The Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease (CGIBD), a joint program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, awards pilot/feasibility grants each year in a competitive application process. Pilot/feasibility grants are one-year awards of up to $35,000 total costs.
The overall purpose of this program is to provide support for investigators to pursue new and innovative research ideas leading to independent funding. We are particularly interested in projects related to our theme of bioresilience as it relates to digestive and liver diseases. Priority is given to new investigators and investigators who use our core facilities.
Application Process
A one-page letter of intent should be submitted by the date listed above and must include the following:
A submission link for the above information can be found at the bottom of this page under Downloads.
The full application package is due by 5pm on the date listed above and should be submitted electronically at this address: PF Application Web page. This package must include the cover page, 4 pages of text material (references may be additional pages), line item and narrative budgets, and investigator’s biosketch and other support. Investigators may apply for funding up to a limit of $35,000 in total funds. Please note that there is one form that includes the proposal and budget. All documentation must be submitted as a single PDF. The application form is available at the bottom of this page under Downloads.
Applicants are encouraged to call the Administrator at 919.966.8381 with questions about the process. An active log-in is required for submission.
Funding Mechanism and Regulations
When a research project is funded through the CGIBD Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program, a budget account is established at the CGIBD office for use by the PI. New awardees should contact the CGIBD P30 Administrator for precise instructions on how to access the funds. The awards are for 12 months, but awardees may request a no-cost extension if needed to complete the project.
Awardees will not receive funds until they have provided the CGIBD with documentation of approvals for animal or human subjects use, if either approval is required. In the case of human subjects, the CGIBD will also require assurances that all personnel have been trained in the use of human subjects in research.
In general, funds may be used for any purpose which directly supports the research proposed by the funded application. For example, an awardee may choose to pay some of an assistant’s salary from the funds or may use them to purchase research supplies, order services from any of the campus scientific support cores, or travel to a relevant meeting or workshop. However, funds may not be transferred to another project or to general departmental use. They may not be used to support an advisor or mentor or his/her research. They may not be used to support the general operation of a laboratory, except to the extent that the proposed research uses laboratory resources or to purchase laboratory equipment.
Research Areas
Pilot/feasibility proposals should be based on research in gastrointestinal biology and epidemiology. Preference will be given to proposals that (1) appear likely to result in findings that will allow the investigator to successfully compete for subsequent independent funding and (2) are related to research directions of the UNC Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease. The Center’s primary research theme is Bioresilience. Among the areas of special interest are: inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD); liver disease; gastrointestinal cancer; intestinal water and electrolyte transport; gastrointestinal epithelial damage, growth, development and repair; intestinal stem cells; gut microbiome and the epidemiology of gastrointestinal disease. Applications investigating other aspects of gastrointestinal disease will be accepted.
Pilot/feasibility studies may not be used to supplement or extend ongoing funded research or as a general-purpose fund to compensate for errors in budgeting, overspending or unexpected loss of funds on established programs or to contribute to the costs of maintaining a laboratory or core (though funds may be used to pay service or supply fees directly related to the proposed project). If funds have not been fully expended at the end of the budget period or at the time the applicant receives NIH funding, these may be reclaimed by the CGIBD to support other pilot projects. Questions on the use of funding should be referred to the CGIBD P30 Administrator.
Current P/F recipients may apply for a second year of funding by competitive renewal. Previous P/F recipients may apply for a new award by submitting a new grant proposal that clearly represents a new research direction.
Awards
All applicants will be notified of the status of their application as soon as possible following review by the CGIBD External Advisory Board. Successful applicants will be asked to meet with the Center biostatistician and administrative staff before receiving funds. The CGIBD P30 Administrator will provide detailed instructions for using funds.
Reporting Requirements
All investigators funded through this program must submit a 6-month progress report and an annual report for inclusion in the CGIBD’s submission to the National Institutes of Health for continuation funds. Any publications resulting from CGIBD support must credit the CGIBD grant number (P30 DK034987). Awardees should continue to report funding awards and/or publications resulting from their pilot awards as these occur in the future.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease
Address: CB #7555 130 Mason Farm Rd. Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7555 cgibd@med.unc.edu Phone: 919.966.1757
Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.
Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.
Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.
Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.
Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.
Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.
Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.
Mar 10, 2025
Apr 10, 2025
$35,000
Affiliation: Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease
Address: CB #7555 130 Mason Farm Rd. Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7555 cgibd@med.unc.edu Phone: 919.966.1757
Website URL: https://www.med.unc.edu/cgibd/pilot-feasibility
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.