Pilot Projects

NIA Biomarker Network Annual Pilot Project Competition: Call for Proposals

The 2026 Call for Proposals is closed. Check back in May 2027.

Release Date: May 11, 2026
Pre-proposals Due: June 1, 2026
Invitations to Submit Full Proposal Sent: by June 8, 2026
Full Proposals Due: July 1, 2026
Notices of Award Distributed: August 1, 2026
Pilot Project Start Date: September 1, 2026

The Biomarker Network is a National Institute on Aging sponsored project to develop an interdisciplinary group of scientists dedicated to improved measurement of biological risk for late life health outcomes in large representative samples of populations. Activities of the network include designing and carrying out a series of focused meetings, interactive activities, workshops, and pilot projects to harmonize and develop measurement of biological risk in populations.

With 2026-2027 funding, the Biomarker Network plans to fund at least 3–4 pilot projects. We are looking to fund methodological projects that focus on collection (e.g., comparison or assessment of collection methods), assay development, or analytic work (e.g., novel statistical methods, algorithms) related to biomarkers of aging. Pilots are not intended to focus on substantive work.

Eligibility

The competition is open to graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and all faculty with appointments in the research professor, professor, scientist, or clinical tracks. Individuals from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to early stage investigators.

Requirements

Pilot project recipients are expected to present results at the annual Biomarker Network meeting, held directly before the Population Association of America (PAA) annual meeting each year. Recipients are required to cite the Biomarker Network as a source of funding support for any publications or presentations that emerge from funding (R24 AG037898). Recipients are also required to submit annual reports of pilot outcomes, including publications, presentations, or proposals emanating from the pilot award. Recipients will provide information (e.g., human subjects information, papers) to Network staff for annual progress reports; the Network will reach out for all needed details.

Expected Outcomes

Pilot projects typically result in multiple presentations and at least one published paper. Often pilot recipients go on to submit successful grant applications to NIA related to their pilot work. Pilots also may lead to new data resources, study cohorts, or protocols.

Priority/Review Criteria

1. Priority will be given to early stage investigators.
2. Priority will also be given to projects that seed innovative research, have the potential to produce publications that advance the Network’s research themes, are likely to serve as a foundation for external funding (e.g., NIH R03, R21, R01), and can be completed over the award period.

Pre-proposal Instructions

To be considered for a full proposal, please submit a pre-proposal by June 1, 2026 to the Google Form linked HERE. The pre-proposal should include 1) a description of the research activity (1 page limit, excluding references); 2) a preliminary budget and justification in any format, and 3) NIH biosketch. The description should cover the following topics: the significance of your
research question, how your research is novel, a brief overview of the approach you plan to use, and expected outcomes. Include a brief statement as to how your pilot relates to the overall themes of the network. Please remember – pilots are not intended to focus on substantive work.

If Invited, Full Application Instructions

A full proposal must include the following:
1) a completed University of Michigan Subrecipient Statement of Collaborative Intent (which is provided at the bottom of the page here: https://biomarker-network.isr.umich.edu/pilot-projects/) Please complete all items, paying particular attention to highlighted fields. Ensure the form is signed by your Institutional Official.
2) abstract (30 lines of text max);
3) specific aims (1 page limit);
4) research strategy (2 page limit, excluding references) that covers significance, innovation, approach, and outcomes and includes a brief statement as to how your pilot relates to overall themes of the Network;
5) budget and justification (note – any budget format is acceptable as long as all costs are detailed and the direct/indirect/total cost breakdown is included). Justifications should detail all requested costs.
6) an NIH biosketch in ScienCV format of the PI/MPI’s;
7) your institutional indirect cost rate agreement;
8) for projects with human subjects research, complete applicable sections of the PHS human subjects and clinical trials information form. A file required for completion for all human subjects pilots is provided at the bottom of the page here: https://biomarker-network.isr.umich.edu/pilot-projects/

Budget Details

Applicants may request up to $25,000 total costs inclusive of the travel costs detailed in the next paragraph below. Expenses can include salary and associated fringe costs, research staff (e.g., data analyst, research assistant), data collection or assay costs, materials and supplies necessary for the proposed research, and other project specific costs deemed necessary for the work to be completed. The anticipated pilot award date is 9/1/2026 – 3/31/2027. Note – a no cost extension is permissible to allow for a full year’s worth of funding/time to complete the project, if needed.

Travel Costs

You are expected to attend/present results at an annual Biomarker Network meeting. Please include applicable travel costs to a one day meeting prior to PAA (PAA 2027: Seattle, WA). Permissable costs include any standard travel costs including airfare, hotel, ground transportation/mileage and parking costs for the location above. If you need additional hotel nights or travel costs (we understand individuals regularly do not attend the full PAA meeting) please include those costs and justify appropriately. If additional time is needed for preparation and presentation of results, travel costs could be used to present at the 2028 Biomarker Network meeting (location TBN) with Network approval.

This total cost threshold ($25,000) can include your approved University indirect cost rate. Routinely, there are instances when Universities waive indirects on pilots for junior investigators to allow them the full funds to be spent on needed direct costs, especially for assay development pilots.

Your invited full application is due no later than 5pm EST on July 1, 2026.  A Google Form will be shared with invited applicants for uploading needed materials. Note that funding is contingent upon IRB approval.

Questions may be directed to Nicholas Prieur at [email protected].

Previous Pilot Awardees