In addition to pilot funding opportunities, the University of Pittsburgh currently offers the following internal funding opportunities to advance biomedical and translational research:
- Pilot Imaging Program—The Department of Radiology’s Magnetic Resonance Research Center awards pilot time on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scanners—typically up to 20 hours of MRI scanning and four to eight PET scanning sessions—for research projects that show potential for leading to future funding.
- Health Sciences Bridge Funding—In light of recent reductions in NIH funding, bridge funding is available through the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences to help investigators continue their ongoing, successful research projects while awaiting grant renewals.
- Competitive Medical Research Fund (CMRF)—This program provides modest research support in three categories: (1) new investigators who are working to develop the hypotheses, preliminary data, and methods that would enable them to submit highly competitive applications for external funding; (2) bridge funding to support investigators whose grant renewal applications received favorable reviews but were not funded—although their research is strong enough to likely be funded again in the near future; and (3) collaborative research to support interdisciplinary, translational studies involving significant efforts by both basic research scientists and clinical scientists.
