SUBJECT:

Pilot Project Funding Available

Funding for pilot projects relevant to the work of the NIMH-supported Advanced Center for Innovation in Services and Intervention Research (ACISIR) is available. The mission of our Advanced Center for Innovation in Services and Intervention Research (ACISIR) is to improve the quality of life and to reduce disability in middle-aged and older adults with schizophrenia and other chronic psychotic disorders through the development, implementation, and dissemination of evidence-based practice in community settings. Pilot projects will be funded with a budget of approximately $5,000 or occasionally up to a maximum of $10,000. Successful pilot projects will also be considered for R34 developmental research funding through the ACISIR, which will begin March 2009 and will be funded with a budget of $100,000 per year for two and a half years.

Pilot projects should be related to the main themes the ACISIR which include: (I) Improving pharmacotherapy, (ii) enhancing recovery through psychosocial interventions, and (iii) Developing and Adapting Assessments and Interventions for Underserved Subgroups.

The deadline for submission of written proposals will be Friday, September 19, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. Proposals should be no longer than five single-spaced pages in length, following the standard NIH format (A. Specific Aims, B. Background and Significance, C. Progress Report/Preliminary Studies, D. Experimental Design and Methods, E. Literature Cited). You should also include information related to human subjects, vertebrate animals, and consultants/contracts if applicable. Budget, along with budget justification, and the investigators' C.V.s and other support pages should also be added. All proposals will be reviewed by the ACISIR's Executive Committee. It is anticipated that funding will begin by the end of the year.

We look forward to receiving your proposals. Anyone intending to apply for pilot project funding should contact Danielle Glorioso (dkukene@ucsd.edu) or Maureen Halpain, (mhalpain@ucsd.edu).

David A. Brenner, M.D. Vice Chancellor