The overall goal of the University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) Pilot Program is to enhance the interactions and expand the critical mass of investigators and citizen scientists with expertise and experience in transdisciplinary, translational environmental health research on the UK campus and in Appalachian communities. The purpose of the pilot program is to provide a new opportunity and resources to support innovative, collaborative environmental research. To accomplish this, the program will:
These awards are open throughout the year to enable researchers to respond to emergent environmental health issues, such as disasters. Funds can also be requested to support rapid data collection or analyses to respond to reviewer feedback for manuscript publication or grant resubmission. This funding is open to any UK faculty member who is addressing an emergent environmental health issue or needing support for rapid response to enhance publications or grant proposals. Funding can also be used to support development of tools, technologies or design concepts that can be used to help those affected by extreme weather events or disasters. Investigators may request up to $5,000 direct research costs. This award is intended to stimulate innovation and to support pilot studies that will lead to extramural funding. Submissions will be reviewed and awards granted as applications are received; applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible because program funds might be depleted. Because of the short duration of these proposals, the required documentation such as IRB, IACUC, etc., must be in place at the time of submission.
Note: This mechanism will not fund clinical trials (NIH definition).
The UK-CARES Pilot Project Program supports innovative environmental health research through three annual mechanisms: the Innovation and High Impact Award, the Early Stage/New to EHS Award, and the Community-Engaged Research Award. The competitive annual application process typically opens in mid-January with a required Letter of Intent due in mid-February, followed by full proposal submissions in late March for projects starting May 1st.
Note: Rapid Response Mini-Grants remain open year-round to address emerging environmental health crises.
Purpose: This award is intended to stimulate innovation and to support pilot studies that will advance the field of environmental health sciences.
Funding: This award is up to $50,000 direct costs which must be spent over 12 months. If a community partner plans a key role in translational science, an additional amount of $5k may be requested to support the research led by the community partner.
Eligibility criteria:
Purpose: This award is intended to support pilot studies by early stage investigators or those new to the field of environmental health sciences.
Funding Support: The maximum award will be $25,000 direct costs, which must be spent over 12 months. If a community partner plans a key role in science, an additional amount of $5k may be requested to support the research led by the community partner.
Eligibility Criteria:
Purpose: This award is to support community‐academic partnerships that address critical research needs identified by community partners. The research must address an environmental health issue of significance to Appalachia.
Funding: The award amount is up to $10,000. The amount will be shared between the community‐academic partners to accomplish the goals of the project. This award could be in conjunction to the above awards to support the community partnerships.
Eligibility Criteria:
01/13/2026 - Call for Letter of Intent Released
02/13/2026 - Letter of Intent Due
02/27/2026 - Notice of Meritorious Letter of Intent Sent
03/27/2026 - Full Application Due
04/17/2026 - Notice of Award Sent
04/17/2026 - College Grant Officer (CGO) in the Principal Investigator’s college/department will need to initiate an e‐IAF for the UK‐CARES Pilot Project proposal.
CGO should enter this into the comment sheet:
“Do not import the e‐IAF until OSPA is notified of funding. These proposals do not go to the Research Administrator in OSPA but go directly to the UK‐CARES Pilot Project Program managers.”
05/01/2026 - Project Start Date
(NOTE: If you do not have an approved IRB/IACUC by 05/01/2026, the start date could be delayed until 06/01/2026.)
04/30/2027 - Project End Date
Thomas E. Curry, PhD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Program Director
Patrick Hannon, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Joel Thompson, PhD, Research Development Director
Amy Thomas, Administrative Coordinator