Pilot Projects

Pilot Project Program
The Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (SWEHSC), an NIEHS funded Center at the University of Arizona, announces the availability of awards up to $40,000 for pilot projects involving research related to the mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/plan2006/) and the Center. Pilot projects are designed to provide support for obtaining preliminary data that can be used in developing major proposals for submission to extramural funding agencies. In this round of funding, priority will be given to projects involving translational research. Translational research is defined by NIEHS as the conversion of environmental health research into information, resources, or tools that can be used by public health and medical professionals and by the public to improve overall health and well-being, especially in vulnerable populations. Collaborative efforts that foster integration of basic science, public health research including epidemiology and intervention studies, and patient-oriented clinical research among basic scientists, clinical researchers, and/or public health practitioners is particularly encouraged. Research to improve early detection, prevention, and/or therapy for environmentally - related disorders or which utilizes well-characterized patients and control subjects are examples of the types of research projects that will be responsive to this solicitation.

All State of Arizona faculty are eligible and encouraged to apply. Junior and clinical faculty, who have not previously performed research in environmental health science but who would be interested in broadening their research to include environmentally related research, are especially invited by the Center to apply. Applications must make use of technologies available in the SWEHSC Facility Cores. Projects that provide for interaction with existing SWEHSC investigators are encouraged.

Download application

Application Procedures
Information about the SWEHSC and its resources can be found at http://swehsc.pharmacy.arizona.edu/. Proposals are due by 5:00 pm, Monday, October 22rd. Application materials and information concerning budgetary issues can be obtained from Susanna Brodie-Herndon (brodie@pharmacy.arizona.edu, 520-626-5594) or from the SWEHSC website. Research related questions should be addressed to Dr. Clark Lantz (lantz@email.arizona.edu, 520-626-6716). All investigators should consult with Dr. Lantz prior to submission to insure that their research is related to the goals of the Center. Peer-review committees will review applications. Funding decisions will be made by November, 2007 in order to fund projects starting January 1, 2008.