Start HERE: Use your institutional email to create an account and begin your application. This will allow you to save your progress on the application and complete and submit it at your convenience.

Click here to view the MCCTR online guide for investigators.

Overview:

The MCCTR will support 1-year pilot projects on C&T, community-engaged, and population health research on major chronic diseases impacting Mississippians. Key considerations in awarding support to project investigators will be (1) the scientific rigor of the application (2) the likelihood of attracting extramural funding, (3) evidence of a path toward an independent research career for the applicant, and (4) the probability that the research program would lead to improved health outcomes.

Eligibility for Pilot Project Awards:

Eligible applicants include full-time employees with a faculty or clinical fellow appointment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC; includes joint UMMC/VA appointments), the University of Mississippi (UM), Mississippi State University (MSU), Tougaloo College, and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). MCCTR CEnR Summer Institute graduates are also eligible to apply, regardless of their institution, as long as they are full-time employees with a faculty or clinical fellow appointment. 

The MCCTR is committed to supporting early-stage investigators (ESIs) and strongly encourages ESIs to submit Pilot Project applications. An early-stage investigator (ESI) is a principal investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as a PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award. 

Current or previous principal investigators of a P01- or R01-type NIH grant or equivalent National Science Foundation Grant are not eligible for Pilot Project Awards, unless they are pivoting their research interests from basic science to clinical/translational research.

Projects must be clinical or translational research. NIH definitions for clinical and translational research are as follows:

Clinical Research is research with human subjects that is:

1. Patient-oriented research. Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens, and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects. Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues that cannot be linked to a living individual. It includes: (a) mechanisms of human disease, (b) therapeutic interventions, (c) clinical trials, or (d) development of new technologies.
2. Epidemiological and behavioral studies.
3. Outcomes research and health services research

NOTE: Studies falling under 45 CFR Part 46.101(b)(4) (the "Common Rule" prior to July 19, 2018, and 45 CFR Part 46.104(d) 4) (the "Revised Common Rule" effective July 19, 2018, Exemption 4) are not considered clinical research by this definition.

Translational Research includes two areas of translation: 

• One is the process of applying discoveries generated during research in the laboratory, and in preclinical studies, to the development of trials and studies in humans. 
• The second area of translation concerns research aimed at enhancing the adoption of best practices in the community. Cost-effectiveness of prevention and treatment strategies is also an important part of translational science.

Pilot Project Structure:

These are one-year feasibility pilots to allow investigators to test ideas suitable for development into independent applications such as NIH career development (K-series) or small/developmental research project grant (RPG) awards. A feasibility pilot may be led either by an independent investigator or by a clinician fellow working with a research mentor. The budget for an individual Pilot Project is $50,000 in annual direct costs.

The earliest start date for projects selected and approved for funding is 09/15/2026.

Awardees are required to submit a progress report to the MCCTR Administrative Core quarterly via the online reporting site PieStar. Awardees will receive emails with additional information about how to access the site and what data/information is required for reporting. Briefly, reports will include information on research progress, challenges or barriers to success, mentoring updates, and product updates (publications, presentations, grant submissions, awards, promotions).

The MCCTR Administrative Core will monitor expenditures across various budget categories. Any changes in originally funded budget categories that are restricted will require prior approval by MCCTR leadership.

The MCCTR has the authority to revoke any award if sufficient progress is not demonstrated, if employment changes occur that alter the Principal Investigator's eligibility, or if the project receives overlap funding from another source. The principal investigator is obligated to report employment changes or receipt of overlap funding for the project to the MCCTR within 2 weeks of receiving notice of employment changes or new funding.

Extension of time or funds of the original award will generally not be considered. Requests for such extensions under the most extenuating circumstances should be anticipated and submitted at least three months prior to the termination date of the award.

All publications and abstracts resulting from research supported either directly or indirectly by the MCCTR should acknowledge the support with the following statement: "Research reported in this publication was supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number U54GM115428."  Publications with foreign authors are not allowed per IDeA NOFOs. 

Restrictions

IDeA Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) do not allow foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Foreign components are defined as any significant scientific element or segment of a project outside of the United States, either by the recipient or by a researcher employed by a foreign organization, whether or not grant funds are expended.

Activities that would meet this definition include, but are not limited to, (1) the involvement of human subjects or animals at a foreign site, (2) extensive foreign travel by recipient project staff for the purpose of data collection, surveying, sampling, and similar activities, or (3) any activity of the recipient that may have an impact on U.S. foreign policy through involvement in the affairs or environment of a foreign country. Examples of other grant-related activities that may be significant are:

• collaborations with investigators at a foreign site anticipated to result in co-authorship;
• use of facilities or instrumentation at a foreign site; or
• receipt of financial support or resources from a foreign entity.

Publications with foreign authors are not allowed per IDeA NOFOs. 

No awards will be made for faculty salary, conference travel expenses (travel is allowable to reach community groups), or consultant expenses (subawards to businesses or institutions within IDeA states are allowable on a case-by-case basis).

Required Application Components:

NOTE: Templates, blank forms, or instructions are provided, if possible, via hyperlinks below and on the application site.

1. NIH Biographical Sketch Common Form (use SciENcv to generate)
2. NIH Current Pending Other Support Common Form (use SciENcv to generate)
3. PHS 398 – Forms 1 and 2
4. PHS 398 – Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
   1. Budget Justification – start on Detailed Budget and use the Continuation page as needed
5. Specific Aims – Limit is 1 page
6. Research Plan – Limit is 3 pages
7. Bibliography/References Cited
8. MCCTR Initial Mentoring Agreement
9. MCCTR Mentoring Plan

If your proposed project involves Human Subjects (HS), the following items are required (**= only required for Clinical Trials):

1. Institutional IRB Approval
2. PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information Form
   1. Attachment: Explanation for Human Specimens and/or Data
   2. Attachment: Study Record(s): PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information – USE THIS TIP SHEET and additional comprehensive instructions in the NIH Application Guide
      • Attachment 2.3a: Inclusion of Individuals Across the Lifespan
      • Attachment 2.4: Inclusion of Women and Minorities
      • Attachment 2.5: Recruitment and Retention Plan
      • Attachment 2.7: Study Timeline**
      • Attachment 3.1: Protection of Human Subjects
      • Attachment 3.2: Single IRB Plan (only required if selected for funding)
      • Attachment 3.3: Data Safety Monitoring Plan**
      • Attachment 3.5: Overall Structure of Study Team**
      • Attachment 4.3: Statistical Design and Power** (Consult with BERD Core)
      • Attachment 4.5.a: Availability of IP and IND/IDE status**
      • Attachment 4.7: Dissemination Plan**

If your proposed project involves Vertebrate Animals, the following is required: 

1. Institutional IACUC Approval
2. Vertebrate Animal Section (1-2 pages)

If your proposed project involves the use of NIH-defined select agents, the following is required:

1. Attachment: Select Agent Research

If your proposed project involves the use of Biohazards, the following is required:

1. Attachment: Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources