VS-CoBRE Pilot Project Program (Visual Sciences Center of Biomedical Research Excellence)

About this program

The Visual Sciences Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (VS‑CoBRE) at West Virginia University will fund up to two one‑year Pilot Projects, each providing up to $75,000 in direct costs to generate preliminary data supporting larger extramural research grant applications. Proposals will be judged on scientific rigor, impact, and feasibility, must align with the VS‑CoBRE scientific theme, and preference will be given to projects that utilize the Visual Function and Morphology (VFM) Core and to junior investigators. Eligible applicants are full‑time WVU faculty on tenure, tenure‑track, or clinical tracks (see program documents for full eligibility details). Prepare a single PDF containing a 30‑line project summary, NIH‑format biosketches, detailed NIH budget and justification, current/pending support, and a research plan (1 page specific aims; 3 page research strategy) and submit by 5:00 PM on August 24, 2026 to ccather1@hsc.wvu.edu (questions to hzhou2@hsc.wvu.edu).