Download (Nov 9, 2015) Aging Institute FY2016 Pilot

DEADLINE EXTENSION - the deadline for submitting a Letter of Intent
is now MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015.
AGING INSTITUTE
FY2016 PILOT FUNDING PROGRAM
Call for Letters of Intent
Theme: Aging and Cancer
Supported by the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh
with additional funding from the
University of Pittsburgh Center for Behavioral Health and Smart Technology
Purpose: This pilot program is designed to fund projects in aging that can lead to new lines of
research with independent funding. Priority will be given to projects that:
1) promote new multidisciplinary collaborations, especially across schools within the University
of Pittsburgh
2) involve teams that include early stage investigators as well as established investigator
3) are led by investigators who wish to extend their work into the field of aging
4) include multiple PIs. Collaboration between a basic and clinical scientist is also strongly
encouraged.
Theme for 2015 - Aging and Cancer: Eligible projects for consideration must fit within the
theme of Aging and Cancer and can be within the disciplines of basic, clinical, epidemiological,
psychosocial or health services research. Examples of topics include but are not limited to:

Does chronological versus biological age affect response and complications related to
treatment, and why?

What effect does stress have on response to cancer therapy and how is this affected by
age?

Does an older immune system alter the impact of immunotherapies?

What are some of the special needs of older cancer patients and their care providers?

Are older adults adequately educated related to the risk and benefits of treatments?

How does frailty and function impact the response to chemotherapy?

What is the impact of exercise on response to cancer or cancer treatment?

What is the relationship between cognitive function and physical function and outcomes
in older cancer patients?

Can rehabilitation and survivorship programs impact outcomes in older cancer patients?

Technology Development Projects ($25,000): interventions, specifically the
development of scalable interventions that address this year’s program theme and
incorporate novel uses of technology; either off-the-shelf, yet-to-be-developed, or some
combination and can later be tested in an adequately powered and externally funded
clinical trial.
Deadline for Letter of Intent
Final Notice of Award
Monday, Nov. 9, 2015
Thursday, Mar. 24, 2016
Only proposals that fall within the theme of Aging and Cancer will be considered for full
proposal. All proposals must include multidisciplinary collaborations.
Each award will be for the period of up to two years. $25,000 is specifically allocated for
Technology Development Projects due to additional funding from the Center for Behavioral
Health and Smart Technology. The total amount available this year is $125,000.
The Letter of Intent should include the following:

Descriptive title of proposed research,

Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator(s),

Participating institutions/departments/schools,

Potential matching funding, if applicable (matching funds are not a requirement for
funding),

NIH format biographical sketch of PI and at least one investigator from another
discipline,

Two page summary to include:
1) The importance and impact of the work for the investigators, the University of
Pittsburgh and UPMC,
2) Specific aims,
3) Summary of methods and experimental design,
4) Overview of plans for independent funding

References cited
DEADLINE EXTENSION - the deadline for submitting a Letter of Intent is now
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015.
The results of your Letter of Intent: Each Letter of Intent will be reviewed by a committee for
responsiveness and potential impact. Letters of Intent, submitted as one electronic file, are
due to Taafoi Kamara at [email protected] by Monday, November 9, 2015. Only
proposals that fall within the theme of Aging and Cancer will be considered for full
proposals. Final awardees will be notified in spring 2016.
Submissions are due to Taafoi Kamara, submitted as one electronic file at
[email protected] by November 9, 2015