Pilot Project Awards (PPA)
Pilot Project Awards (PPA) support Kentucky faculty research involving undergraduates to build or sustain NIH-funded research programs and advance competitive NIH R15 or R16 proposals.
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Funder: Kentucky IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 (Letter of intent) | December 18, 2026 (Completed proposal)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 in direct costs for one year, plus facilities and administrative costs
Summary: Supports Kentucky faculty research involving undergraduates to establish or maintain NIH-funded programs and advance competitive R15 or R16 proposals.
Key Information: Institutions must provide 50% teaching release; PIs may teach no more than two courses or six credit hours per semester.
Description
KY INBRE Pilot Project Awards support promising early-stage and independent investigators at Kentucky colleges and universities in establishing or maintaining NIH-funded research programs involving undergraduate students. The one-year mechanism supports development of competitive research programs, continued progress by previously KY INBRE-funded investigators, and bridge funding for investigators preparing or awaiting competitive NIH R15 or R16 renewals.
Undergraduate participation is central: investigators must involve students in research, monitor their progress, and document their accomplishments. Project support is linked to preparing NIH proposals, publishing findings in peer-reviewed PubMed journals, and sharing progress at the KY INBRE Annual Research Conference. Funding decisions emphasize scientific merit, relevance to NIH programs, and the likelihood of a successful R15 or R16 application.
