Colorado Pilot Grant Program (CO-Pilot)

One-year pilot grant awards to mentored and junior investigators to provide initial support for proof of concept projects and to CU-CSU teams. Encouraging new cross-disciplinary and collaborative projects in clinical and translational medicine to address translational science roadblocks.

The program is intended to fund early-stage, preparatory or feasibility studies to overcome roadblocks in the translational process. This will apply to the variety of new disease pathways, technologies, protocols or participant recruitments strategies (to name a few) as stepping-stones toward a full and hypothesis-testing investigation.

RFA issued in November, applications due in January, selection in May.

CO-Pilot Award Categories

Application next to a laptop

Mentored - $40,000

Junior - $40,000

CSU/CU Collaboration - $50,000

 

Request for Applications (RFA)

The RFA describes eligibility, award categories and application requirements.
The window for submitting a letter of intent has ended. Please check back in November 2025 for the next cycle.

Information & Resources

2025 Key Dates

RFA Posted
November 3, 2025

Pre-LOI Informational Webinar #1:
November 12, 2025 from 10am - 11am via Zoom

Pre-LOI Informational Webinar #2:
November 17, 2025 from 12:30pm - 1:30pm via Zoom

Intent to Apply Due
December 8, 2025 at 5:00 pm MT

Pre-Application Informational Webinar:
December 15, 2025 from 12:30pm - 1:30pm via Zoom

Application Deadline
January 12, 2026 at 5:00 pm MT

Scientific Merit Review
April 2026

Notice of Award
May/June 2026

Start of Award
August 1, 2026

Award Expiration Date
July 31, 2027

Email Pilot Grant Program

Contact Us

CO-Pilot Office

Tim Lockie
720-848-6660

CO-Pilot Leadership

Natalie J. Serkova, PhD
Matt Hickey, PhD

CCTSI Pilot Program Coordinator

Kristen House
720-848-6691

Email Pilot Grant Program

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