Skin Biology and Disease Resource-based Center

Call for Applications for Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) Studies

Proposals will be accepted from:

• New investigators (defined as those who have not had R01, P01, or equivalent funding) who propose innovative skin research;
• Investigators proposing basic/translational collaborations and interdisciplinary projects in skin research;
• Established investigators outside the field of skin research who want to apply their expertise to this area and/or collaborate with skin researchers;
• Postdoctoral scientists (MD, PhD, or MD/PhD) who are pursuing research projects that will allow them to transition to an independent faculty position incorporating skin biology and disease-based research

Priority will be determined by:

• Use of one or more SBDRC Research Core services. Proposals using any SBDRC core service will be considered, although priority areas for 2023 include:
  • High Throughput Screening consultation (STaR core): 2 hours consultation and primary human skin cells for development and validation of high throughput genetic or chemical screens will be included; pilot funding can be used toward costs of the Penn High Throughput Screening (HTS) Core. Investigators are encouraged to reach out to David Schultz, PhD (dschultz@pennmedicine.upenn.edu) and Todd Ridky, MD, PhD (ridky@pennmedicine.upenn.edu) for preliminary evaluation of project feasibility.
  • Skin barrier assays:  The CPAT Core offers services to determine skin barrier function including: 1) corneometry to assess skin water content by the capacitance method. 2) skin pH measurements using the Skin-pH-Meter with a PH 905 probe and 3) transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by diffusion using a Tewameter TM300.
• Interdepartmental or interdisciplinary collaborations that can lead to future external research proposals on skin biology and disease research

Funding.

• $35,000-50,000 for full proposals
• $10,000 for trainee minigrant proposals

Application due date: August 26, 2022

Anticipated notification date: October 2022

Anticipated funding date: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023

Full instructions are available at: https://dermatology.upenn.edu/sbdrc/pilot-grant-program/grant-submission-instructions/

Online application is available at: https://redcap.med.upenn.edu/surveys/?s=3AHK9N3DFFNKTCPE

Please direct inquiries to: SBDRC@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

We encourage applications from researchers from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, persons with disabilities, and women