Pilot Programs

The CCTS has two primary funding mechanisms to advance interdisciplinary team science and facilitate the establishment of research programs that will improve human health.

Our Translational Research Intramural Grant Program funds new interdisciplinary clinical and translational research projects to grow mature research programs in these areas. One-year, $60,000 awards are funded annually through a two-step proposal process including a pre-proposal submission and the invitation of full applications. Click here for a list of past recipients.

Our Drug Discovery and Development Program awards funds for any aspect of drug discovery and development for human disease. Applicants may apply for $50,000 in direct costs per year for up to 2 years, with funding of Year 2 dependent on progress made in Year 1. Awards are provided annually in conjunction with the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance (ADDA) and with Southern Research, a not-for-profit partner institution which has a very productive, internationally-recognized track record in drug discovery and development. Click here for a list of past recipients.

To promote collaboration, the CTSA Consortium has developed a Multi-institutional Collaborative Translational Research Pilot mechanism. Proposed projects can range from T1-T4 research and are accepted at any time. Projects must involve investigators with full-time faculty appointments at two or more institutions with an active CTSA.

Participating CTSAs determine funding, ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 in direct costs. Before submitting a proposal, the applicant at each institution is required to obtain approval from his or her CTSA to indicate that the parent CTSA is supportive of the project. For more information, please contact Cheryl Perry. Additional information on this mechanism can be found here.

Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance (ADDA)

The partnership between the CCTS Drug Discovery and Development Program and Southern Research was instrumental in solidifying the establishment of the ADDA in October 2008. The ADDA is enhanced by relationships with the CCTS, Southern Research, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UAB School of Medicine. The ADDA facilitates drug discovery/ development, using the resources of these groups - including molecular target identification, high throughput screening, three dimensional structure of targets, iterative medicinal chemistry advanced with in silico screening, preclinical toxicology, and ADME.

For additional information about CCTS Drug Discovery and Development or the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance, please contact Maaike Everts.

The UAB CCTS is supported through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, grant UL1 TR000165.The CTSA program is led by the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). The content of this website is solely the responsibility of UAB and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.