R to R Program (ASPIRE)

The overarching aim of Advancing Scientific Programs of Independently-funded Researchers (ASPIRE) is to support growth, diversification, and scientific impact of the research programs and grant portfolios of early-mid career investigators in the DOM.

Program:

• Two-year mentoring program
• Funds up to 75K

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• One active R01 or R01-equivalent grant (e.g., DP2, U series grant as PI, VA MERIT, Center grant) with an end date no less than 18 months from the application deadline
• No prior period with 2 or more active R01-level grants as PI or mPI
• No active institutional award of similar scope
• Primary faculty appointment in the Department of Medicine

A stated goal is to expand the breadth of applicants’ research programs and, therefore, a major criterion by which applications will be evaluated is the degree to which the proposed project is a departure from existing funded projects.

NB: If the proposed project has previously been submitted for R-level funding, it can be used for this application if it has only been submitted once (A0) and if the summary statement is attached as an appendix to the application.

Submission:

Submit a single, merged PDF using this application form and adhering to the following guidelines:

1. Specific Aims page for future R-level grant proposal (max 1 page + one supporting figure/schematic with legend)
2. Strategy for a successful grant submission
   1. What are the research activities that would be supported by ASPIRE funding? (max 1 paragraph)
   2. How will these research activities support a competitive R-level submission? (max 1 paragraph)
   3. How does the proposal represent a new line of research? (max 1 paragraph)
   4. Proposed timeline and grant submission cycle (max 1 paragraph)
3. Budget justification
   1. Describe how the funds would facilitate proposed timeline and grant submission (max 1 paragraph)
   2. Proposed milestones to obtain the second year of funding (max 1 paragraph)
   3. If the funds are being used for a one-time expense, provide justification/explanation (max 1 paragraph)
   4. Describe how funded deliverables would enrich the Pitt DOM community, e.g., for development of a reagent or a dataset, are there other PIs in the department who might also benefit? (max 1 paragraph)
4. Summary statement, if the grant was submitted as a prior A0.
5. Common Forms (Biosketch, NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement, and Current and Pending (Other) Support) in NIH format

Submission deadline: July 31, 2026, at 11:59PM

Submit as an attachment via email to: chairoff@pitt.edu