TCH Pediatrics Innovation Accelerator Award Web Site

We are pleased to announce the 2025 TCH Pediatrics Innovation Accelerator Grant. This is an update of the previous “Pediatrics Pilot Award”. The primary goal of this grant is to support researchers planning to submit NIH awards (e.g. K or R) or equivalent in the next year. The primary review criteria will be impact on potential for future durable grant funding. Award: Up to $50k for 1 year (Oct 1 2025-Sept 30 2026). Note that no extensions/NCE will be allowed. The goal is to catalyze research to support imminent grant applications, not to fund prolonged projects.

The purpose of these grants is to provide seed funding to generate data necessary for the submission of a grant application to the NIH or other peer-reviewed funding mechanisms. Multi-disciplinary collaborative research projects are strongly encouraged and will be given a high priority.

The funds are not meant to be used for training purposes or to provide interim funding for an established program suffering a lapse in grant support.

Eligibility

BCM Pediatrics Faculty: Instructor-Assoc Professor at the time of submission
Must not hold current R01 or equivalent
In order to support development of competitive NIH grants, Priority given to researchers planning to submit K or R within the next year

Research topics

Research approaches from basic to clinical research to qualitative are eligible. The major goal of this grant is to support development of high quality research and research programs with potential for impact on patients

Evaluation criteria

The criteria used in evaluating an application are the same as those generally applied in competition for funding at the national level. These criteria include

The potential impact on future durable funding (e.g. NIH K or R awards or equivalent)
The approach including the adequacy of the conceptual framework, design, and analyses as well as acknowledgement of potential problems and alternative tactics
The appropriateness of study design and sample size calculations, as applicable
The originality and innovation of the project
The feasibility of the procedures outlined in the application, including ability to complete project in one year and evidence of support from the section head and/or mentor and collaborators
An assessment of budget justification
The scientific expertise of the applicant to perform the proposed research

Review process

Proposals will be reviewed and rated by a Scientific Review Committee composed of Baylor College of Medicine faculty.
Final approval for funding will be made by the Vice Chair for Research and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics.
As the review panel will be composed of members who may not be an expert in the topic of an application, applicants are advised to avoid specialized jargon, to provide definitions and brief descriptions of sophisticated procedures, to include a statistical analysis plan, and to state clearly the hypothesis to be tested and the significance of the research.

Terms of the award

All research will need to comply with BCM and TCH rules, regulations and standard operating procedures. If support for grant management is needed beyond Division/Center resources, the Center for Research Advancement may provide support (with fee if applicable).
A progress report is due 30 days after termination of the award and 1 year after the termination of the award, including associated grant applications and publications.
A financial status report including an accounting of award expenditures is due 60 days after termination of the award.

Application overview

Title/specific aims (Format of Title Page ) (1 page)
Project plan (4 pages)
- Introduction to the problem
- Significance
- Research plan
- Timeline
References (no limit)
Career development/research team development plan and impact on upcoming NIH or equivalent grant applications (1 page)
Budget/budget justification

Category guidelines:
- Personnel: Principal investigator salary is allowed.
- Equipment: Not Allowed. (Any individual item less than $5,000 should be listed in supplies.)
- Supplies: Itemize by category and provide details in the budget justification.
- Travel: Must be directly related to proposed project and must be described in the budget justification. Foreign travel is allowed if required for the proposed research and in alignment with current BCM policy.
- Patient Care Costs: Not allowed
- Other Expenses: Itemize by category and provide details in the budget justification.
- Subcontracts: Not allowed.
Applicant biosketch using the NIH format. Sample Biosketch, Biosketch Template (MS Word Format), Biosketch Instructions
Letters of support and mentor's biosketch
- Investigators should include their mentor’s biosketch and a letter of support.
- Include letters of support from collaborators and their role in the project.
Include letter of support from your section chief, including alignment with PI research time and cost-sharing above NIH cap (if applicable).
Assurances: Protocols using human subjects, animals, radioisotopes, lasers, or biohazardous materials covering planned research must have appropriate review and approval before account will be activated.
Applications require the signature of the section chief of the applicant’s academic unit (on the Title Page). It is not necessary to obtain an institutional signature.

Printable Format of Application

If you have general questions regarding the 2026 Innovation Accelerator Award, please review Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Section located on the left panel of this page or email Dr. Allen at ceallen@texaschildrens.org.

Submit Application

Note: Application submissions require BCM ECA authentication.

If you have general questions regarding the 2025 TCH Pediatrics Innovation Accelerator Award, please review Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Section located on the left panel of this page or email us at rro@bcm.edu.

	Important Deadlines

	Application submission: August 01, 2025 (5:00 PM)
	Award start: October 01,2025