GIULIO TAGLIALATELA
SCOTT
WEAVER
AGENOR
LIMON
LISA
CISNEROS
Welcome to the I-DID Pilot Grant Program webpage!
Intersection of Dementia & Infectious Disease
(I-DID) Pilot Grant Program
This initiative, sponsored by the Moody Brain Health Institute (MBHI) and the Institute for Human Infections & Immunity (IHII), offers up to $250,000 for approximately a one-year pilot grant to develop preliminary data for three or more interrelated large multi-PI research projects. Our goal is to leverage multidisciplinary expertise across UTMB departments to produce a large multi-PI grant submission in FY27, providing foundational support for future funding for dementia research.
Who's Eligible
Who's Eligible
Any UTMB employee eligible to submit extramural grant applications is encouraged to apply as Contact PI.
The proposed principal investigator must:
- be a full-time employee
- have an academic title and
- have an appointment in an academic school or department.
UTMB PI Eligibility Information can be found here
I-DID Kickoff Event
I-DID Kickoff Event
Join us on May 19, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM for the launch of the I-DID Pilot Grant Program, offering up to $250,000 in one-year pilot grant funding to support research at the intersection of dementia and infectious disease. Hosted by MBHI and the IHII, this event features expert talks, networking opportunities, pilot grant question and answer session and lunch.
Agenda Highlights:
Welcome & I-DID Pilot Introduction – Giulio Taglialatela, PhD
Institute for Human Infections & Immunity Partnership – Scott Weaver, MS, PhD
The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases – Agenor Limon, PhD
Neuro ID Presentation – Irma (Lisa) Cisneros, PhD
Small Group/Individual Capability Presentations
Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and explore a new funding opportunity!
Email ajshetty@utmb.edu to confirm your attendance today!
Pre-Submission Details
Pre-Submission Details
The I-DID Committee is accepting two-page pre-submissions due Monday, June 16, 2025.
Submission Requirements:
- Contact PI details & proposal title
- Focus on a large multiple-PI grant (NIH P, U, or RM) relevant to dementia & infectious disease
- Research projects, scientific cores, lead PIs & interconnections
- Significance, innovation & technological novelty
- Background, knowledge gap & FY27 roadmap
- Budget narrative for $250K Pilot Grant (not itemized)
- Commitment to Pitch Day & potential full submission
Please email your pre-submission to mbhi@utmb.edu
Pitch Day Information
Pitch Day Information
The I-DID selection committee will invite up to five teams to present 15-minute pitches on Pitch Day. During these presentations, teams will outline their proposed large multiple-PI grant application, expanding on the information provided in the Pre-Submission (see Pre-Submission criteria). Emphasis should be placed on how the team will collaborate cohesively and how this combined effort will strengthen their proposal for a successful large multiple-PI grant application in FY27.
Each presentation will be followed by a 5-minute Q&A session.
Full Application Details
Full Application Details
After all presentations on Pitch Day, the committee will convene to select two teams to submit a full Pilot Grant Program application (similar to an NIH R21).
- Full applications are accepted by invitation only.
- Full applications are due via email by Monday, September 1st, 2025, by 5PM Central time.
- Please send a single PDF file to mbhi@utmb.edu
- Please name your single PDF file as “I-DID PILOT Contact PI Last Name.pdf”
- Example: “I-DID PILOT Smith.pdf”
Required Components:
- Title Page: Project Title, Contact PI Name and Contact Information
- Lay Project Summary/Abstract: No more than 31 lines
- Specific Aims: 1 page
- Research Strategy: 6 pages
- Summary Budget (for the Pilot Grant): Please use this Template
- NIH Style Biosketches: For the Contact PI, Research Project PI, and Scientific Core PI
- High Resolution Headshots: Contact PI, Research Project PI, and Scientific Core PI
Winner Announcement
Winner Announcement
We will announce the winning team and inform the contact PI on September 25, 2025, who will receive up to $250,000 in funding to advance innovative dementia research.
This project will pave the way for a large multi-PI grant submission in FY27.
Please note the pilot period will be October 7, 2025, to August 31, 2026.