The Penn Institute for RNA Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and the Wistar Institute seek to support RNA-related basic, translational and clinical research. Towards that goal, the institute is requesting applications for its Pilot Grants Program for spring 2024. Pilot funding will provide initial support to establish proof of concept or extend findings to enable extramural funding and publications in the future. Priority areas, deadlines, and application guidelines are provided below.

The spring 2024 Pilot Grant Program research priority will be to support cross-disciplinary research that will lead to extramurally-funded research in either basic or translational science in the arena of RNA biology. Projects should use at least one of the Institute for RNA Innovation’s shared resource cores or incorporate expertise from the Leadership group. The following core resources are available: mRNA Core, LNP core, targeting core, and high throughput screening of therapeutics. Access to these cores will advance grantees’ capabilities in RNA-based technologies (e.g. in design, delivery and targeting).

The institute encourages applicants to consult with core directors early in the preparation of their application. Allocation of core effort to assist in grant preparation will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Brief descriptions of the cores and additional resources being offered through select leadership labs can be found here.

Basic science applications, including RNA processing, RNA binding proteins, noncoding RNAs, and nucleoside-modifications, are encouraged, along with the development of tools to further the use of RNA technology to treat disease. Translational science that is relevent to to prevention, diagnostics, and/or therapeutics for human diseases will also be accepted. Applications that seek to take novel basic science findings towards clinical development are also desired. All aspects of RNA science and biology with translational application will be considered, including mRNA, siRNA, anti-sense oligonucleotides, splicing modulation, and RNA binding proteins. Projects and teams that bridge laboratory-based research to pre-clinical studies or models and/or that extend clinical observations to the laboratory (addressing mechanisms, identifying therapeutic targets, and developing novel interventions) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications are due on March 15, 2024. Decisions will be communicated to applicants in May, and funding of successful applications will begin no later than June 2024.

Eligibility

Principal investigators (PIs) for awards must have a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP, or the Wistar Institute and hold the rank of assistant, associate or full professor, research professor, or instructor. Postdoctoral trainees are also encouraged to apply, provided that a faculty sponsor includes a letter of support for the trainee in the application.

Proposals may not describe the same specific research that is funded by other sources during the grant period.

Budget and Duration

Individual applicants may request budgets up to $50,000 in direct costs and may propose projects lasting up to 12 months. Applicants are required to budget at least $10,000 of funds for institute core and/or institute collaboration expenses. An additional $5,000 can be requested for core expenses with proper justification. The total equipment budget must not exceed $10,000.

For additional submission details, please click here. For questions and more information, contact Jill Agolino.