Call for Pilot Project Proposals

Proposals due March 27, 2026 by 11:59 PM
Funding Period: 4/01/2027 – 3/31/2029

$50,000

Funding per project

2 Years

Project duration

5 Awards

Projects funded

Up to 12 proposals will be selected to advance to a 7-part Grant Writing Workshop. Five pilot project applications will be selected for funding.

Two-Stage Application Process

Our selection process is designed to support and develop promising research proposals.

1. Proposal Submission

Submit your initial proposal through the SDSU Competitions Portal. Up to 12 proposals will be selected to advance to Stage 2.

2. Full Application

Invited applicants participate in a 7-part Grant Writing Workshop to prepare an NIH-style application for final consideration.

What Awardees Receive

$50,000 Funding

To spend over a two-year period

Research Management Training

Year-long training program

Center Services

Center Resources and Services Support for your Pilot Project

Center Mentorship

Ongoing guidance from experienced faculty

Am I Eligible to Apply?

The pilot project must demonstrate relevance to human health, particularly research related to diseases or conditions with significant public health impact or that affect specific geographic or demographic groups based on documented health trends.

The pilot project must be led by an early-career investigator who is (a) SDSU or SDSU-IV affiliated (tenure-track/tenured/research/adjunct/lecturer/post-doctoral fellow); (b) of any academic discipline that supports basic biomedical, behavioral/population or clinical/health services research; and (c) is a current U.S. citizen or a non-citizen national of the U.S. or who holds a U.S. Permanent Resident Visa. Multiple principal investigator applications are not allowed; however, if you have an idea that could involve two pilot projects working synergistically, we welcome these ideas.

We Are Interested in Funding Projects That Are:

Consistent with the SDSU HealthLINK Center's mission, vision, and values

Can utilize, complement, or add to the Center's research support/services available

Meet Community Coalition and NIH research priorities

Ready to Apply?

For more detailed information on what to include in your proposal, visit the SDSU Competitions Portal page. Attend our Information Sessions to learn more and ask questions directly to our Center staff.

Have questions? Submit them and our team will get back to you via email