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Pilot Project Program
The goal of the PPP is to promote new collaborative and interdisciplinary research in environmental health sciences by providing a support mechanism for short-term research projects that are consistent with CIREEH’s programmatic themes: the application of imaging techniques, life-span development, and community-based research. The duration and scale of the awards are designed to provide funding in support of feasibility studies, the collection of preliminary data to develop future applications, the development of innovative research methodologies, and the implementation of intervention strategies or education programs.

Eligibility
Center Members and affiliates of BUSPH are eligible to apply for pilot funding. Affiliates of other regional research institutions, hospitals, and community groups who collaborate with Center Members on projects relating to the Center themes are also encouraged to apply. Applicants from outside CIREEH are required to collaborate with a Center Member who will act as the applicant’s sponsor, while graduate students are asked to identify a mentor who will provide guidance throughout the application process and award period.

While the general eligibility criteria are described above, the PPP is specifically aimed at providing support for three categories of applicants: new investigators (including junior faculty members, post-doctoral fellows, and pre-doctoral students), newly recruited investigators and environmental health investigators pursuing high risk-high return studies or new approaches outside of their established area of research, and other health researchers (e.g. clinicians) applying their areas of expertise to the investigation of exposure-related diseases. The extent to which an applicant meets one of these criteria will be heavily considered during the programmatic review process.

Use of Funds
For the current award period, the maximum amount awarded to a single project will be $10,000 (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) though proposals requesting less than the maximum are encouraged. Awards will be made on a one-time basis for 12 months without possibility of renewal. The budget may include funds for supplies and other costs directly related to the implementation of the research plan, and in some cases a fraction of salary support may be appropriate; however, salary support of faculty members will be not allowed and any requested travel funds must be specifically required to conduct the project.

Application Guidelines
Each application should consist of the following: a CIREEH Application Coversheet which provides contact information, abstract, and required signatures (1 page); a budget and budget justification intended to provide a concise description of budgetary items and a justification of the proposed research needs (1 page); and a three to five page proposal that includes background, significance, specific aims, research plan, and benefits/productivity expected to result from the pilot project. The description of the expected benefits and/or productivity is a key element of the application that should include a description of abstracts, manuscripts, grant applications, new resources, policy or public health impacts, or new tools that are expected to result from conducting the pilot project. If necessary, appendices should be included to address human subjects and/or vertebrate animal issues, complete with copies of the appropriate institutional review and approval forms.

Reporting Requirements
Awardees will be required to present the results of their projects in two ways: an oral presentation of the study results at a CIREEH research seminar held at BUSPH, and a final report, preferably presented in manuscript form as to encourage submission of the results for publication in the peer-reviewed literature. Additionally, awardees will be asked to provide feedback to the PPP regarding the subsequent benefits and productivity that result from their pilot projects (i.e. abstracts, manuscripts, grant applications). Copies of all reports and records of all productivity measurements will be retained by CIREEH.

Contact Information:
Questions can be directed to Dr. Michael McClean by email (mmcclean@bu.edu) or phone (617-638-7755). Applications should be mailed to:

CIREEH Pilot Project Program
Department of Environmental Health
Boston University School of Public Health
715 Abany Street, Talbot 4W
Boston, MA 02118