# Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $218,257

## Abstract

The primary goal of the Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) is to facilitate the development of innovative
and rigorous research that will enhance our understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
of multifactorial geriatric conditions (the focus of the Yale OAIC), leading ultimately to the development of
efficacious and cost-effective interventions to increase or maintain the independence of older Americans. The
Leader of the PESC, Dr. Albert Shaw, is nationally recognized for his research on aging of the human immune
system. He holds a K24 award from the NIA focused on translational immunology, and he is PI of the
Infectious Diseases T32 training grant at Yale. Since 2004, Dr. Shaw has also led the highly successful
Biology of Aging seminar series and, as a result, he has an exceptional overview of aging research at Yale.
Dr. Shaw will work closely with the Co-Leader of the PESC, Dr. Terri Fried, a leader in research on clinical
decision-making in older adults with multiple conditions.
 The Specific Aims of the PESC are to: (1) solicit and select the most meritorious research proposals for
pilot funding; (2) provide investigators of Pilot / Exploratory Studies (PESs) with access to resources from the
Operations (RC1) and Biostatistics (RC2) Cores; (3) identify potential opportunities for collaboration among
PESC investigators; (4) monitor the progress of PESs; (5) provide assistance so that the PESs can be
successfully developed into independently funded grant applications; and (6) ensure the safety and protection
of human subjects and vertebrate animals enrolled in PESs. In addition to traditional one-year PESs, we will
continue an Expedited Pilot Program (EXPI), which will fund small grants capped at a maximum of $5000 that
are awarded within 4 weeks of application. These grants are intended for research activities in which a rapid
infusion of a relatively small amount of funds will facilitate a successful extramural grant application. PESs and
EXPI awards will take full advantage of the resources and expertise available from the OAIC’s two Resource
Cores. Priority for PESC funding will be given to junior investigators as well as to accomplished mid-career and
senior investigators who wish to redirect or expand their research to the study of multifactorial geriatric
conditions. By facilitating access to the OAIC research infrastructure, these mechanisms will continue to foster
the development of external grants that will advance our understanding of multifactorial geriatric conditions.
 During the current funding cycle, the PESC invested $625,000 (total costs) that has resulted, to date, in 31
publications and $13.5 million in extramural funding (total costs) to OAIC investigators. During Year 1 of the
next cycle, three new PESs will be supported from junior and senior investigators: PES-1—Molecular
Underpinnings of Social Disparities (PI, Morgan Levine, Ph.D.); PES-2—Dissecting the Mechanisms of Viral
Susceptibility i...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9976427
- **Project number:** 5P30AG021342-18
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Albert C Shaw
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $218,257
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9976427

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9976427, Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core (5P30AG021342-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9976427. Licensed CC0.

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