Funding Opportunity for Research Focused on Improving Study Recruitment

The milestone driven Accelerated Translational Incubator Pilot (ATIP) Program provides awards ranging in size from $25,000 to $50,000 in direct costs over twelve months for faculty conducting innovative translational science projects that will help develop generalizable principles and/or approaches that other research teams can apply to their own projects. This ATIP program call for applications is being managed in two stages.

Stage I: Letter of Intent Submission
MANDATORY Letters of Intent (LOI) are now being solicited from eligible faculty and senior research staff at Morgan State University, the University of Maryland Baltimore, and Johns Hopkins University. LOIs will be subjected to a competitive review for responsiveness to the RFA, including an obvious focus on translational science.

Now accepting LOIs through the Submission Deadline at 12:00 MN EST on Friday, January 23, 2026.

Stage II: Application Submission (BY INVITATION ONLY)
Full proposals will only be accepted from investigators whose pilots were selected to advance to Stage II – Application submission.

Letters of Intent must describe proposals that will satisfy the following requirements:

1. Focuses on overcoming identified barriers to translational science by demonstrating a role in helping to develop generalizable principles and/or approaches that other research teams can apply to their own projects. A short video that uses non-technical terms to explain the concept of a Translational Science project can be seen here.
2.  Develops, tests and evaluates innovative approaches to improve study recruitment. Methods and/or tools can be utilized that involve digital technologies, human-to-human communication or hybrid strategies.
3. Unequivocally excludes elements that would satisfy the NIH’s definition of a foreign component.
4. Has clear endpoints that can be completed within a twelve-month funding period.

Overall, these projects are intended to explore possible innovative new leads or new directions for established investigators; stimulate investigators from other areas to lend their expertise in research in clinical and translational science; and provide initial support to establish proof of concept.

Proposals given additional consideration will include those that contribute towards improving the health in the state of Maryland across all communities and include the participation of early-stage investigators.

Please review the RFA and Letter of Intent (LOI) template.

After completion of the LOI review process, investigators will be notified as to whether or not they are invited to submit a full ATIP proposal for funding consideration. Instructions and components of the full ATIP submission requirements are detailed in the linked RFA.

PLEASE NOTE: If selected for funding, applicants whose pilot projects involve human subjects research must first obtain the appropriate regulatory approvals, including submission of a Request for Prior Approval to NCATS, before being permitted to access their grant funds and begin working.

The 12-month funding period will not be extended to accommodate delays in securing any required approvals. The ICTR Research Navigators will provide guidance and support to teams throughout this process.

Please see Appendix 8 – Common Regulatory Approvals and Requirements Associated with ATIP Supported Studies section of the RFA for additional information.

Please review the RFA for a complete description of the funding requirements for this program.

For questions and to submit your LOI, email the ICTR Navigators at [email protected].