Pilot Funding
In 2023, in response to a new, seven-year grant, Harvard Catalyst’s NIH funding agency, NCATS, shifted its pilot funding priorities to focus on addressing barriers and roadblocks faced by investigators in conducting clinical and translational (c/t) research. Translational research roadblocks can range from achieving representative trial enrollment to equitable implementation of best practices and new knowledge, and beyond. Ultimately, these pilot funds will serve the overall goal of augmenting the impact of both translational science and translational research on human health.
Definitions
Clinical/Translational research (CTR) or Translational research (TR) is defined by NIH/NCATS as “the endeavor to traverse a particular step of the translational process for a particular target or disease”.
Clinical/Translational science (CTS) or Translational science (TS) “generates innovations that overcome longstanding challenges along the translational research pipeline. These include scientific, operational, financial, and administrative innovations that transform the way that research is done, making it faster, more efficient, and more impactful.”
Read more about translational science principles as defined by NCATS.
Pilot Funding Opportunities
- Solicit research that uses existing CTS tools or develops new CTS approaches to generate generalizable information and models that reach beyond a single, narrow CTR context.
- Generate greater knowledge about tools, strategies, practices, and dissemination methods that could help to maximize return on investment in CTR.
- Support broader adoption of CTS precepts by communities involved in the complex array of CTR activities.