The Pilot Projects Program (PPP) is a high-impact initiative of the Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility (CEHS) designed to foster innovative, interdisciplinary environmental health research. The program supports early-career investigators, incentivizes collaboration across disciplines, and connects researchers with CEHS core facilities and community partners to translate findings into improved public health outcomes.
PPP provides multiple funding mechanisms to support researchers, including Team Science awards (up to $75,000), Early Stage Investigator awards (up to $25,000), Rapid Response awards (up to $15,000), and Community-Engaged Planning and Pilot awards ($5,000–$25,000). The program is structured in four phases—Pre-application, Application, Award Period, and Dissemination & Evaluation—ensuring comprehensive support throughout the research process.
Through its Grant Incubator program, PPP offers mentorship, grant development assistance, and strategic support to help investigators secure external funding. The program has generated 20 NIH awards, including 8 from NIEHS, and achieved a 27:1 return on investment, reinforcing its role in advancing environmental health research at UNC and beyond.
Applications are particularly encouraged from primary investigators at the assistant or associate level. All applications are evaluated for the likelihood of developing their pilot project into a full NIEHS grant application.