The UCSD School of Medicine (SOM) is creating a new program in Translational Medicine. The far-reaching goals of the program are to develop new opportunities in San Diego for research and community collaboration in Translational Medicine. To help support the effort, a $40 million Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) application will be submitted to the NIH in June, 2008. An essential component of the program is to develop new avenues of research and technology through collaboration. Funding will be requested to support a Pilot Project Program offering multiple annual awards of up to $50,000. Competitive proposals will be included as part of the CTSA grant. Funding is contingent on successful CTSA application and will commence in early 2009. Proposals are now solicited for the following types of awards: · Pilot Clinical Studies—Patient-oriented studies designed to test novel hypotheses, therapeutic targets, or diagnostic agents. Projects could include multidisciplinary interactions and use of biomarker or imaging endpoints. Studies to improve access to state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for traditionally underserved populations are also appropriate. Additionally, projects that improve clinical design, biostatistics, ethics, informatics, or regulatory pathways vis-à-vis translational research are sought. Up to $25,000 per award. · Pilot Translational Studies—Pre-clinical studies designed to validate a therapeutic target that uses in vivo or in vitro models. These projects require a clinical researcher to serve as co-PI to assure disease relevance. Up to $25,000 per award. · Pilot Innovative Technology Projects—Projects that develop new technology to assess disease susceptibility, pathogenesis, or severity that could potentially be applicable to clinical research. A particular focus on biomarker or imaging modalities is anticipated. These projects could include a clinical researcher to serve as co-PI to assure disease relevance. Up to $50,000 per award. Collaborative projects from investigators below the rank of Professor will receive priority. Proposals will be accepted from investigators at UCSD, Rady Children’s Hospital, SDSU, LIAI, Salk, Burnham, and J. Craig Venter Institute, eligible to be principal investigators under the policies of their respective organizations. UCSD PIs must have a fulltime faculty appointment. The deadline for receipt of proposals is March 14, 2008. At this time requested documents are to only include an abstract (~500 words, either as an attached .pdf document or within the email) and an NIH-style Biosketch, including current grant support of the principal investigator(s). Please use the following application template CTSA Pilot Project(s) application. A copy of this RFP is available at CTSA Pilot Project(s) RFP. Preliminary data are not required; the emphasis is on innovation, not past results. The abstract should state the project title, principal investigator(s), significance of the research, specific aims, hypothesis and summary methodology. Please indicate the Program component most closely aligned with the proposal; i.e., Clinical Studies, Translational Studies or Innovative Technology. The review will be conducted by a panel of internal and external scientists working in translational research. The review priorities include: 1) significance of the research and its translational relevance; 2) scientific quality; 3) feasibility; 4) probability that the work will yield important new information, technology or service; 5) qualifications of the principal investigator and collaborators. The highest scoring proposals will be expanded for inclusion in the CTSA application, with proposed funding beginning when the CTSA grant is funded. The abstract is to be submitted by e-mail to Ken Tomory at cii@ucsd.edu. Questions should be addressed to Dr. Firestein at (858) 822-0480 or gfirestein@ucsd.edu, or Mr. Ira Goodman at (858) 822-1221 or igoodman@ucsd.edu. Application Deadline: Friday, March 14, 2008