Frequently Asked Questions
I received a HERCULES pilot award last year, am I eligible?
No, PIs funded in the previous two pilot cycles are not eligible to apply for pilot funding (co-investigators are eligible to apply). Any previously funded HERCULES PIs should Email Dr. Mike Caudle before submitting an application.
How much funding is available?
HERCULES will fund at least six pilot awards at $30,000 direct costs each. Additional awards are made possible through partnerships with the Winship Cancer Institute and the Emory Children’s Health Assessment, Research Translation, and Combating Environmental Racism (CHARTER) Center.
How do I apply?
Pilot announcements will be released once a year in the fall. Letters of Intent are typically due in early December and full proposals are due in early February.
What are the evaluation criteria?
Evaluation is based on a variety of criteria. Grants must focus on the role of the environment in human disease and be in line with the mission of NIEHS. They may include basic, biomedical, translational, clinical, epidemiological, or behavioral projects. Criteria for evaluation will include innovation, significance, alignment with the goals of HERCULES, collaboration with other HERCULES investigators/facility cores, overall impact and likelihood of transitioning pilot results into R-level funding.
What is the length of a typical project?
The project length is one year and must fall within the HERCULES Center’s budget year (starting April 1 and ending the following year on March 31).
Is carryover allowed if I don't spend all of my award?
No, carryover will not be allowed for pilot projects.
What are the responsibilities of a pilot awardee?
The pilot awardee should plan to participate in Center activities such as seminars and data clubs, present their work at the annual Center meeting, provide a short summary of findings for the annual progress report, notify the Center Administrator of applications for independent funding resulting from the pilot project, and cite the Center in any publications, grant proposals, or presentations related to their project.
How do I acknowledge Center support?
Publications and grant applications resulting from the use of these funds must acknowledge HERCULES with the statement “Supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P30ES019776. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health”. Please ensure each publication complies with NIH Public Access Policy and is submitted to PubMed Central upon journal acceptance.
What type of research is typically supported by NIEHS?
Click here for a list of funded research areas along with links to publications.
Need more information?
Please email Hillary Barton
hillary.barton@emory.edu