MDPRC Pilot Project Program

 

Stay tuned for our next call!

Past Call for applications

The MDPRC announces the initiation of a small grants program to support Pilot and Feasibility projects designed to foster new collaborations and research aimed toward understanding how the modern food environment affects metabolism and brain function.  Submissions supporting cross-disciplinary work are especially encouraged. Requests for applications will be made annually.

One-year awards of up to $75,000 will be made for Pilot Studies, and up to $25,000 for Feasibility Initiatives (direct costs only). Applications should seek funds for new initiatives and collaborations rather than for ongoing research. Pilot Studies must aim to collect data to directly support future grant applications, whereas Feasibility Initiatives can include proposals for travel to laboratories and workshops to learn new techniques or gain expertise, or to support meetings to plan new collaborations.  Funds can support research or initiatives at the institution of an MDPRC external member, but must include participation of at least one MDPRC core or associate member as co-investigator, and would in this case be awarded as a subcontract. All applications must clearly state how the proposed project or initiative relates both to the mission of the MDPRC and to future funding opportunities.

Eligibility: Membership in the MDPRC. Please contact dana.small@yale.edu to inquire about membership. New applications for external members are welcome.

Budget: Requested amounts can vary according to the project. The total funds available for the program is 100k. Pilot applications can request up to 75K and Feasibility applications up to 25K. Funds cannot be used to pay PI salaries and will be for direct costs only. The number of grants awarded will depend upon budget requests.

Application Materials:

Pilot grants:

  • 3 page research plan including specific aims, background and significance and approach

  • Budget

  • NIH style biosketches for key personnel

Feasibility grants:

  • 1 page explanation of the importance of the proposed initiative and expected benefits to an MDPRC member’s research program

  • Budget

  • NIH-style biosketches of participating scientists

Timeline and review details for the next funding cycle TBD.

 
 

Funded Projects (2016 cycle)

• Novel circuit linking homeostatic neurons to motor output

Investigators: Marcelo Dietrich and Ivan de Araujo

• Innovative approach to treatment: Cold exposure

Investigators: Nina Stachenfeld and

• Human vagal stimulator

Investigators: Guillaume de Lartigue and Maria Veldhuizen

• Unraveling the neural mechanisms mediating the intake inhibitory effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor signalling in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus— Role of accumbal dopamine signaling

Investigators: Zhi Yi Ong and Ivan de Araujo