Clinical Research Pilot Awards Grant

The Clinical Research Pilot Awards, supported by the ACG Institute and the American College of Gastroenterology, offer up to $30,000 for clinical research projects from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. These awards aim to foster the careers of emerging researchers focusing on gastrointestinal and liver diseases, with no prior data required. Since 1994, over $31.9 million has been awarded to more than 745 researchers, enhancing the field of clinical gastrointestinal practice.

The ACG Institute for Clinical Research and Education and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) are proud to support pilot projects of up to $30,000 to encourage clinical research, to be funded from July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027. Pilot awards do not require previous work or preliminary data, and do not cover randomized controlled trials. If you have pilot data, you must apply for a different grant category.  The goal of the Clinical Research Pilot Award is to assist promising clinical researchers in developing research careers that have a direct bearing on clinical gastrointestinal practice.
This grant is designed to support research that is principally focused on digestive or liver diseases. The patient population or disease target should be principally related to the gastrointestinal tract, liver, biliary system, pancreas, or neuroenteric science, including any translational, clinical, social science, or health services research studies that pertain to managing such patients or conditions. For example, a study about microbiota would be appropriate, if it pertains to a digestive disease. In contrast, a study that is principally about HIV would likely not be appropriate unless it directly relates to how HIV affects digestive health. Since its inception in 1994, the ACG Institute has provided over $31.9 Million in funding for Clinical Research Awards to over 745 recipients.

Eligibility

ACG Member at time of applicationU.S., Canadian, and International Members eligibleNurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, Physician, PhD, or equivalent (e.g., MD, DO, MBBS, PhD)Physicians in training (fellows) are eligible to apply provided that the work is conducted under the supervision of a Responsible Investigator, who is a more senior or experienced investigator at the faculty level, who is also part of a gastroenterology or hepatology department No Pilot Data Required (if pilot data is available, choose a different grant category: Clinical Research Award)
You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. The Principal Investigator must be an ACG member in good standing. ACG membership must be active no later than October 2024.

Ineligibility

ACG will not grant more than one Clinical Research Award to former or current Principal Investigators on R01, P01, U01, VA Merit Awards, or Hughes grants.Projects that support laboratory or animal research projects, unless the work cannot be done in humans.Those who hold the position of full professor at an academic institution. Award overlap: ACG does not provide duplicate funding [If part of a larger study, must explain how funds are not duplicated]Applications utilizing the same science may not be submitted for two different ACG grant categories (for example the same project/science is submitted for both the Junior Faculty Award and Clinical Research Award) and if this occurs they will not be evaluated by the Committee.ACG limits funding for a PI to one grant in a single award cycle. If a given investigator submits projects in two or more RFA categories and more than one is deemed worthy of funding, the larger grant will be funded. If the applicant was awarded an ACG research award within the last three years, they cannot apply for the same grant category in which they were awarded. They may apply for a different grant category, as the College is not trying to limit progression of research (pilot award to CRA or JR Faculty Award), but rather the same investigators being funded repeatedly.