# Pilot and Exploratory Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2024 · $285,689

## Abstract

SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The aim of the Boston Pepper OAIC is to support an interdisciplinary research program that fosters the
development of function promoting therapies (FPTs). Within the context of the OAIC's overall mission, the Pilot
and Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) will catalyze scientific advances in FPTs through funding of pilot and
exploratory studies, and provision of mentorship and infrastructural core support. The overall objective of the
PESC is to enable early stage investigator-initiated studies to acquire the pilot data needed to develop a
robust, well-funded, and productive translational research projects of FPTs. The primary objective of the PESC
in the context of this renewal is to build upon the science underlying our OAIC theme, while a secondary
objective is to help build the careers of scientists whose research is aligned with our theme. Aim 1 will
continue with our translational pipeline for early stage innovative and interdisciplinary research by providing
funding that leverages our Boston Pepper OAIC cores and infrastructure for the generation of proof-of-concept
preclinical data to expedite the development of FPTs, mechanistic studies for target identification or
hypotheses building by which FPTs exert effects on skeletal muscle and physical function; and pilot testing of
translational interventions or research protocols in human study participants or animal models for safety,
feasibility, or determination of optimal time course or dosage. Aim 2 will foster connectivity between PESC
investigators and OAIC resource cores. Aim 3 will catalyze pilot and exploratory projects into high quality peer-
reviewed publications, grant applications, and intellectual property/patents.
 Our Boston Pepper OAIC Steering Commmitteee selected three innovative candidate projects for
consideration of PESC support in our renewal, from among a pool of 19 applications that were received in
response to a widely advertised request for applications (RFA). These three canddidate projects are well
aligned with the OAIC's mission of promoting the development of FPTs by mechanism elucidation, target
identification, proof-of-concept studies in model organisms, epidemiolgical investigation, and randomized trials,
and would benefit from the use of our resource cores. The three projects are founded on innovative
hypotheses of the role of cellular senescence in interstitial lung disease and suboptimal outcomes of
transplanted organs from older donors, as well as epigenetic mechanisms by which early life stress affects the
trajectory of aging among transgender people. PES-1 evaluates whether transplanting older organs initiates
the spread of senescent cells through senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) linked
inflammatory programs that adversely influence physical function in older adults. PES-2 will examine the
role of senescence-associated biomarkers in improving the identification and prediction of early stage of
pulmonary fibrosis (PF) identif...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10894146
- **Project number:** 5P30AG031679-14
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** DOUGLAS P. KIEL
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $285,689
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2008-09-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10894146

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10894146, Pilot and Exploratory Core (5P30AG031679-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10894146. Licensed CC0.

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