Center for Vision Research Pilot Grants

The Center for Vision Research (CVR), part of the Brown Institute for Brain Science, will award Pilot Research Grants to early-stage research projects.  Grants are for one year and typically range from $7,500 to $15,000.  Awards will be made based on peer review.
 
CVR pilot grants support research on vision, broadly defined.  Interdisciplinary projects are encouraged.  The goal is to encourage and seed innovative research projects that might not otherwise be carried out because they are perceived to be too risky or outside the goals of more traditional research grants.
 
CVR pilot research projects must aim to generate preliminary data that will form the foundation for a future research grant proposal.  Pilot funds can be used for supplies, equipment, and non-faculty salaries.  Pilot research grants can also be used to send undergraduates or graduate students to a specialized course or meeting.  Grants may not be used entirely for technician support.
 
Pilot research projects must be sponsored or led by an affiliated faculty member of CVR.
 
The proposal should include the following:
 
•  The title of the project
•  The specific aim of the project
•  A one-page project description including plans to submit an external grant proposal based on the pilot project's results.  
•  An itemized budget
•  Biographical sketches for project leaders and key individuals
 
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, beginning January 15, 2009.  Submit application materials to cvr@brown.edu.  Please use the subject line "2009 CVR Pilot Research Grants."