The TraCS Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) pilot award program is intended to support Clinical and Translational Science (CTS), the field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process.

Projects are intended to:

1. explore possible innovative new leads or new directions for established investigators;
2. stimulate investigators from other areas to lend their expertise in research in CTS; and
3. provide initial support to establish proof of concept.

Projects must be feasible within the proposed timeframe, have high methodological and scientific quality, and answer important scientific questions. Pilot project support is not intended for large projects by established investigators that would otherwise be submitted as separate research grant applications.

Whereas translational research focuses on the specific case of a target or disease, translational science focuses on the general case that can be applied to research on any target or disease. The below example illustrates the distinction between Translational Research and Translational Science.

Applications submitted to the TraCS CTS Pilot Program must focus on translational science ; translational research projects are generally not allowed. However, the proposed research may use a specific use case to test a CTS hypothesis (see above), in which case the CTS relevance of the work should be clearly described.

Types of pilot activities that may be supported include the following. Note that these are examples, not an exhaustive or complete list:

• Development of new research methodologies and/or new technologies/tools/resources that will advance CTS and thus increase the efficiency and effectiveness of translation
• Improve recruitment of patients into clinical trials
• Early-stage development of new therapies/technologies with generalizable application to an identified translational roadblock
• Demonstration, in a particular use case(s), that the new methodology or technology advances translational science by successfully making one or more steps of the translational process more effective or efficient
• Dissemination of effective tools, methods, processes, and training paradigms
• Feasibility/proof of concept studies to support future CTS projects
• Secondary analysis of existing data (e.g., projects using the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Data Enclave)

Here are some specific examples of translational pilot project topics with CTS application:

1. Non-invasive optoelectronic systems for diabetes health monitoring at the skin interface

This project describes the development of an advanced wireless, noninvasive, wearable glucose sensor, integrating optical polarimetry, near-infrared spectroscopy in a soft, patchable, and miniaturized construction, that incorporates a novel multi-modality sensing algorithm for enhanced accuracy and stability.

While the use case here is specific to diabetes, these technologies may, if successful, be applicable to other use cases.

2. Validating Claims-based Definitions for Deprescribing Using Electronic Health Records: Bridging the Gap Between Clinical and Administrative Data Sources

The goal of this study is to better understand and improve claims-based deprescribing definitions by comparing claims with detailed EHR data. It focuses on a clinical scenario in which deprescribing is clearly indicated—benzodiazepine use following a fall-related hospitalization in older adults. Comparing claims data to unstructured EHR data will enable assessment of when a patient's medication was deprescribed, and how well gaps in medication use in claims data can identify intentional deprescribing and distinguish it from stoppages for other reasons (e.g., patient nonadherence). The results of this study will provide pilot data for a larger study that will help better implement deprescribing interventions by study patterns and outcomes of deprescribing of various medication types.

Using benzodiazepine deprescription as a use case, this is designed to be an improvement on an important data tool used in all sorts of research.

A list of common roadblocks to clinical and translational science:
TraCS CTS Pilot Roadblocks Table (pdf)

For each annual CTS pilot grant cycle, NC TraCS will award up to eight (8) grants of $25,000 – $50,000 direct costs. Awards are to be expended within a 12-month period starting from the date of issue of a Notice of Award. Budget details and procedures, including allowed expenses, are detailed in the Application Instructions (UPDATED: RFA version released 4/14/25.)

* To ensure optimal responsiveness to the FOA, all applicants are required to consult with TraCS pilot program staff prior to submitting a proposal.

** Applicants proposing to use TraCS services are required to meet with and obtain approval from service representatives prior to submitting a proposal.

• Researchers from any of NC TraCS' partner institutions (UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. A&T, NC State) can serve as Principal Investigator (PI) of a CTS pilot grant. Eligible PIs should hold a permanent faculty appointment or a non-faculty appointment, such as "research scientist" or other position typically held by investigators from research institutes and centers who are eligible to apply for investigator-initiated external awards, such as NIH "R" funding. For specific questions regarding eligibility, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• Multiple-PI teams, multi-institutional teams and multi-disciplinary teams are encouraged. Team size and expertise should be appropriate for the work proposed in the grant application.
• Multiple PI leadership teams are encouraged with the understanding that (i) all PIs will share equal responsibility for the conduct and direction of the project and (ii) all co-PIs individually fulfill the PI eligibility requirement described above. One PI—designated as the "Contact PI"—will serve as the primary contact between the research team and CTS Pilot Program administration.

• All concept proposals and full proposals should be submitted online through the NC TraCS online pilot submission system. Enter “CTS” in the quick search box at the top of the screen to find this funding opportunity within the online application system.
• RFA and FAQ (pdf) (UPDATED: RFA version released 4/14/25)

View the slides from the April 2025 information sessions: TraCS CTS Pilot info session slides (pdf)

• Questions regarding applicant eligibility may be directed by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Director, TraCS Innovations Program.
• Questions regarding the application process may be directed by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., TraCS Director of Research Development.