Pilot FAQ

With the goal of promoting translational research, our Pilot Program helps facilitate innovative research in environmental health science, particularly as it pertains to the unique communities we serve and the arid lands in which we live. Each awarded pilot project either supports a facet of the broader NIEHS mission and strategy or the specific mission of our center.

NIEHS mission and strategy

According to the NIH webpage for this Institute:

“The mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives.”

“We seek opportunities to:

• Advance research on environmental triggers of disease
• Communicate advances in environmental health sciences to the public
• Foster training and development of young environmental health scientists and practitioners
• Enhance translation of knowledge from research to disease prevention
• Develop improved safety assessment research on chemicals and other environmental factors”

Details on the most recent NIEHS funding strategy are available on the NIEHS Funding Strategies webpage.

SWEHSC mission

The mission of the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (SWEHSC) is to facilitate and implement innovative research aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying environmental health science risks and disease among people living in arid environments experiencing climate change.

Faculty at all universities in the State of Arizona are eligible and encouraged to apply. 

We especially welcome applications from:

• Early-stage investigators
• Established investigators interested in expanding their research to include environmental health
• Investigators focused on environmental justice concerns that affect rural communities and Native American and Latinx peoples residing in arid lands
• Investigators researching innovative directions in environmental health science
• Investigators interested in collaboration with other SWEHSC members

No, though acceptance of a pilot award also constitutes acceptance of center membership and the rights and responsibilities it involves. Members must be part of a Research Focus Group and make every reasonable effort to attend center meetings and events. Whether you are awarded a pilot grant in this funding cycle or not, if you are not yet a member but are interested in becoming one, please contact our Administrator, Susanna Herndon.

A timeline overview is available on the opportunity webpage at Arizona Cultivate and is replicated on our pilot project home page.

We follow a multi-phase approach designed to help investigators prepare the most fundable application possible by providing ample feedback from our center leadership and time to revise the preliminary application based on this feedback. This practice of presenting and revising is to help develop grantsmanship skills among our members, while the review process and criteria imitate the NIH peer review process.

To apply, visit our opportunity page on Arizona Cultivate and complete the application form by November 1. The online application form includes both text entry fields and file uploads. 

Components of the application include: 

• PI information
• Co-I information
• Project summary (max 1500 characters, or about 250 words)
• Project narrative document (document upload, max of 2 pages)
• Budget document (Excel document upload, template included)
• Budget justification document
• Bibliography
• Biosketches (in NIH format, template included)
• Supporting graphics file (as applicable, final application only)
• Acknowledgements (final application only)

The review, approval, and distribution of funds is overseen by center leadership and involves a peer review conducted by at least two SWEHSC members with appropriate scientific expertise. The reviewers evaluate applications for scientific merit in accordance with the standard NIH review criteria and for their fit with the overall aims and needs of our Center, including their potential to garner future external funding (see “Review Criteria” table). Reviewers are encouraged to suggest improvements to the research strategy for consideration by the PI and by Center leadership (our Internal Advisory Board).

Upon completion of the review, our Internal Advisory Board members will meet in a study section to discuss review results and to rank applications for funding prioritization. This ranking determines the final award decision.

Project PIs are notified of the final decision and are provided a summary of comments and recommendations made by the reviewers. Applicants wishing to revise their applications based on reviewer comments are encouraged to resubmit in the next funding round.

Review Criteria

SWEHSC pilot funds of up to $40,000 per project are available and include some funds earmarked to support investigators in career development and a meritorious project addressing an environmental justice issue. Please see our Pilot Budgeting page for more details on funding restrictions.

Supplemental funding (up to another $15,000 per application) may be requested for use at select Research, Innovation and Impact cores. (More details are available on the opportunity page.)

Select colleges at the University of Arizona may offer matching funds to their investigators. Center administrators will request this on behalf of the applicant upon determination of the award. If you have questions on this, please contact our Administrator, Susanna Herndon.

The exact number of awards can vary, though it is typically between three and five awards per year. Some funds are earmarked for career development projects or meritorious applications addressing an environmental justice concern.

All projects are intended to conclude within one calendar year of the date they are awarded. No-cost extensions may be granted on an exception basis for projects that involve recruitment for population studies or that demonstrate particular merit.

Following the announcement, you will work with our administrators and accounts’ fiscal officer to set up payroll for project personnel, if applicable. Announcements will be made in March for a project start date of May 1.

Acceptance of the award constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions, which includes annual reporting for several years on publications and grants applied to and/or received that are related to the pilot project. You will also maintain compliance with the NIH public access policy for any related publications that result from the pilot project or user fees funding.

If your application is not selected, you will receive a notification via the email associated with your Arizona Cultivate account. We encourage you to apply again to future competitions and to consult with our Pilot Program Director in advance of the next competition cycle for additional guidance on your project idea.

Our process allows for verbal feedback from our Research Focus Group members that you can use to help hone the final application. Your final application will undergo a peer review and anonymized feedback will be sent to you with the decision.

While we have highlighted some key items here and via the competition page on Arizona Cultivate, we can’t cover every scenario and would be happy to discuss any lingering questions you may have. Please see the following sections for who to contact based on the question topic.

Project design, collaboration, available resources

To learn more about our mission and initiatives as they relate to the Pilot program, including advice on potential collaborations and available resources to assist you in your project planning, please contact our Pilot Director, Xinxin Ding, PhD.

Community-oriented projects

For community-oriented pilot projects, we encourage you to reach out to our Community Engagement Core Director, Paloma Beamer, PhD.

Budgeting

To learn more about budgeting parameters, reach out to our Administrator, Susanna Herndon (CC’ing our Coordinator, Rachel Richardson).

Research, Innovation & Impact Cores

Reach out to Rachel Richardson with any questions not answered on the opportunity webpage.