Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health (GC-CPEH) 
NIEHS CENTER PILOT PROJECT FUNDING AVAILABLE
FUNDING PERIOD April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022
ELECTRONIC LETTER OF INTENT PACKAGE DUE November 24, 2020

The GC-CPEH, a joint initiative of Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health announces the availability of funds to support pilot studies designed to promote precision EHS research at the intersection of genetics/epigenetics, environmental health, and data science to understand individual and place-based determinants of disease risk.  Proposals are open to all investigators from the supporting Institutions, who are eligible for federal funding, but should be compatible with the GC-CPEH’s mission. Successful applications will have objectives to advance environmental health research, environmentally based community outreach and engagement and/or veterans’ health.  Center member privileges will be extended to non-Center members who receive pilot project funding which will include subsidies during the funding period through the Matching Funds Core Utilization Program for use of Center-sponsored Facility Cores.

The Pilot Projects are for one year with no opportunity for extension (including no cost extensions), and a budget not to exceed $40,000.  Applications from junior investigators, those proposing the use of core facilities, and collaborative projects are especially encouraged.  Involvement of a co-investigator from other institution(s) is permitted.  An investigator may apply for only one award per grant round as PI or Co-PI.

KEYWORDS
Exposure, biomarkers; epigenomics; genomics; genome/epigenome-environment interactions; comparative biology; big data; bioinformatics; epidemiology; toxicology; public health, community health and outreach, disaster research response (DR2); microbiome, disease susceptibility, veterans’ health.

Electronic Letter of Intent Package
Your letter of intent package must include a cover letter, a one-page summary of the research objectives (Background and Specific Aims) and PI NIH Biosketch(es).  The package will be reviewed by the GC-CPEH Executive Committee Pilot Project Program Team for relevance to the Center’s mission, and up to 12 suitable proposal concepts will be invited to prepare a full application using the guidelines described below.  The intent package should be sent electronically to Tracie Albritton at taalbrit@utmb.edu no later than 5:00 PM on the due date (November 24, 2020).

APPLICATION PREPARATION AND REVIEW INFORMATION
The GC-CEPH Internal Advisory Committee will evaluate the Pilot Project applications using an oral review process.  The applicant will be scheduled for a 15-minute oral presentation describing the research proposal, followed by 10 minutes for questions.  The applicant is expected to describe the significance, innovation, approach (including the specific aims for the pilot project as well as future research objectives), present an itemized budget, and identify anticipated use of Center-supported Core resources if applicable.  The applicant is required to submit the finalized Powerpoint presentation to Tracie Albritton no later than 5:00 PM on January 4, 2021.  The scheduled date for the presentation is January 15, 2021, and will be conducted remotely.  Every effort will be made to accommodate the applicant’s schedule in choosing a time for the presentation.

For further information contact:
Tracie Albritton, Senior Administrative Manager, GC-CPEH at UTMB
E-mail: taalbrit@utmb.edu
Phone: 409-750-1073