Pilot Project Funding Program Overview

Pilot Project Grants support rehabilitation neuroscience research that utilizes neuromodulatory methods/technologies. The funded projects must represent a new direction for the PI and/or an innovative application of neuromodulatory methods/technologies. Our goal is to promote the growth of  rehabilitation neuroscience research using neuromodulatory techniques and methodologies by providing NM4R research resources and expertise towards the development of new projects that will be sustainable through extramural funding mechanisms. Neuromodulatory methods and techniques currently supported by the NC NM4R include (but are not limited to): brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulation that induces plasticity and/or therapeutic effects and operant conditioning of the brain and spinal networks to guide targeted neuroplasticity.

This year we will give special consideration to projects that explore personalization of neuromodulation through measurement of biological variables.

The pilot project program is not designed to provide ongoing support for a long-term project or to provide supplemental support to an ongoing funded research project. We will not accept an application that is a duplicate of an existing project.

Due to our funding by United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health under award number P2CHD086844, we must restrict funding awards to principal investigators who are affiliated with US-based institutions and who are eligible to receive NIH funding.

Key Dates:

RFA Release Date:                August 1, 2023

Letter of Intent (LOI) Due:    September 1, 2023 (11:59 pm EDT)

Invitation to Submit Sent:    September 11, 2023

Send Budget for Review:     October 16, 2023

Application Due Date:          November 3, 2023 (5:00 pm EDT)

Anticipated Award Date:      May 1, 2024

2024-2025 Cycle Request for Applications:

Applications for Pilot Grant Funding for the 2024-2025 cycle open on August 1, 2023.

How to Apply

Get information on the application process by reading the Request for Application for Pilot Project Grants and Submission Guidelines.

Letter of Intent 

The first step of the application process is to submit a Letter of Intent.  Letters of Intent for the 2024-2025 cycle are due on September 1, 2023.

Pilot Projects Mission

  1. Address an important question in basic, translational, and/or clinical research that impacts recovery from stroke, spinal cord injury, or other neurological damage.
  2. Generate critical preliminary data to support submission of a competitive extramural grant application that will directly utilize a neuromodulatory method or technology.
  3. Focus on a research, technological, or methodological area that is distinct from the investigator’s other research, or expands the areas of biomedical rehabilitation research using neuromodulatory methodologies and technologies supported by the NC NM4R.
  4. Develop or acquire a new method or technology that will directly enhance, advance, or replace one or more currently available neuromodulatory methods or technologies supported by NC NM4R.

Past Awardees