Grant Submission Instructions

SBDRC Pilot & Feasibility Grant Program

Apply Now!

2025 Application Instructions

Proposals will be accepted from UPenn investigators that are:

  • New and junior faculty (defined as those who have not had R01, P01, or equivalent funding) who propose innovative skin research
  • Established faculty proposing basic/translational collaborations and interdisciplinary projects in skin research
  • Established investigators outside the field of skin research who want to apply their expertise to this area and/or collaborate with skin researchers
  • Postdoctoral scientists (MD, PhD, or MD/PhD) who are pursuing research projects that will allow them to transition to an independent faculty position incorporating skin biology and disease-based research. These investigators are eligible for the Trainee Mini-grant only.

All applications should include the following elements, and be submitted using the online application by August, 26 2024:

  1. Grant title 
  2. Statement of investigator’s eligibility, including relevance of the application to NIAMS interest in skin biology and diseases (required) 
  3. Brief summary of proposed use of SBDRC cores 
  4. Specific Aims (1 page)  
  5. Research Strategy (2 pages) in NIH format with Significance, Innovation, and Approach sections 
  6. References  
  7. Protection of Human Subjects, Data Safety Monitoring Plan, PHS Inclusion Enrollment Report, Inclusion of Women and Minorities, Inclusion Across the Lifespan (if applicable) 
  8. Vertebrate Animals (if applicable) 
  9. Letters of Support (optional for full grants; mentor letter required for Trainee Mini-grants)  
  10. Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources  
  11. Resource Sharing Plan(s) for Data, Model Organisms, Genomic Data (if relevant) 
  12. Select Agent Research (if applicable) 
  13. Budget using NIH budget page PHS 398/FP4. Include personnel and budget justification. 
  14. NIH Biosketch, latest format 
  15. Follow NIH formatting guidelines, including acceptable fonts in black type and 0.5” page margins 
  16. Note: Trainee Mini-grants will also require a letter of support from the applicant’s mentor 
Evaluation

The following criteria will be used in assigning scores:

  1. Investigator eligibility (required for consideration)
  2. Biological or clinical relevance of the project to skin biology and/or skin diseases within the NIAMS
    mission (please note, research solely focused on skin cancer is not acceptable)
  3. Innovation, including technical and conceptual innovation
  4. Rigor of the prior research supporting the hypothesis and feasibility
  5. Appropriateness and rigor of experimental and analytical approaches
  6. Use of one or more SBDRC Research Core services
  7. Interdisciplinary, interdepartmental, and basic-translational collaborative aspects of project
  8. Appropriate policies in accordance with NIH guidelines for vertebrate animals, human subjects,
    resource sharing, select agent use
  9. Feasibility of supporting future external grant proposals
  10. For Trainee Mini-grant applications, feasibility of supporting future transition to an independent
    research faculty position

Investigators receiving Penn SBDRC P&F grants will be required to:

  • Provide IACUC and IRB protocol approvals before funding start date
  • Submit a 1-page interim progress report and final report
  • Present P&F-generated data at the 2026 Penn SBDRC Scientific Symposium (to be held in March 2026)
  • Provide annual updates on resulting grants and publications
  • Participate in future SBDRC P&F Study Sections to evaluate applications

Questions regarding application submission can be directed to SBDRC@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.