Lauren S. Aaronson Frontiers Pilot Program

The Lauren S. Aaronson (LSA) Frontiers Clinical and Translational Research Pilot Program provides grant funding and other support to grow interdisciplinary, investigator-initiated clinical and translational research across a broad range of scientific disciplines. The objective of this pilot program is to support new and innovative ideas that will lead to externally funded awards.

Up to three awards are issued annually for up to $50,000 each. 

LSA Research Priority Areas

Pilot projects are encouraged to focus on translational science, i.e., understanding a scientific or operational principle underlying a step of the translational process with the goal of developing generalizable principles to accelerate translational research.

NCATS definitions:

• Translation: The process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and communities – from diagnostics, preventions, and treatments to medical procedures and behavioral changes.
• Translational Research: The endeavor to traverse a particular step of the translational process for a particular target or disease.
• Translational Science: The field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process.

Where translational research focuses on advancing a step of the translational process for a specific target/disease, translational science seeks to develop, demonstrate, and disseminate generalizable innovations and strategies to improve the process of translational research.

Translational science projects seek to 1) identify and understand barriers that delay progress or limit the quality, impact, or equity of translational research (e.g., clinical trial recruitment, data interoperability, implementation, etc.), and 2) develop innovative solutions (e.g., methods, best practices, tools, technologies) to overcome these barriers. Addressing critical barriers will allow subsequent translational research to accelerate the time from discovery to improved human health. The innovative solutions will have broad applicability to multiple research projects, increasing capacity and efficiency.

Applications directly related to one or more of the following areas will be accepted:

• Processes and programs to understand, support and advance translation, e.g., collaborative structures; diverse workforce development; integration of project management; incentives/credit for team science; incentives/credit for health improvements; education/training (scientific and cultural); biomarker qualification process.
• Data-related improvements and tools, e.g., data interoperability; Electronic Health Records for research; data transparency/release.
• Clinical research improvements and tools, e.g., clinical trial networks; clinical outcome criteria
• (e.g., patient-reported outcomes); clinical diagnostic criteria; contemporary clinical trial designs; single Institutional Review Board (IRB) implementation; regulatory science; shortening time of intervention adoption.
• Clinical study recruitment improvements and tools, e.g., identification, recruitment, engagement and/or retention of populations and/or subpopulations in clinical trials and studies.
• Community and stakeholder engagement.
• Methods to better measure impact on health (or lack thereof).

The application process for 2025 has closed. 

This opportunity is open to principal investigators who are members of Frontiers, eligible to receive federal funding and employed by any Frontiers partner institution.

• Children's Mercy Kansas City
• Kansas City University
• Kansas State University
• Saint Luke's  
• University of Kansas
• University of Kansas Medical Center (all campuses)
• The University of Kansas Health System
• University of Missouri-Kansas City

Community organizations are encouraged to collaborate with academic partners to develop and submit an application.

Principal Investigators (PIs) are allowed to apply for more than one funding mechanism but will only be awarded one award annually. Applicants may serve as PI on only one application but may be included as collaborators on any number of applications.

Applications are invited from multidisciplinary teams comprised of faculty investigators from Frontiers partner institutions.

All questions regarding eligibility and application submissions should be directed to Robin Liston, MPH, Project Director.