Clinical and Translational Science Pilot Program

The Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Pilot Program invests in investigators with innovative ideas and established scientists expanding their domain expertise. We support pilot projects that will pilot innovative approaches for addressing important roadblocks in translational science with a focus on the Academic Learning Health System (aLHS). While addressing these translational roadblocks, these projects will also apply a fair lens and facilitate multidisciplinary, team-based, and patient-centric science that is broadly generalizable.

The CTS Pilot Program supports two RFAs each year: The Science of Translation RFA and the Translational Research RFA. Both RFAs aim to fund one-year pilot projects at $40,000 each.

Pilot Award Examples Ignition Funds Training

Interested in learning more about the Clinical and Translational Science Pilot Program?

Watch this informational session led by CTS Pilot Program leaders to understand the program and pilot application process.

Past Pilot Awardees:

Success Stories:

Science of Translation

The purpose of the Science of Translation RFA is to support new and innovative research projects relevant to the science of translation. These pilot projects must be focused on advancing translational science and not just be translational in nature. They must be focused on understanding a scientific or operational principle underlying a step of the translational process with the goal of laying the scientific foundation for improvements in translational efficiency that will accelerate the realization of interventions that improve human health.

2025 Science of Translation Pilot Recipients

Gagan Deep, PhD

Professor
Internal Medicine

“Development of a novel liquid bone biopsy tool to improve the efficiency of diagnostic and intervention monitoring in clinical studies”

Yuming Jiang, MD, PhD

Professor
Radiation Oncology

“Multimodal Deep Learning Integrating MRI and Blood Biomarkers for Predicting Radiation Failure in Brain Metastases”

Tina Brinkley, PhD

Associate Professor
Internal Medicine

“Engaging Clinical Partners and Patients to Inform Implementation of Vivo Heart”

Jaime Hughes, PhD, MPH, MSW

Associate Professor
Implementation Science

“Advocate Health Age Friendly Initiative: Evaluating Adoption of a New Medicare Mandate”

Characteristics of Successful Science of Translation Projects

Evaluates an underlying translational science principle
Addresses a real problem facing the health system
Involves the development of practices, treatments, tools or approaches that will improve care (e.g., Does tailoring digital reminders improve medication adherence in older adults?)
Inclusion of both a skilled researcher and clinician who contribute to designing and implementing the approach
Research methods used by the project balance rigor with practicality
Results are delivered in a timely fashion
Analysis of clinical data is a central aspect of the project
Results from the learning process are disseminated throughout the organization in a manner that leads to better patient care and improved organizational practices and policies

Translational Research

Funded through the 2025 Fall Common Deadline

The purpose of the Translational Research RFA is to support high impact pilot projects that focus on catalyzing the translation of discoveries to treatments or the delivery of care. The ultimate aim of this RFA is to make research investments that maximize healthcare value and improve population health. These projects should fall into one of the Translational Science Spectrum categories (Basic Research, Preclinical Research, Clinical Research, Clinical Implementation, Public Health).

2025 Translational Research Pilot Recipients

Arezoo Movaghar, PhD

Assistant Professor
Pediatrics

“Artificial Intelligence-Driven Detection of Down Syndrome Regression Disorder”

*co-funded by the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research

Ruth Benca, MD

Professor
Psychiatry & Behavioral Health

“Targeting Slow Wave Sleep to Treat Depression: Using Remote Neuromodulation to Improve Cognitive and Mood Outcomes”

Michael Supples, MD

Assistant Professor
Emergency Medicine

“Prehospital Detection of NSTEMI using Point of Care Troponin-Pilot (PRONTO-Pilot)”

*co-funded by the Cardiovascular Sciences Center

Karen Haas, PhD

Professor
Microbiology & Immunology

“Tissue-Specific B Cell Responses to GI-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Path Toward Novel Therapeutics and Vaccines”

*co-funded by the Center for Vaccines at the Extremes of Aging

Kathryn Mileham, MD

Associate Professor, Cancer Medicine

“Inducing non-small cell lung cancer metabolic synthetic lethality using a novel multi-target PI3K-CDK4/6-CDK9-AURKA/B small molecule inhibitor”

*co-funded by the Comprehensive Cancer Center

Deepak Palakshappa, MD

Associate Professor, Internal Medicine

“Heathy Eating and Access for Reducing Teens' high Blood Pressure (HEART BP)”

*co-funded by the Center for Prevention Science in Child and Family Health

Characteristics of Successful Translational Research Projects

How the proposed project advances research in a particular field to address health care needs within the population
A rationale and potential for generalizability (if applicable)
How the proposed project is translational
Address next steps for this project:
- Will it lead to larger, subsequent grant applications (be specific: indicate RFA you will submit to and when)?
- Can it be applied to improve health or how we deliver care?
- How will results be disseminated?
- Is the project scalable?
- Consider the full range of possibilities for how the health system and/or our community will benefit

Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Translational Research Pilot Recipients

Funded through the Spring 2025 Common Deadline

Asma Ahmed, PhD, MD

Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Prevention

'Inadvertent Exposure to Anti-Obesity Medications and Their Safety in Early Pregnancy'
*co-funded by the North Carolina Diabetes Research Center

Laurel Berry, MD

Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology

'Leveraging Immunogenic Subtypes of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer for Improved Immunotherapy Selection'
*co-funded by the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center

Bartlomiej Imielski, MD

Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery

'Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Response to Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Patients with Vasoplegia'
*co-funded by the Cardiovascular Sciences Center, the Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and the Critical Illness, Injury and Recovery Research Center

Samuel Centanni, PhD

Assistant Professor, Translational Neuroscience

'Cardiac Autonomic Function and Mid-Insula Circuit Dysregulation in Traumatic Stress'
*co-funded by the Cardiovascular Sciences Center and the Hypertension and Vascular Research Center

Sarah Cilvik, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Pediatrics – Neonatology

'Revisiting the Sterile Womb Hypothesis: Establishing the Feasibility of Using Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing to Characterize Microbial Signatures in Nonhuman Primate Amniotic Fluid'
*co-funded by the Center for Precision Medicine

Upcoming Pilot Application Deadlines

We invite prospective applicants to take note of the following key dates for our upcoming pilot program application cycles:

2026 Science of Translation RFA Key Dates

Date	Detail
10/23/26, 11:59 pm ET	Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline
11/13/26	Investigators Invited for Full Application
11/16/26 to 11/30/26	Applicant–Pilot Leadership Meetings
12/18/26, 11:59 pm ET	Full Application Deadline
03/01/27	Selection of Awardees
05/31/27	If applicable, completed materials sent to NCATS for approval
07/01/27	Project Start Date
06/30/28	Project End Date

More Details

What is Science of Translation vs. Translational Research?

Science of Translation: The field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process.

Translational Research: The endeavor to traverse a particular step of the translational process for a particular target or disease.

Funding

Successful pilots will receive up to $40,000 in direct costs.

Only the Science of Translation RFA will receive up to an additional $10,000 resulting in an increased total award up to $50,000 in direct costs for projects that include one or more of the following criteria:

Investigators from multiple regions and/or markets within the health system;
Community partners as collaborators and/or project leaders;
Demonstrates substantive contribution from the community partner (e.g., funds support community partner activities and roles).

Supplements to these awards are being offered by the Center for Artificial Intelligence (CAIR) and the Perioperative Outcomes and Informatics Collaborative (POIC). Details are listed in both RFAs. Please view more information on Ignition Funds here.

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