CTS Pilot Awards Program

The CTS Pilot Awards Program is designed to support innovative, early-stage research. This program aims to catalyze high-impact projects that have the potential to translate basic discoveries into clinical applications, improve patient care, and advance personalized medicine.

The Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Pilot Award Program supports pilot projects in clinical and translational science, the field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process.

Whereas translational research focuses on the specific case of a target or disease, translational science generates scientific and operational innovations that overcome longstanding challenges and roadblocks along the translational research pipeline. These include scientific, operational, financial, and administrative innovations that transform the way research is conducted, making it faster, more efficient, and more impactful.

CTPH Pilot Grant applications will be accepted once per year. The next cycle will be announced in spring 2026.

Program Awardees

  • Long-read Based Clinical Metagenomic Sequencing as the Future of Clinical Microbiology 

    Jennifer Spinler, Ph.D.
    Baylor College of Medicine / Texas Children’s Hospital

    Early Detection and Minimally Invasive Intervention Strategies for Spina Bifida Using Brillouin-Optical Coherence Tomography

    Bruna Corradetti, Ph.D.
    Baylor College of Medicine*

    AI-Based Algorithm for Detection of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia In Underserved Populations 

    Mimi Tan, M.D., M.P.H.
    Baylor College of Medicine

    Real-Time Imaging of Biomolecular Condensates to Overcome Translational Science Barriers 

    Tai-Yen Chen, Ph.D.
    University of Houston

    Towards Affordable Gene Therapies: Development of a Scalable and Cost-effective HSV Vector Production Platform for Broad Clinical Translation 

    Shuan Zhang, Ph.D.
    University of Houston

    Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Relapses During Menopausal Transition?

    Jieni Li, Ph.D.
    University of Houston*

    *Indicates Awards involving both partner institutions. 

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