Pilot Projects Program for West Virginia clinicians and researchers
Official title: Pilot Projects Program
Funded at West Virginia University · NIH-11412624 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, flexible grant program helps early-career researchers in West Virginia kick off clinical and translational projects that could improve local health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | West Virginia University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2012 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $67,100 |
| NIH project number | 5U54GM104942-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412624 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are early-stage investigators at WVCTSI partner institutions focused on clinically relevant health problems in West Virginia.
✕Less likely to help
Projects that do not directly address local health priorities or lack a clear plan for translation may not benefit patients.
What this research studies
This grant supports ESIs at WVCTSI with funding options and team-building initiatives to jump‑start promising clinical and translational work. It aims to speed translation from ideas to real health improvements for West Virginians, including new team-based science and rapid response funding for emerging issues. Researchers use this program to develop, pilot, and mature projects that could later attract larger support. The emphasis is on practical, impact-oriented research that can move from bench to bedside within the state.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients in West Virginia could see faster development of new health solutions and access to innovative approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier pilot programs in translational science have shown that structured support accelerates project development and implementation.
Where this research is happening
-
West Virginia University
Morgantown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rankin, Gary O — West Virginia University
- Study coordinator: Rankin, Gary O
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
West Virginia Rural Roots to Research: bringing clinical trials to Appalachian communities
A wide-network program in rural West Virginia is building patient-friendly clinical trials so people in Appalachia have better access to new cancer treatments and care.
-
CD38-Driven Changes in Brain Tumor Metabolism and Immunity in Glioblastoma
A patient-facing look at how scientists plan to study how glioblastoma grows by changing its metabolism and dampening the immune response, with potential targets to help treatment in the future.
-
Combinatorial targeting for high-risk B-cell ALL treatment
A research effort at West Virginia University is exploring a combination therapy for adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia using targeted gene silencing and a small-molecule compound to improve treatment in patients.
-
New mRNA vaccines and antibody therapies to prevent and treat pertussis
A program to create and test new mRNA vaccines and antibody therapies to stop whooping cough from spreading and causing illness in people of all ages.
-
Targeting teens’ social media use and real-time chats to improve well-being
A teen-focused program tests whether reducing social media, boosting real-time conversations, or journaling can improve well-being in 10th graders.
-
Molecular Regulators of Cone Opsin Trafficking
A study to understand how light-sensitive cone proteins are moved to the part of the eye that detects light, with the goal of helping people with certain inherited eye diseases.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.