Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core

Frederick Sieber, MD

The Pilot & Exploratory Studies Core, led by Dr. Frederick Sieber, aims to promote collaborative interdisciplinary studies designed to utilize our infrastructure and provide fundamental scientific advances needed to develop better treatments for delirium. This aim will be accomplished through collaborative working groups, assisted by small grants for exploratory and pilot projects. Projects will be sought that bring together multiple disciplines and institutions. This Core oversees the development and maintenance of various NIDUS resources, including:

• Pilot Award Funding
• Mentoring

NIDUS Pilot Grants

Each year, NIDUS awards pilot grant funding ($40k for 1 year) to advance innovation in prioritized areas of delirium research and support delirium-related studies. We expect these studies to provide key preliminary data, exploratory or proof-of-concept pilot work, feasibility studies, or secondary analyses that define a clear pathway to future large-scale studies and grants. The 10 successful Letters of Intent invited to apply for the full Pilot Award will be awarded $1,000 to the investigator.

It is required that all interested investigators identify a Collaborative Workings Group (i.e., an interdisciplinary research team of like-minded scientists who are working in related and complementary areas) to develop their pilot applications. NIDUS Pilot grant applications are open to investigators in the U.S. as well as to international applicants.

All LOIs and Pilot applications must be focused on the NIDUS 2025-2026 priority area: The Inter-Relationship of Delirium & AD/ADRD. Review our eligibility criteria for more information.

View our Application Instructions & Eligibility Criteria here!

2025-2026 Pilot Grant Cycle Timeline