Supporting novel skin research and new investigators
Providing direct support for research that brings new investigators into the field of skin diseases and biology, and for innovative preliminary studies and new technology development.
The University of Michigan Skin Research Center (UM-SRC) invites investigators to submit research pilot and feasibility proposals to fund early investigators and promote interdisciplinary engagement and collaborations with groups outside the field of dermatology. The Pilot & Feasibility Program will provide direct support for research in an effort to bring new investigators into the field and to drive innovative preliminary studies and new technology development. We will initially solicit applications for four awards each year: two will be Pilot Grants designed to help generate preliminary data that will lead to new extramural support; the other two will be Innovation Awards, aimed specifically at supporting the development of innovative technology or experimental approaches.
Funds Available
- Total of $100,000
Number of Potential Awardees
- Two Pilot Grants - $40,000 each
- Two Innovation Awards - $10,000 each
Eligibility Requirements
Submissions for Pilot Grants and Innovation Awards will be open to the entire UM research community, but the proposed studies must have direct relevance to the study of skin biology and diseases relevant to the mission of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
UM-SRC Members are encouraged to apply for both Pilot Grants and Innovation Awards
Preferences
- Investigators who are not yet working in skin research
- New or early-stage investigators
- New animal and/or in vitro model development
P & F awards are subject to change
Pilot Awards
- James Elder, M.D., Ph.D., Dermatology, University of Michigan: "Single-Cell RNA-Seq analysis of the effect of NETs in TH17 polarization"
- Eliza Pei-Suen Tsou, Ph.D., Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), University of Michigan: "Dissecting the role of CD13/Aminopeptidase N in scleroderma pathogenesis"
- Gargi Ghosh, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn: "Multi-functional hybrid hydrogel for wound healing"
- Michelle Kahlenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), University of Michigan: "Elucidating the cellular and molecular role of PIXT1 in skin inflammation And UVB-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis"
- Mrinal Sarkar, Ph.D., Dermatology, University of Michigan: "Role of each member of the IL-36 cytokines in keratinocyte immune responses"
Pilot Awards
- Carole Parent, Ph.D. & Pierre Coulombe, Ph.D., Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School: "Live imaging of neutrophil infiltration in stressed skin in real time in vivo"
- Olesya Plazyo, Ph.D. (Post-Doc) & Allison Billi, M.D., Ph.D. (Mentor), Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School: "Investigating the role of VGLL3 in antiviral immune responses"
- Gary Fisher, Ph.D. & Taihao Quan, M.D., Ph.D., Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School: "The Role YAP/TAZ in Dermal Extracellular Matrix Homeostatus and Aging"
Innovation Awards
- Matthew Patrick, Ph.D. & Lam C. Tsoi, Ph.D., Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School: "Transcriptomic profiling for nascent RNA to identify distinct mediators of early inflammatory response in keratinocytes"
- Zhaolin Zhang, Ph.D. (Post-Doc) & James T. Elder, M.D., Ph.D. (Mentor), Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School: "Prediction of regulatory elements related to Th17 differentiation in skin-homing T cells"
- Sunny Wong, Ph.D., Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School: "Targeting CD200 in a Mouse Model of Basal Cell Carcinoma"
Pilot Awards
- Claudia Loebel, M.D., Ph.D. & Brendon Baker, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan: “Lineage-specific ECM labeling in skin fibrosis models”
- Lisa Abernathy-Close, Ph.D., Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), University of Michigan Medical School: “Molecular and Functional Characterization of Type I IFN-educated Fibroblasts Enriched in Lupus Skin”
- Masanori Matsumoto, Ph.D., Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School: “Understanding the role of neutrophil type I interferon signaling in S. aureus-induced skin inflammation”
- Pei-Suen (Eliza) Tsou, Ph.D., Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), University of Michigan Medical School: "CaMKII in scleroderma fibrosis”
- Olesya Plazyo, Ph.D., Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School: “Characterizing the role of IL-7 signaling in SLE”
- Tom Kerppola, Ph.D., Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School: “The roles of Keap1 moderation of cytokine transcription in the modulation of inflammatory responses in mouse dermal fibroblasts and skin”
It is extremely important that our grant is cited in all publications resulting from the use of UM-SBDRC services and funding. Our productivity and effectiveness as a center are measured in part by the citation of the grant in published work. Please use the following acknowledgement in your publications:
This work utilized Core Services and Pilot or Feasibility project funding supported by grant UM-SBDRC 1P30AR075043 of NIH/NIAMS to the University of Michigan
