CCTSI COVID-19-Related Research Pilot (C2R2-Pilot)

The CCTSI is announcing rapid review and funding of the CCTSI COVID-19-Related Research Pilot (C2R2-Pilot) applications. The C2R2-Pilot Program will support the development of novel diagnostic and treatment methods and innovative technologies related to the COVID outbreak. This will include, but not be limited to, proposals focused on diagnosis of COVID and its complications; evaluation and management of COVID, including early phase treatment trials; protection of healthcare workers and rapid development and deployment of PPE; and approaches to protection of the public after the initial extreme quarantine period. Proposals for screening and testing approaches for COVID will only be considered if novel.

Request for Applications (RFA)

The C2R2-Pilot Program supports the development of novel diagnostic and treatment methods and innovative technologies related to the COVID outbreak. This RFA is clinically oriented and very time-sensitive. It is meant for the immediate translation or implementation into COVID-19 clinical management, protection, or recurrence efforts.

We hope that in the near future we will be able to offer additional support for important basic science applications, but they are not a focus of the present C2R2-Pilot program.

The RFA describes eligibility, award categories and application requirements. The RFA submission deadline was April 3, 2020 at 5:00 pm MDT.

C2R2-Pilot 2020 RFA

The CCTSI Pilot Grants Program team is working remotely to issue all new Notices of Award for the CO-Pilot, Child and Maternal Health Pilot, Translational Methods Pilot, and the Community Engagement pilot programs. Our goal is for all investigators conducting Human Subjects or Vertebrate Animals research to have their institutional regulatory compliance approvals in place by May 1, 2020 (if possible). At this time, we plan to issue awards with 12-month budget period (5/1/20-4/30/21); we understand that COVID-19 restrictions related to research and lab access may cause delays in your ability to actually begin the project; we will be taking that into account to approve no-cost extensions (if necessary) as the budget period end-date approaches. For any questions pertaining to the CCTSI Pilot Grant Programs, email Debra Szuster.

Frequently Asked Questions

• I have a relevant COVID-19 project focused on gathering and reporting all crucial data on our COVID-19 patients. Will this be considered as the development of new tools/ technologies under the C2R2 RFA?
  • Answer: yes. Creating and maintaining a unique data base on clinical referral, health records and outcome of COVID-19 patients is considered a new technology and crucial for better management and treatment of patients and high-risk population.
    
    
• I have a relevant pre-clinical proposal on developing cell culture and/ or animal models for better understanding COVID-19 biology. Is my research a good fit for this RFA?
  • Answer: no. This RFA is clinically oriented and very time-sensitive – it is meant for an immediate translation/ implementation into clinical management of COVID crisis/ protection of recurrence. We hope that in the near future we will be able to offer additional support for all important basic science applications, but they are not the focus of the present C2R2 pilot program.
    
    
• I am a postdoctoral fellow/ resident. Can I be the PI on a C2R2 pilot proposal
  • Answer: You are encouraged to be a key personnel and contribute to the application process. However, only faculty (instructor level and higher) can be PI/ co-PI.
    
    
• Does the Educational Mission need to be addressed in a C2R2 application?
  • Answer: No, this is time-sensitive program which is focused on clinical outcomes and implementation to lessen the burden of COVID-19 pandemics.