Purpose and Research Focus

The purpose of Penn’s Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases (CMSDLD) is to unite investigators with interests in digestive and liver physiology and disease and to stimulate others in the biomedical community to enter this area of research. One of the most important parts of this effort is the funding of pilot and feasibility projects.

Proposed pilot and feasibility projects should be related to the focus of the center, which encompasses molecular studies on the biology or disease of the alimentary tract, pancreas, and liver. Relevant investigations include those in developmental biology, nutrition, regulation of gene expression, growth, differentiation, the biology of stem cells, molecular genetics, bioengineering approaches to digestive diseases, gene therapy, and immunology, including growth factors and cytokines. Please note that preference is given to junior investigators and to proposals studying areas other than cancer, although we will consider applications from senior investigators and on cancer-related topics. Pilot project awards are for $40,000 for one year with a second year possible through a competitive renewal. Candidates will be notified by the end of November 2025. The funding start date is January 1, 2026.

Eligibility

All faculty members of the University scientific community (at the rank of instructor and above) who meet the eligibility requirements below are invited to submit proposals. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or hold permanent resident visas. There are three categories of applications, with preference given to those in category 1:

1. New investigators who have never held extramural support at the level of a NIH R01.
2. Established investigators in other areas of biomedical research who wish to apply their expertise to a problem in digestive and liver diseases.
3. Established digestive and liver investigators who wish to study an area that represents a significant departure from currently funded work.

Proposal Preparation

1. Submit the documents outlined below directly to Lillian Chau at Lillian.Chau@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. Complete proposals are due by Friday, September 12, 2025.
2. Format (submit as a single PDF, in this order)
   • Cover page: Must include an abstract of up to 250 words and a list of approved or pending IACUC/IRB protocols. If embryonic cell lines will be used, they must be from the NIH Embryonic Stem Cell Registry, and you must provide a list within your cover page. Finally, if your pilot grant will include human subject research, involving more than minimal risk, that will need to be included in the letter as well. NIH has to approve these studies in advance of an award. If you are not currently a faculty member but will be by the project start date of January 1, 2026, please state that explicitly in the cover letter.
   • NIH Biosketch
   • NIH Other Support
   • Budget and justification: One year, $40,000, one page only. No PI salary allowed.
   • Background, preliminary results, estimated core usage, research plan including statistical analyses, and future directions; up to three pages total.
   • Senior investigators should indicate how this project represents a new direction in their research.
   • References: One page.

Please note: The top applicants will be asked to present a five-minute summary of their proposal to the center’s external advisory board (EAB) on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Applications from top candidates identified by the EAB will be reviewed further by center leadership and members of the center community advisory board.

For additional information, please contact Lillian Chau at Lillian.Chau@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.