UCEM 2026 Pilot Grant
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
The UAB Center for Exercise Medicine (UCEM) is pleased to announce plans to fund pilot research focused on conducting exercise-based clinical trials. Projects should focus on addressing a clinical problem and include an exercise-training intervention capitalizing on the unique infrastructure of the UCEM Exercise Clinical Trials Facility (ECTF) and research team. Funds should be used to generate key preliminary data to support subsequent applications for extramural funding.
Applications from any clinical condition of interest are welcome. Additional funds may be available for projects related to the mission areas of the Comprehensive Arthritis, Musculoskeletal, Bone and Autoimmunity Center (CAMBAC) and are highly encouraged.
The expected start date of awards is September 2026; we anticipate funding 2-3 applications. Budgets should be for one year, should not exceed $30,000, and need to incorporate ECTF support. Potential applicants should contact Ms. Alexis Dunning (adunning@uab.edu) ahead of the deadline to discuss incorporation of ECTF support into the project and project budget.
ELIGIBILITY and EXPECTATIONS
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Open to all full-time UAB faculty members at the Instructor rank or above. Junior faculty are encouraged to apply.
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Projects should focus on conducting exercise-based clinical trials.
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Applications that are extensions of currently funded research will not be considered.
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IRB protocol submission prior to the funding start date is required.
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Selected pilot projects are expected to lead to the submission of an extramural NIH or equivalent grant application within 12 months of pilot project expiration.