# Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $156,468

## Abstract

Effective pilot and exploratory studies (PES) provide critical preliminary data to support successful research
proposals, particularly for early-career investigators who also need guidance in designing research studies and
writing study proposals. The Wake Forest OAIC Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) has been
highly effective, managing a robust portfolio of PES aligned with the WF OAIC theme, ranging from basic
science studies examining biomolecular pathways to the development and testing of innovative approaches to
characterize and improve physical function. During the current cycle, PESC has been extremely productive,
leading to 19 external grant awards totaling $18.9 million and 115 PESC-related publications. In the next
cycle, the PESC proposes will continue our highly successful, coordinated, multi-faceted group efforts to
promote PES; implement new innovations to promote multidisciplinary research, and further refine processes.
The overall PESC goal is to enable investigators to develop key information needed for the design of
definitive, externally funded, translational research studies that promote the WF OAIC mission to
understand pathways influencing physical function and to develop new approaches to disability prevention and
treatment. This will be achieved by executing the following Specific Aims: 1) Identify and promote promising
areas of aging research; 2) Identify and recruit talented early-career and selected other investigators from
aging and complementary fields to focus on OAIC-themed research, in concert with the Research Education
Component (REC); 3) Solicit and facilitate competitive research proposals, provide constructive feedback, and
conduct expert peer review to select proposals with the best science and career development opportunities, 4)
Coach and mentor investigator teams to maximize the success and impact of research projects; 5) Team with
other WF OAIC cores to facilitate successful completion of the selected pilot projects and mentor early-career
investigators to advance their development as successful translational scientists; and 6) Continuously
evaluate, refine, and optimize OAIC PESC processes and procedures.
Under the continuing leadership of Drs. Kitzman and Register, the PESC will support 4 innovative pilot
projects in the first year, all led by talented early- and mid-career investigators, including REC Scholars and
investigators new to aging. They extensively use OAIC cores and represent the full range of translational
science to address physical function and disability in older persons. These include: testing feasibility of a novel
home-based exercise program in older rural cardiac rehab patients; assessing relationships between vision,
brain networks, and physical function; examining the effects of metformin on mitochondrial function and
physical performance; and exploring relationships between circulating muscle-specific exosomes and physical
function. All projects align with the OAIC mission...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10909357
- **Project number:** 5P30AG021332-22
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** DALANE W KITZMAN
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $156,468
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-09-30 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10909357

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10909357, Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core (5P30AG021332-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10909357. Licensed CC0.

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