Colorado Pilot Grant Program (CO-Pilot)

Available Funding

How many awards will be made in each category?
The number of awards varies each year with the availability of institutional and federal funding each year.

What percent of applications receive awards? What is the funding rate?
The overall funding rate for each of the CCTSI Pilot Grant Programs ranges from 19-27%, similar to NIH funding rates.

Eligibility and Exclusions/Restrictions

Can you apply for, or participate in, more than one proposal or program?
Individuals may be listed in a Key Role on only one application per funding cycle across the Colorado Pilot (CO-Pilot) Grant Program, the Child and Maternal Health (CMH-Pilot) Grant Program, and the Community Engagement CE-Pilot) Grant Program. CO-Pilot and CMH-Pilot applicants may concurrently apply for funding from the TM-Pilot program. Individuals may be listed non-Key Roles (consultant, graduate student, etc.) on any number of applications. Key Roles are defined in the RFA.

Can you collaborate with someone outside of the CCTSI Affiliate Institutions (non-affiliate collaborator)?
Investigators from non-CCTSI Affiliated Institutions are ineligible to be Principal Investigators on Pilot Grant Program awards, but they are encouraged to collaborate with an eligible investigator from a CCTSI Affiliated Institution who could serve as PI on an application. Note: The Translational Methods (TM-Pilot) Grant Program does not allow any award funds to be spent at non-CCTSI Affiliated Institutions.

Can you apply if you previously applied for or received, a CCTSI Pilot Grant Program award?
Individuals who are currently funded through an active CCTSI Pilot Grant Award, including a No Cost Extension, may not apply as a PI, co-PI, co-Investigator, or in a role with salary support. Mentors who are not receiving salary support may be included as Primary Mentor (or Co-Mentor) on multiple applications. Renewals or follow-on funding to any prior CCTSI funded project are not allowed. Unfunded applications from a prior cycle may be resubmitted as a new application.

Are students, residents, or other post-graduate trainees eligible to apply?
Graduate and undergraduate students, trainees, residents, and fellows are encouraged to be included in Non-Key roles to help fulfill the CCTSI educational mission. However, they cannot be listed as Principal Investigators or co-Principal Investigators on the grant. Refer to the PI Eligibility by Academic Rank table.

How do you apply or check for CCTSI Membership?
All individuals in Key Roles must be CCTSI Members at the time of application. Verify membership status and/or sign up for free membership via the CCTSI Membership webpage.

Application Process

What is the most important thing you can do to have a competitive application?
Following the directions explicitly stated in the RFA will help demonstrate your competency in gathering, organizing, and communicating information. These qualities generally reflect your level of preparedness to receive awards. Utilize the application guidance posted on the Pilot Grant Program webpage under “Information and Resources,” which include the Application Checklist, PI Eligibility by Academic Rank Table, and Budget Template. Participate in the Informational Calls to ask for clarification.

Can you view the applications from previous awards?
The CCTSI cannot distribute applications form previous awardees. However, applicants may contact past awardees directly to ask for advice or sharing information. Past awardees are listed on the webpage of each Pilot Grant Program.

How many awards will be made in each category?
The number of awards varies each year with the availability of institutional and federal funding each year.

Can you change or withdraw your Intent to Apply Form (LOI)?
The online submission system allows applicants to “Submit” or “Save and Return Later.” Changes cannot be made after clicking “Submit.” You may submit any number of Intent to Apply Forms prior to the 5 pm MT deadline. Minor changes to the information provided on the Intent to Apply Form (LOI) may be made on the Application Form. You do not need to notify CCTSI if you wish to withdraw your Intent to Apply Form.

Can you change or withdraw your Application Form?
The online submission system allows applicants to “Submit” or “Save and Return Later.” Changes cannot be made after clicking “Submit.” Email Kristen House to withdraw a “Submitted” Application Form.

Are Biosketches and Letters of Support required?
Biosketches are required for all individuals in Key Roles. Letters of Support from other sources, including outside consultants, are strongly encouraged. For all Colorado State University investigators, a signed proposal transmission letter from the CSU Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is required to be submitted with the Application Form. Email Jessica Hunter for detail on obtaining the CSU OSP Letter of Transmission.

Application Budget and Expenses

Do you need to complete a Cost-Share Budget Review prior to application?
Cost-share budgets are required when a substantial and meaningful portion of the study design, data collection, intervention delivery, or analysis is conducted by an investigator who is based at an organization not on the list of CCTSI Affiliated Institutions. CCTSI expects that organization to make a financial contribution to the project since they are seriously vested in the project outcome. Fee-for-service (chart review, etc.) does not require a cost-share. Note: Community Engagement (CE-Pilot) Grant Program applicants are not subject to a cost-share budget, and Translational Methods (TM-Pilot) Grant Program does not allow any award funds to be spent at non-CCTSI Affiliated Institutions, so cost-share does not apply. Email Kristen House to schedule a brief phone call no less than two weeks prior to the application deadline or if you are unsure you need a cost-share budget.

Can the budget include a percent effort for a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)?
Include percent effort in the proposal budget. Graduate Research Associates should be paid at the graduate school minimum rate (or higher), posted each year on the graduate school web page.

Should you include fringe benefits or indirect costs (F&A) in the proposed budget?
The proposed budget should only include direct costs, up to the full amount of the award noted in the RFA. Fringe benefits are considered direct costs, but CCTSI does not require you to include fringe benefits in your proposed budget. The CCTSI will pay the appropriate F&A on projects awarded to external recipients that are funded with CCTSI Federal grant dollars. The CCTSI does not pay F&A on projects awarded to external recipients that are funded with internal CCTSI institutional funds.

Regulatory Approvals

How do I know if my project requires NCATS Prior-Approval?
PIs will be notified in their Notice of Selection letter if federal approval (called “NCATS Prior-Approval”) is required, or not.

If my human subject research requires NCATS Prior-Approval, what documents do I need to provide?
If your proposal is funded, CCTSI administration will assist you with collecting the current required documents and report to NCATS on your behalf. The specific type of documentation is typically based on the formal IRB-determined level of risk to humans involved in a project. NCATS requires institutional IRB documentation with a determination of Not vertebrate animal research, Exempt (Category 1-9) from Federal Regulations, No More Than Minimal Risk, Greater Than Minimal Risk, or Clinical Trial. NCATS requires ALL institutional IRB documentation to indicate the name of the CCTSI Pilot Grant awarded project title. (Alternatively, NCATS may accept a signed letter from the institutional IRB linking the CCTSI funded title to an existing approved protocol or amendment). CCTSI pilot grant award funds can be spent only after all NCATS Prior-Approval requirements have been met. Email Kristen House for details.

If my human subject research requires NCATS Prior-Approval, what documents do I need to provide?
If your proposal is funded, CCTSI administration will assist you with collecting the current required documents and report to NCATS on your behalf. These documents typically include a formally signed IACUC approval notice, a narrative called the “Vertebrate Animal Section,” and checklist of items to be addressed in the narrative. NCATS requires ALL institutional ICACUC documentation to indicate the name of the CCTSI Pilot Grant awarded project title. (Alternatively, NCATS may accept a signed letter from the institutional IACUC linking the CCTSI funded title to an existing approved protocol or amendment). CCTSI pilot grant award funds can be spent only after all NCATS Prior-Approval requirements have been met. Email Kristen House for details.

Consultative Services

CCTSI Resources

• Regulatory Knowledge & Support
• Research Ethics
• Translational Informatics

Clinical & Translational Research Centers (CTRC)

• Services
• Pricing
• Locations

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Research Design (BERD)

CU Cancer Center Shared Resources

Child and Maternal Health

Community Engagement and Research

Reviewers with appropriate expertise will evaluate eligible applications with a specific emphasis on research that furthers the CCTSI mission. Recommendations will be presented to the CCTSI Executive Committee for approval.  All Executive Committee decisions will be final.  Short informative critiques of application strengths and weaknesses will be provided to all applicants after selection notifications are made.

Review Guidelines

Innovation 
Is the proposal innovative and novel in its hypotheses, approaches, and techniques? Does the application represent a changing research direction or a transition to a new area of research that broadens an investigator’s research program in clinical and translational areas?

Approach/Scientific Merit
Are the hypotheses and experimental approach sound? What is the likelihood of success given the experiments / proposal as outlined? Are there explicit plans for development of future funding for the project, whether from the NIH, foundations, or commercial sources?

Cross-disciplinary or Collaborative Focus
Does the research involve a new collaboration, especially one that increases its translational nature? Are attempts made to bridge basic and translational researchers in discovery translation?

Significance, especially to the CCTSI Mission
Will the results further our understanding / diagnosis / prevention/ or treatment of human diseases? 

Investigators
Do the investigators have the necessary expertise and capacity to complete the proposed research? Have the investigators made use of new collaborations? Are attempts made to integrate basic and translational researchers in discovery translation? Are efforts made to collaborate with community researchers or community members, if relevant? Is the Multiple PI Plan appropriate, if applicable? For Mentored awards, is there sufficient justification for continued mentorship, does the mentor have adequate prior experience and is a strong mentorship plan proposed? Will the award provide opportunity for individuals from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to conduct translational research?

Health Equity
Will the award contribute to improving diversity in translational research at CCTSI affiliated institutions? Will the proposed research address health inequities and/or the impact of the social determinants of health?

Environment
Does the research environment improve the likelihood that the proposed research can be completed and have an impact? Does the proposal consider use of CCTSI resources, including Design, Biostatistics, Technology Resources, Patient and Clinical Interaction Resources etc.?

Pre-Award

All requirements to activate the pilot grant award are outlined in the Notice of Selection (NOS) letter sent in late February. Investigators may avoid delays in receiving award funds by executing all pre-award requirements (i.e. regulatory approvals) in a timely manner. Principal Investigators should report monthly during the pre-award period to CCTSI administration regarding progress toward completion of all pre-award requirements.

Routing Award Funds

CCTSI Pilot Grant Program awards are considered internal awards, so CU-Denver PIs are not required to obtain approval from the Office of Grants and Contracts (“Routing”) prior to receiving a CCTSI Pilot Grant award. However, PIs from CCTSI Affiliated Institutions may be required to complete an internal review process at their organization prior to receiving a CCTSI Pilot Grant award (notably CU-Boulder). Contact your department’s financial administrator for details.

CCTSI will set up the primary award spending account at the PI and/or Co-PI’s institution. Speedtypes and spending account number(s) are included in the Notice of Award (NOA). The financial administrator in the PI’s home department can further route funds to purchase orders, vendors, MSA/GO accounts at CHCO, etc. Indirect costs (F&A) are added to the award by CCTSI only under very specific circumstances.

Regulatory Approvals

Award funds are distributed only after CCTSI has received documentation of required institutional and/or federal regulatory approval noted in the Notice of Selection (NOS). This may include, but is not limited to: NCATS, COMIRB, CSU IRB, IACUC, Biosafety, IBC, Children’s Hospital Research Institute (CHRI), and/or other regulatory groups relevant to the proposal and institution where the research will take place. It is the PI’s responsibility to obtain all regulatory approvals.

Pilot projects that are funded through the CCTSI by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) must also be reported to the NIH. PIs will be notified in their Notice of Selection letter if federal approval (called “NCATS Prior-Approval”) is required or not. CCTSI administration will assist you with collecting the required documents and reporting to NCATS on your behalf. Note: NCATS requires ALL institutional IRB/ICACUC documentation to indicate the name of the CCTSI Pilot Grant awarded project title.

If a project will use CTRC resources, PIs must obtain Scientific Advisory and Review Committee (SARC) approval. CTRC resources include inpatient/outpatient research facilities, clinical research nursing support, nutrition research support, exercise research laboratory, ancillary funds; and CTRC Core Lab support.

Any clinical trials proposed in Pilot applications are restricted to Phase I or Phase IIA. Phase IIB, Phase III or Phase IV clinical trials will not be supported.

All NIH regulations related to human fetal tissue research and human stem cell and pluripotent stem cell research flow down to CCTSI Pilot Grant Award projects. If funded, projects involving these types of research must undergo review by the institutional scientific ethics committee. Please email Alison Lakin to discuss the institutional review process.

Protecting Intellectual Property and Products

Public disclosure, either in text or verbal form, may result in a lost opportunity to protect and commercialize your invention. All Principal Investigators must connect with the CU Innovations Office (303-724-0221) for a consultation prior to receiving funds. In the event that a patent does arise from a funded project, it is imperative that CCTSI support is acknowledged (click “Cite Our CTSA Grant” for language).

Active Award

Award funds are distributed only after CCTSI has received documentation of required institutional and/or federal regulatory approval noted in the Notice of Selection (NOS). The active award period ends April 30, regardless of start date. PIs are strongly encouraged to complete their projects within the original one-year active award period. No-Cost-Extensions (NCEs) are granted on a very limited basis for extraordinary circumstances and may not be allowed on all programs.

Project Expenditures

PIs must spend awards on direct costs related to achievement of specific aims outlined in the Pilot Grant project application. PIs must retain sufficient documentation of all expenses to justify any audit requests made of the CCTSI specific to the project.

Unallowable expenses include (but are not limited to): international entities, computers, telecommunications, food, furniture, administrative support, non-project specific office expenses, professional society dues/fees, and research conducted outside the United States. However, proposals that use data or samples collected at international sites through other means may be considered for funding of the portion of the work conducted locally at CCTSI Affiliated Institutions. While salary support commensurate with percent effort is allowed for PI and personnel from CCTSI Affiliated Institutions, this is subject to NIH salary cap restrictions.

Project Progress Monitoring

The CCTSI, as a component of its ongoing NIH support, is required to submit a detailed annual progress report that includes all funded pilot projects. In January of each year, PIs will be asked to submit an online Mid-Project Progress Report. This brief report includes anticipated end-date for research activities, details on publications, patents, and tangibles, and follow-on funding arising from the CCTSI funded project. Prompt cooperation in providing the required information is expected.

Closeout Procedure

The active award period ends on April 30, and the Pilot Grant award is closed out in two parts: project closeout and financial closeout.

The CCTSI funded portion of the project is closed out when the PI submits a brief online Closeout Report. This report includes a summary of the research results, publications, patents, and tangibles, and follow-on funding arising from the CCTSI funded project. Prompt cooperation in providing the required information is expected.

All financial transactions must be posted within 30 days of the end date of the project. CCTSI will coordinate the primary spending account closeout for each award at the PI and/or Co-PI’s institution, including inactivating speedtypes. The financial administrator in the PI’s home department may further close out purchase orders, vendors, MSA/GO accounts at CHCO, etc.

Post-Award

Ongoing Reporting Requirements

The CCTSI Evaluation Core will contact PIs and/or Co-PIs annually for three years following the close of the award to collect updates on publications, patents, tangibles, and follow-on funding arising from CCTSI funded projects. Prompt cooperation in providing the required information is expected.

Citing CCTSI Funding

Please refer to the How to Cite our CCTSI Grant for all publications, patents, or other tangible outcomes from this project during and after project completion.

Detailed information is provided in the RFA

Intent to Apply Form (LOI)

• The mandatory Intent to Apply Form (LOI) collects minimal information and must be submitted online. A formal letter is not required. Submission by any other means will not be accepted.
• The Intent to Apply Form (LOI) is not binding, and information may be revised by applicants during the application process.

Application Form

• All applicants who submit an Intent to Apply are eligible to submit an application - this program does not utilize an invitation process
• Submission of the online Application Form will generate a confirmation email sent to the Principal Investigator’s email. If you do not receive this email within minutes of submitting your Application Form, contact Kristen House.