Pilot Funding

Frequently Asked Questions About Applying For Harvard Catalyst Pilot Grants

  1. Are investigators who do not have a Harvard University faculty appointment or are based at institutions not affiliated with Harvard eligible to apply for a pilot grant?
  2. Who is eligible to be a Principal Investigator?
  3. Can Principal Investigators who were not funded from the first round of pilot grants re-apply this round?
  4. Can researchers apply for more than one pilot grant?
  5. How can the $50,000 award be spent?
  6. Who are the reviewers and what purpose do they serve?
  7. Is preliminary data required in order to apply for a pilot grant?
  8. Are junior investigators encouraged to submit applications, and if so, does a senior person need to be included on the research team?
  9. What kind of detail is needed for the budget submission?
  10. Will the Letters of Intent be scientifically reviewed?
  11. Are projects that deal with the social sciences applicable?
  12. Will clinical studies be accepted?
  13. Is there an optimal number of Co-Investigators that should be involved with a project?

Q: Are investigators who do not have a Harvard University faculty appointment or are based at institutions not affiliated with Harvard eligible to apply for a pilot grant?
A: For each proposed project, the Principal Investigator must hold a Harvard University faculty appointment. However, Co-Investigators can be from any institution. If you are working with a Co-Investigator from an outside institution, it is helpful to give an idea of how their expertise adds to the project to justify the use of an external collaborator.
Q: Who is eligible to be a Principal Investigator?
A: Any faculty member who holds a Harvard University faculty appointment regardless of type of degree or institutional appointment is eligible to be the Principal Investigator. Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Instructors, Lecturers, and Research Associates are eligible to apply. Undergraduates, graduate students, clinical trainees, post-doctoral and clinical fellows cannot serve as the Principal Investigator of an application, but may serve as Co-Investigators, provided they make a substantial contribution to the project. A substantial contributor helped conceive of the experimental idea, contributed to the intellectual development of the project; and/or designed the study or part thereof (scientific or technical details), and will be involved with the study throughout the funding year.
Q: Can Principal Investigators who were not funded from the first round of pilot grants re-apply this round?
A: Yes, Principal Investigators can re-submit applications from the previous round. Before re-submitting, Principal Investigators are encouraged to revisit their proposals in light of the new RFA and the projects that were funded in the first round. For reference, here is a link to the RFA.
Q: Can researchers apply for more than one pilot grant?
A: Researchers cannot apply as Principal Investigator for more than one pilot grant. However, researchers can be listed as Co-Investigator on multiple applications.
Q: How can the $50,000 award be spent?
A: The award funds, which should be considered NIH funds, can be spent on direct costs such as supplies or salary. By agreement with the institutions, the pilot grants are not subject to indirect costs.
Q: Who are the reviewers and what purpose do they serve?
A: Reviewers are faculty members from participating institutions. The reviewers will be asked to comment on the following primary considerations:
  1. Does the proposal address an important problem and, if successful, will the results have a substantial impact on human health?
  2. Is the proposal innovative?
  3. Is there an interdisciplinary or cross-institutional team? Does the proposed project stimulate collaboration across institutions?
  4. Does the funding stimulate collaborations that otherwise might not have taken place?
  5. Does the project bring together investigators who have not worked together in the past?
  6. Is the project focused and achievable, and does it have a high potential to secure future extramural funding?

The reviewers will also be asked to comment on these secondary considerations:

  1. Does the project support junior faculty?
  2. Do the investigators have the requisite skills and experience to carry out the project successfully? Is adequate supervision and mentoring provided for junior faculty and trainees who will carry out the project?
  3. Is the work applicable to pediatric populations, either in isolation or as part of a target population?
  4. Is there an opportunity to ask a question with relevance to health disparities?
Q: Is preliminary data required in order to apply for a pilot grant?
A: Preliminary data is not required. It can be included if it speaks to the project’s feasibility.
Q: Are junior investigators encouraged to submit applications, and if so, does a senior person need to be included on the research team?
A: As long as the team has relevant experience and expertise, junior investigators are encouraged to submit applications.
Q: What kind of detail is needed for the budget submission?
A: In the Letter of Intent phase, budget information is not submitted. In the full application phase, a five page complete application will be submitted along with references, budgets, biosketches, resources, etc. NIH budget forms are used. Details about the full application will be sent to applicants after the Letters of Intent go through a screening process.
Q: Will the Letters of Intent be scientifically reviewed?
A: No, the Letters of Intent will not be scientifically reviewed. They will be screened and triaged by a preliminary review committee that will assign the proposal to the appropriate reviewer group. The only selective criteria applied at this step will be the applicability of the Principal Investigator's faculty appointment and the presence of interdisciplinary, and inter-departmental or inter-institutional collaboration.
Q: Are projects that deal with the social sciences applicable?
A: Yes, projects that have a social science focus are applicable if they are relevant to human health.
Q: Will clinical studies be accepted?
A: Yes, clinical studies will be accepted. While clinical studies are expensive to fund, the pilot grant could be used to show proof of concept for a study.
Q: Is there an optimal number of Co-Investigators that should be involved with a project?
A: At least one Co-Investigator is required, but there is not an optimal number of Co-Investigators that should be involved in a project. There is no limit to the number of Co-Investigators that may be listed on a project. The Principal Investigator should include as many Co-Investigators as are needed to complete the project.

If you have additional questions, please contact a Research Navigator or at 617-432-7810.