Pilot and Feasibility Program

The Columbia DRC Pilot & Feasibility (PF) program provides support for research projects related to diabetes. Since its inception, the PF program has successfully attracted new investigators who wish to undertake a career in diabetes, as well as established investigators proposing to work on diabetes, outside of their usual area of research. The program has funded at least two new grants every year. During the past cycle, we awarded 13 PF grants, at an average annual award of $ 50,000. The 13 PF awardees were selected from 90 Letters of Inquiry based upon preliminary review by the PF Director and the PI. 51 complete applications were solicited and reviewed by extramural scientists selected for their relevant expertise. Each project is provisionally funded for two years, contingent upon submission by the PI of a one-year interim report demonstrating suitable progress. Nine PIs met the NIH criteria for new investigators, four were established investigators who undertook projects in the diabetes field and were new to diabetes research. We report outcome data on 11 projects (three additional projects are in their second year of funding and two are presented with this application for initial funding). The 11 recipients of completed PF awards have applied for 12 new grants and obtained 7, 6 of which are funded by NIH and one by industry. The annual amount of direct costs derived from PF grant-catalyzed awards in this cycle is near $ 2.8M. 11 of 13 funded investigators remain active in diabetes research. The PF program also continues a successful match program through the Berrie Foundation program “Frontiers in Diabetes Research” that has enabled us to fund one additional PF grant each year. We have also integrated the DRC PF activities with those of the New York Obesity Research Center, so that applicants are routinely encouraged, where appropriate, to apply to both programs, increasing the opportunity for possible funding of their application. Three types of applications are considered: i, Proposals from new investigators who have not held any prior funding, to carry out preliminary studies leading to an NIH, ADA or JDRF grant application; ii, Proposals for technology development in the field of diabetes; iii, Proposals from established investigators, without prior funding in diabetes, who wish to undertake a diabetes-related project. Under the leadership of Dr. Leibel, Associate Director for PF programs, the program administration solicits applications from the academic community, ensures prompt peer-review, oversees grant administration, monitors funded investigators’ records of productivity, and integrates PF-sponsored research with the Enrichment Program.