Time-Sensitive Pilot Projects

Grants up to $50,000

PLEASE NOTE: A letter of intent is required to be submitted, and must be approved before drafting the full application.

The SCEHSC offers a Time-Sensitive Pilot Projects Program, which aims to receive, review, and fund a research application within 30 days. We are seeking investigator-initiated applications up to $50,000 which aim to promote the understanding, prevention, and/or mitigation of the health impacts due to environmental exposures related to environmental exposures and disparities that provide a justification for immediate funding. Although applications are encouraged from all environmental health topics, our Priority Areas include: 

Climate and Health

Exposome and Health

Environment and Cancer

Environment and Children’s Health

Community-Based Participatory Research

AI for Environmental Health


A focus on priority areas is encouraged but not required. Additional areas of focus include:

  • Application of multiomics technology in environmental health 

  • New areas of exposure assessment

  • Novel approaches in assessment of environmental disparities

  • Environmental contributions to cardiorespiratory health, metabolic health, neurodevelopment, and neurological diseases

Program Details

Eligibility
Individuals with a full-time faculty appointment in any department or school at the University of Southern California are eligible to apply. Applicants are encouraged to pursue multidisciplinary collaborations, including with investigators at other institutions affiliated with the Center (UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Riverside, UCSD, Caltech, CSUN, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, and CHLA).

Submission and approval of letter of intent is required before proceeding to the full application.


Key Program Dates
We aim to receive, review, and fund applications on a rolling basis within 30 days (Note: For research involving human subjects/animals, you must have IRB/IACUC approval prior to funding, but not prior to submission). 

For questions for more information, please contact Jonathan Kay (kayjw@usc.edu)