# PILOT PROJECTS CORE

> **NIH NIH U54** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $86,940

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY AND KEY PERSONNEL 
Developmental Pilot Projects, Cross BETRNet Pilot Projects, and Other Cross BETRNet Activities 
Summary: The overall objective of the BETRNet Developmental Research Program (DRP) is to develop 
innovative and diverse approaches to focus on Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma 
translational research across the spectrum from etiology through prevention, screening, diagnostics, and 
therapeutics. The DRP will provide 1) Financial support, 2) Bioinformatic support 3) Resources and 4) Intellectual 
oversight and advice for pilot research projects and investigators. Funds for development of pilot research 
projects are critical to ongoing development and enhancement of the Research Center (RC) and accordingly the 
RC will allocate $110,000 per year in years 2-5 for pilot projects to be used $40,000 per year for pilot projects 
from within the RC and $70,000 per year for cross center projects. Within-center and Cross Center Pilot Projects 
will be solicited, reviewed and awarded by the BETRNet Steering Committee on a merit basis with evaluation 
criteria based on scientific merit, impact, significance, innovation, transdisciplinary characteristics, translational 
potential, with great significance attached to the potential for the contribution to enhance and extend BETRNet 
projects as well as the potential for developing into independent research projects. In addition, cross-center pilot 
projects will consider potential contribution of applications to increase sample size, provide complimentary skills, 
resources and/or expertise or collaborations with other BETRNet Research Centers or other multi-institutional 
cooperative groups. Emphasis will be placed on supporting new investigators as well as established investigators 
with new approaches. For meritorious proposals from individual basic or clinical investigators, the DRP 
leadership group will identify complementary translational investigators to serve as advisors. An innovative 
approach that we will continue to engage expertise from both inside and outside the RC will be to post on the 
Cancer Center website and the national BETRNet website, a series of Research Opportunities in which each 
RC project will provide a list of research questions, resources, expertise, etc. that will be available for 
collaborative pilot project research. 
Key Personnel: 
Nathan A. Berger, MD 
Amitabh Chak, MD, MS 
Sanford Markowitz, MD, PhD

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10153706
- **Project number:** 5U54CA163060-10
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Nathan A. Berger
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $86,940
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-09-26 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10153706

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10153706, PILOT PROJECTS CORE (5U54CA163060-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10153706. Licensed CC0.

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