Pilot & Feasibility Program Request for Applications (RFA) We are now accepting applications for Pilot and Feasibility Awards according to the following timetable: 1) The RFA is now open. 2) Please submit a two-page pre-proposal by December 15, 2015, and e-mail it to Rene Eubank at eubank@uab.edu. The format of the pre-proposal will be: i) overall objectives, ii) specific aims, iii) significance of the research to HRFD, iv) research plan (including methodology), and v) references. This document (excluding references) must not exceed two pages and must conform to NIH-style guidelines. Please also include an eligibility justification. 3) Finalists will be invited to submit a full seven-page proposal between January 5, 2016 and the deadline of February 15, 2016. The seven-page proposal will include: i) Abstract with a 250-word limit (one-page limit), ii) specific aims (one-page limit), iii) research proposal (5-page limit, excluding references) that includes a) background and significance to HRFD, b) preliminary data, c) research plan, and d) references. This document must conform to NIH-style guidelines. 4) Awardees will be announced on April 1, 2016 with a start date of July 1, 2016. The Hepatorenal Fibrocystic Disease Core Center (HRFDCC) has a robust Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) Program that provides one to two years of support ($40,000/year) for outstanding and innovative research proposals that explore innovative concepts that involve one of the Center’s areas of thematic emphasis and, thus, have fundamental relevance to hepatorenal fibrocystic disease research. The program is open to all US investigators regardless of an investigator’s institutional affiliation. The ultimate goal of this funding mechanism is to provide initial funds to investigators to generate sufficient data to pursue additional funding through extramural mechanisms. The mission of the P&F Program is: 1) to attract and support the development of junior scientists interested in HRFD-related research. 2) to enable established investigators from other fields to explore the feasibility of innovative concepts in HRFD. 3) to entice investigators with existing expertise in the Center’s thematic areas to apply their expertise to HRFD-related questions. Eligibility Criteria All faculty members (Instructor or higher) at an academic institution in the US are eligible to apply for Pilot and Feasibility Program funding whether or not they are members of the HRFDCC. With a pilot award, faculty will automatically become HRFDCC members. While preference for P&F awards will be given to junior investigators, investigators with established research programs who are exploring the

feasibility of a new concept relevant to hepatorenal fibrocystic disease research, and are developing a collaborative project with a Center member will be considered. The following are therefore encouraged to apply: 1) New investigators without current or past NIH research support (e.g. R01 or P01 as a principal investigator) who will engage in an innovative research project pertinent to HRFDs. It is permissible to have modest research support ($50,000 or less) for a separate project. Clear demonstration of independence from previous mentors will be required. 2) Established investigators who are members of the UAB HRFDCC and who seek to test the feasibility of a new or innovative idea that is related to the research focus of the Center, but represents a clear departure from his/her ongoing research. 3) Established investigators with no previous work related to the Core Center’s focus who seek to explore the feasibility of a new concept relevant to hepatorenal fibrocystic disease. Successful applicants will commit to pursuing extramural follow-up funding within 2 years of completing the P&F project. Please contact the Center Director (Dr. Brad Yoder, byoder@uab.edu) or Pilot and Feasibility Directors (Drs. Josh Lipschutz, lipschut@musc.edu or Mark Bevensee, bevensee@uab.edu) if you have questions regarding eligibility requirements or would like to discuss relevance of a project to the Center’s objectives.