Pilot Awards
Internal — Ohio State University only
Pilot Awards support interdisciplinary teams at Ohio State University with seed funding for high-risk chronic brain injury research that generates preliminary results for future studies and clinical trials.
Funder: Ohio State University
Due Dates: December 9, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | January 20, 2027 (Full Application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 per one-year project; up to five awards per year; at least $25,000 in matching funds required
Summary: Seed funding for interdisciplinary, innovative, high-risk team research that generates pilot data and advances solutions for chronic brain injury.
Key Information: Teams must be led or advised by a currently appointed Ohio State faculty member.
Description
Ohio State University’s Center for Brain Injury Recovery & Discovery (CBIRD) supports interdisciplinary teams pursuing innovative, high-risk research on chronic brain injury. Pilot Awards provide seed funding for one-year collaborative studies that establish research collaborations and generate data, publications, or other preliminary outcomes toward extramurally funded research projects and clinical trials.
The program seeks to better understand, prevent, and treat the long-term effects of brain injuries. Priorities include neural repair mechanisms, new therapeutic approaches, assistive technologies, and improved diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Successful proposals feature new teams positioned to secure extramural grants, publish high-quality collaborative papers, and strengthen Ohio State’s national research reputation.
