The UK Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) is now accepting applications for Pilot Projects. The goal of the UK-CARES Pilot Program is to enhance 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 (targeted regions: Big Sandy, Cumberland Valley, Kentucky River).  Information on the UK-CARES is available athttps://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/index.cfm.  The purpose of this funding mechanism is to provide a new opportunity and resources to support innovative, collaborative environmental research.

Pilot projects are accepted according to the following schedule:

1. Letter of Intent due: May 21, 2018 by 5:00 PM (EST)
2. Invitation to submit Full Application: June 1, 2018
3. Full Application due: June 22, 2018 by 5:00 PM (EST)
4. Funding Decision: July, 2018

The categories of awards will be as follows:
 
INNOVATION/HIGH IMPACT AWARD 
This award is for investigators at all stages of career development (junior, midlevel, and senior investigators) and is intended to stimulate innovation and support pilot studies that will lead to extramural funding. The total award is limited to $50,000 which must be spent over 12 months. 
 
Eligibility

• Eligibility is limited to full-time faculty (all title series including regular, research, clinical, and special) at the University of Kentucky and affiliated institutions.
• Investigators who are currently not in the area of environmental health science research are encouraged to apply.
• Investigators in training (including residents, post-doctoral fellows, and clinical fellows) are not eligible to serve as PIs but may be co-investigators.
• Volunteer faculty, adjunct faculty, and citizen scientists are not eligible to serve as PIs but are encouraged as co-investigators. UK-CARES partner organizations and collaborators are encouraged to serve as volunteer faculty and/or citizen scientists.

EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATOR AWARD
This award is intended to support pilot studies by early stage investigators to obtain preliminary data for an extramural grant submission.  The maximum award will be $25,000 which must be spent over 12 months. 
 
Eligibility

• Eligibility is limited to full-time faculty (all title series including regular, research, clinical and special) of the University of Kentucky and affiliated institutions. 
• Early career investigators who are currently not in the area of environmental health science research are encouraged to apply.
• Investigators who are PIs on other career development awards or R01-type funding are NOT eligible.
• Investigators in training including residents, post-doctoral fellows, and clinical fellows are NOT eligible to serve as PIs but may be co-investigators.
• Volunteer faculty and adjunct faculty, and citizen scientists are NOT eligible to serve as PIs but may be co-investigators.

Questions, please contact tecurry@uky.edu