Pilot Grants

07/07/2025

Dear All-

Because of the uncertainty regarding federal support for research at universities, the VPR limited the budgets of the RPAs for FY26 to their available funds. This resulted in us needing to make some difficult decisions. We felt it important to maintain the infrastructure we built to support neuroscience research across campus, but we will have to suspend several of the NRPA programs. We met with the NRPA Internal Advisory Council last week to discuss our options.

We will be maintaining the work of the NeuroBank, continuing the annual Neuroscience Clinical-Translational Conference, and be able to provide statistical support, albeit at a reduced level. We can fund one pilot award, also at a reduced funding level.

We need to otherwise suspend the Pilot Award Program, Equipment Grant Program, Collaborative Groups Program, Faculty Recruitment and Retention support, the Visiting Faculty and Technical Experts Program, and Student Research Fellowships.

We hope that these reductions are only temporary, but please take advantage of the programs we are able to continue during this difficult time.

Larry and Linda

Brief Overview

The Neuroscience Research Priority Area (NRPA) provides broad-based support for neuroscience research across the University of Kentucky. As part of this initiative, the NRPA Pilot Grant Program supports innovative, cutting-edge research across basic, translational, and clinical neurosciences. NRPA pilots are intended to support the development of preliminary data necessary for applications for extramural funding (proposals must address how the data is required for future extramural applications) and should be multidisciplinary or transdisciplinary. Involvement of collaborators from more than one UK College/Department is preferred.

The following costs are not covered: administrative or office costs, meals or hospitality, travel that is not directly related to the conduct of research, other items typically supported by indirect costs, and monetary clinic incentives.

Salary for 12-month faculty is allowed; up to 1 month of summer salary is allowed for faculty on 9-10 month contracts.

To ensure appropriate progress in your research and to enable the NRPA to assist with any obstacles that may arise, award grantees must submit a 6-month progress report describing scientific progress and identifying changes in objectives, scope, or key personnel. In addition, a brief meeting discussing your progress will be held within 6 months of your start date. A final written report describing project accomplishments must be submitted within 60 days of the project end date.

Use the following sentence to cite the NRPA award in your related work:

"This publication (or project) was supported by the University of Kentucky Neuroscience Research Priority Area."

Pilot Grants

Brief Overview

Use the following sentence to cite the NRPA award in your related work:

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