MBHI's Pilot Grant Programs Are Now Open & Accepting Submissions!

The MBHI is pleased to announce two complementary funding mechanisms designed to empower UTMB investigators, accelerate preliminary data generation, and strengthen the foundation for competitive extramural grant submissions.

The Open Discovery Pilot Grant Program provides UTMB PIs with flexible pilot funding to develop preliminary data, test new hypotheses, and build collaborative, cross-departmental research teams. The goal is to support early-stage, investigator-initiated ideas that will lead to successful extramural applications—including R01, multi-PI R01, P-series, or U-series grants—after the funding period. This mechanism emphasizes open scientific exploration and fosters a collaborative research environment across UTMB.

The BRAIN Pilot Grant Program is designed to catalyze innovative neuroscience research that meaningfully integrates artificial intelligence. This initiative seeks proposals in which AI is not a superficial add-on, but a core, essential component that advances the scientific aims and enhances the impact of the work. The program was developed to identify the most effective strategies for fostering meaningful AI–neuroscience collaboration at MBHI, with a particular emphasis on neurodegeneration.

Across both tracks, MBHI aims to fuel high-impact pilot projects that position UTMB investigators for future extramural success while expanding UTMB’s leadership in neuroscience, innovation, and AI-driven discovery.