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SCTR Translational Science Challenge Pilot Project Grant

SCTR’s Pilot Project Program is seeking proposals with potential to significantly advance translational science and catalyze downstream impacts in translational research efficiency and quality.

As a field, translational science generations scientific and operational innovations that overcome longstanding challenges along the translational research pipeline, incorporating Translational Science Principles and transforming the way research is done, making it faster, more innovative, and more impactful.

Translational Science Challenge pilot grants are intended to: (1) explore possible innovative new leads or new directions for investigators; (2) stimulate investigators from other areas to lend their expertise in research in clinical and translational science (CTS); and (3) provide initial support to establish proof of concept.

Because expertise from multiple disciplines is needed to advance translational science, only applications from investigative teams representing two or more disciplines will be accepted.

Projects must be feasible within the proposed one-year timeframe, have high methodological and scientific quality.

Application Information

Translational science as a field generates scientific and operational innovations that overcome longstanding challenges along the translational research pipeline, incorporating Translational Science Principles and transforming the way research is done, making it faster, more innovative, and more impactful. This RFA invites pilot proposals with potential to significantly advance translational science and catalyze downstream impacts in translational research efficiency and quality.

Examples of relevant research topics include but are not limited to:

  • Designing and testing new methods to enhance predictive efficiency of potential drug candidates
  • Evaluating methods to enhance sample variety within biobanks
  • Assessing data sources or methods for identifying underserved or rare disease patients for studies
  • Developing and evaluating strategies to support participant recruitment and retention
  • Generating strategies to accelerate translation of evidence-based interventions into practice
  • Determining the best methods for disseminating research results to affected communities

Up to $25,000 direct costs for a 12-month period from the date a Notice of Award is issued

To be released closer to RFA release

All applications will be submitted online using the InfoReady application portal. The Application Instructions & FAQs (PDF) contains detailed instructions on the steps and processes for applying.

1) Obtain a Study ID for the proposed project through SPARCRequest.

  • If you have existing study in SPARC that is directly related to the proposed study, you will need to add the Translational Science Challenge funding opportunity to your existing study.
  • If your study is NOT already in SPARC, you will need to create a study to obtain a Study ID for your proposed study.
    • Note: in step 2, select “Pending Funding” under Proposal Funding Status and select “Internally Funded Pilot Project” as the Potential Funding Source, and indicate “SCTR” when asked for Sponsor Name.
  • Detailed information about the steps to obtain a SPARC Study ID can be found in the "How to Obtain a SPARC ID accordion on this page.

For additional assistance with SPARCRequest, contact the SCTR SUCCESS Center at success@musc.edu

No application materials should be uploaded in the SPARCRequest system.

2) Complete the InfoReady application, upload all required documents where indicated, check your application for errors and omissions, and SUBMIT your proposal in InfoReady.

How to obtain a new SRID:

  • Go to https://sparc.musc.edu/ and log in with your MUSC net ID and password
  • Select ‘South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research Institute (SCTR)’ from the menu on the left
  • Select ‘Funding Opportunities’ from the drop-down menu (towards the middle of the page)
  • Select ‘SCTR Translational Science Challenge Grants’ from the Funding Opportunities page (towards the top of the page)
  • Select ‘+’ to put the service in your cart
  • Choose Yes/No for the popup question ‘Is this a new request?’
  • Select ‘save and continue’ (on your right)
  • Log in with your MUSC net ID and password, add your request as directed (i.e. new request or adding it to your already existing request (SRID) using ‘Visit Your Dashboard’) and then process accordingly.
  • If it is new request, then select ‘Save and Continue’
    • Select ‘Start a New Study’
    • Complete all of the starred (*) fields and then click ‘Save’
    • Select ‘Pending Funding’ for the ‘Proposal Funding Status’ question
    • Select ‘Internal Funded Pilot Project’ for the ‘Potential Funding Source’
    • Indicate as ‘SCTR’ for the ‘Please Specify’ and ‘Sponsor Name’
    • Select ‘Save’
    • Add estimated ‘Start Date’ and ‘End Date’ fields (For example: 9/1/2022 to 8/31/2023)
    • Then click ‘Save and continue’ (at the bottom of the page, to your right).
    • Steps 3 and 4 listed on top of the page are not required. Move directly to ‘Step 5’ by clicking the arrow.
    • Review your request and click ‘Submit Request’. This step must be completed to add the funding opportunity and receive a confirmation.
    • ‘Request-ID’ (without -0001, which is your request SPARC ID, should be added to your InfoReady application form where it is indicated to add the SPARC ID.

Adding a funding opportunity to an existing SRID:

  • Go to https://sparc.musc.edu/dashboard and log in with your MUSC net ID and password
  • Select the appropriate Protocol ID from the list on your dashboard
  • Then click on ‘Add/Modify Request’ (middle of the page, towards your left)
  • From the ‘Browse Service Catalog’ (menu on the left) select ‘South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research Institute (SCTR)’
  • Then select ‘Funding Opportunities’ from the drop-down menu (towards the middle of the page)
  • Select ‘SCTR Translational Science Challenge Grants’ from the Funding Opportunities page (towards the top of the page)
  • Choose ‘No’ when you receive the ‘New or Existing' popup.
  • Click the ‘Step 5’ arrow on top of the page to review and submit the request.
  • ‘Submit’ your request. This step must be completed to add the funding opportunity to the existing SRID.

All questions (for application process and translational science) should be sent to the Office of Science Development.