A new Call for Preproposals is released annually, traditionally after Labor Day. 

Applicants must request access to the secure CCTS Pilot Studies website; access must be requested each cycle.

At least one University-Wide Interdisciplinary Research Center (UWIRC) must serve as a co-sponsor.  Not all UWIRCs participate annually.  An updated list of participating centers is listed in the Call for Preproposals each year.

Co-sponsorship is also open to academic units such as departments, divisions and non-UWIRCs.

Reviewers are assigned representing the Pilot Steering Committee, associated UWIRC co-sponsors, and relevant content experts.

The Pilot Steering Committee meets to discuss and rank the preproposals to determine those invited to submit a full application.

Reviews of all preproposals are made available to applicants via the Pilot Studies site.  Reviewer names and scores are shielded.

A new RFA is distributed to invited applicants.

Applicants invited to submit a full application have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Richard Allman, Pilot Program Director, and Melissa McBrayer, Director of the CCTS Research Commons in one of two informational meetings.

Full applications are submitted via the secure CCTS Pilot Studies site.

Reviewers include the use of internal and external faculty with appropriate content expertise.

Center Directors of the potential co-sponsoring UWIRCs are asked to assess the reviews and determine the programmatic relevance to their respective centers. The ranking is utilized by the Pilot Steering Committee when making funding recommendations.

Recommendations are submitted by the Pilot Steering Committee to the COCD and, eventually to the Executive Committee of the CCTS for approval.

Awards are announced April 1st of each year.

Before funds can be released, May 1st is the earliest start-date, all regulatory approvals must be received and two budgets finalized to reflect expenditures to the CCTS and matching fund accounts.

Quarterly progress reports are required.

The CCTS Evaluation Team of the CCTS will contact all recipients to track their progress over the next five years.