develop translational products (e.g., message, material, video, mobile app, toolkit, preventive prescription, intervention, policy) – you have to find ways to implement these products in the community and test whether they are effective and cost-beneficial.
Our Center provides funding for two different types of Translation Pilot Projects:
Interdisciplinary Award: At least one Center member partners with a community organization to test and evaluate a translation program or product. First time applicants are preferred. Up to $50,000 in funding per funded project. No Indirects Allowed.
Community Action Award: Specifically for community and non-profit organizations to implement a translational program or product based on concerns from the community. A Center member must be a co-PI on the project. Up to $50,000 in funding per project will be awarded. No Indirects Allowed. If your group is not familiar with any Center members, email prcceh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu – we’ll help make those connections.
An example might be to find a strategy to address a community environmental health problem that has worked somewhere else and adapt it to your community and evaluate how the implementation went.
Another example might be to test a novel strategy or community partnership to address a community concern.
Applications for Translation Pilot Projects are accepted on a rolling basis.
Email prcceh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu to see if your project is eligible BEFORE writing your proposal.
Rapid Response Award: Emergency Use Funding
This special category was created to provide quick funding for collecting data or testing an intervention on an immediate children’s environmental health concern. For instance, if there is a spill, natural disaster or emergency that creates a hazardous situation, there may be limited time and opportunity to collect data to study the impact of that hazard on children.
The Rapid Response Award can quickly be reviewed and funding secured to collect the data or implement an intervention. It is restricted to up to $10,000 per funded project AND a community organization must be involved in the project. No Indirects Allowed.
An example might be if there is a plan to change roadway access in a community and the community is interested in collecting air quality data to show they are already over-burdened. This data may be used to impact policy.
Applications for Rapid Response Awards are accepted on a rolling basis.
Email prcceh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu to see if your project is eligible BEFORE writing your proposal.
Applications should be emailed in a PDF format to prcceh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. Each application should include the name of the Pilot Project you are applying to and the following information:
- Title of the Application;
- personal information (name, position, title, affiliation, and contact information);
- NIH biosketch;
- list of current and pending grant support;
- an abstract not longer than 250 words;
- a statement on how this project may lead to extramural funding in Children’s Environmental Health;
- specific aims;
- significance, which must state the relevance to Children’s Environmental Health;
- preliminary studies if available;
- methods;
- references;
- authentication of key biological or chemical resources if applicable;
- budget justification; and
- where applicable, IRB or IACUC approval.
Items #5-10 cannot exceed 5 pages
Restrictions and Fine Print:
No salary support for the faculty member is allowable. Applicants can request salary for support personnel, supplies and minor equipment (less than $5K). The investigator cannot claim travel or funds towards the purchase of major equipment. These pilot projects DO NOT allow for indirect costs.
Except for the Rapid Response Award, each Pilot Project has a set deadline. Applications received before a deadline is announced will be held until the next cycle.
Questions about the application? Email prcceh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu