Pilot Awards

WiNSC seeks applications that will explore new ideas in the basic biology of aging and the role of metabolism in aging phenotypes. The purpose of the Pilot Award program is to competitively offer directed funds to explore new and innovative ideas/concepts. Applications from early-stage investigators or established investigators pivoting their research toward mechanisms of aging are particularly encouraged. All applications must include experimental design/analyses that incorporate WiNSC Research Cores and services and platforms. These awards are open to all and applicants from outside UW Madison are encouraged to apply. Questions about WiNSC awards can be directed to WiNSC Program Manager Alicia Weich at winsc@medicine.wisc.edu. 2025 deadline is November 30.

Completed applications with budgets should be emailed to winsc@medicine.wisc.edu with the “Pilot Award Application” in the subject line. Since these awards are utilized for cores and services within WiNSC, submission through your Institution’s Research and Sponsored Programs office is not (likely) required.

Pilot Award Application Details

Step One: Letter of Intent

Applicants must first submit a letter of intent (LOI) for review by the AC (Administrative Core) to ensure that proposals fall within the mission and scientific goals of WiNSC. Applicants are encouraged to connect with the leaders of the Cores hosting the services they plan to engage before submitting the full application. The LOI is a one page document that will later serve as the cover page for the full application. Each LOI will include:

1. Proposal title
2. Principal Investigator(s) – name, degree, position, academic institution, department
3. Abstract – a brief synopsis of the proposed work and how it relates specifically to aging
4. Future Development Statement – A brief statement on how the pilot project will support research advance (e.g. grant submission, new avenue of research)

Letter of intent should be emailed to WiNSC Program Manager Alicia Weich at winsc@medicine.wisc.edu by November 30, 2025. Once the LOI is received, the applicant will receive an email acknowledgment. LOIs will be reviewed within 5 business days to determine eligibility. If eligible, the applicant will be invited via email to submit a full application.

Step Two: Full Application

Invited applicants must submit a full application by December 15, 2025. A full application will consist of the following elements:

1. LOI cover page (see above)
2. Biosketch
3. One-page statement of the specific aims of the proposal
4. Scientific research plan that includes the relevance to aging, metabolism and translational potential, and future plans for development of next steps (no more than 4 pages including data elements, not including references)
5. Budget and Justification (no more than 2 pages)
   • Project scope (sample numbers, mouse numbers, cell numbers, etc.) including costs and sample as discussed with the leaders of the appropriate WiNSC Cores.
   • Brief budget justification
   • Summary of project planning/budget discussions with relevant Core leader

Completed full applications should be emailed to WiNSC Program Manager Alicia Weich at winsc@medicine.wisc.edu.

Awardee Responsibilities

Principal Investigators (PIs) will provide a scientific progress report after the first six months from the start-date of the project, and a final scientific and financial report within 3 months of the conclusion of their award. PIs of funded projects will receive mentoring as needed throughout and beyond their pilot study. Projects that have not met interim milestones based upon review of the progress report will be reevaluated by the Administrative Core and the PI to establish an action plan or refocusing of the project to ensure that goals are met. PIs of funded projects may be asked to present their research at the Annual Conference organized by WiNSC. Award recipients will report any publication that resulted from their pilot project, additional funding obtained to continue the work, and new collaborations to the Administrative Core.