Pilot Core
The Pilot Core will provide oversight for the selection and evaluation of pilot projects. Two 2-year pilots will be funded for years 1-2 and years 3-4, and a one-year pilot will be chosen for year 5. Pilot projects will be chosen based upon the quality of science, innovation, capacity for interaction with other VCU-ARC Projects/Cores, and potential for leading to independent funding.
The VCU Office of the Vice-President for Research and the Dean of the VCU School of Medicine have both provided additional flexible funds to support the pilot grant program in this renewal (see Core 2). Additionally, both the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health have provided flexible funds to enlarge the pilot grant opportunities for this proposal in the areas of cancer/alcohol and liver disease/alcohol interactions