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Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core
The primary goal of the Pilot/Exploratory Studies
Core (PEC) is to facilitate the development of innovative and methodologically
rigorous research studies designed to enhance our understanding
of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of multifactorial
geriatric health conditions, leading ultimately to the development
of efficacious and cost-effective interventions to increase or maintain
independence for older Americans. The specific aims are to: (1)
solicit and select the most meritorious research proposals for PEC
funding; (2) provide investigators of PEC studies with access to
resources from the other Pepper Center Cores; (3) identify potential
opportunities for co-sponsorship of PEC studies; (4) monitor the
progress of the PEC studies; (5) provide assistance so that the
PEC studies can be successfully developed into independently funded
grant applications; (6) ensure the safety and protection of human
subjects enrolled in PEC studies; and (7) ensure that PEC studies
enroll a substantial proportion of underrepresented minorities.
Proposals for PEC studies should advance
our understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of multifactorial geriatric health conditions.
Additional criteria for selection include significance, scientific
merit, innovation, relevance to fostering independence among
older Americans, the ability of the investigator(s) to successfully
complete the project, and the likelihood that the project,
if successful, will lead to full-scale extramural support.
Proposals that include innovative methodologies for addressing
potential barriers to the investigation of multifactorial
geriatric health conditions are favorably reviewed. Funding
for PEC studies may be used for preliminary testing of an
intervention or other research protocol for safety and feasibility,
for small qualitative studies that will set the stage for
larger quantitative studies, or for analysis of data acquired
in ongoing or previous studies to explore hypotheses that
may guide the selection and design of future studies. Priority
for funding is given to junior investigators as well as to
accomplished senior investigators who wish to redirect or
expand their research to the study of multifactorial geriatric
health conditions.
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