Fostering the development of interdisciplinary translational research teams is a core aim of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. The Pilot Awards Program supports this goal by funding innovative projects that help move clinical discoveries into practice while advancing investigators’ careers. In addition to supporting experienced researchers, the program supports early career investigators as well as researchers who are new to clinical and translational research as they establish and advance their research careers.
Since 2008, the program has funded and administered 488 pilot projects totaling $28M in support. Of these awards, 106 have been co-funded by campus departments and centers. By sharing this investment, co-funding enables more investigators to launch innovative research and strengthens the clinical and translational research workforce.
In addition to financial support, the Pilot Awards Program promotes investigator growth through peer mentoring. Early career investigators with limited principal investigator experience are encouraged to submit proposals in partnership with senior investigators who have complementary expertise. Pilot recipients and their research partners and staff benefit from ICTR-facilitated mentorship, resource pairing, and learning opportunities.
We would like to acknowledge and offer our gratitude to all the scientific peer reviewers who graciously lent their time and expertise to rigorously evaluate all our applications. The following five interdisciplinary research teams have been awarded pilot funding for 2026-27.
Development of Cellular and Mechanical Systems for EB Research
Contact PI: Jose M. Ayuso Dominguez, SMPH-Dermatology
Co-PI: Krishanu Saha, Biomedical Engineering
Co-funded by SMPH Department of Dermatology
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a debilitating, genetic skin disorder that causes the skin to become extremely fragile, resulting in painful, non-scarring blisters and erosions. This project will use engineered human tissue and cells with EBS to evaluate the use of an advanced gene-editing tool to treat the mutations driving EBS.
Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy on Alcohol Pharmacokinetics
Contact PI: Heather Barkholtz, School of Pharmacy
Co-PI: Michael Chen, SMPH-Family Medicine & Community Health
Funded by ICTR
GLP-1 medications may alter alcohol absorption, but data are limited. This knowledge gap impacts clinical guidance, patient safety, and forensic interpretation of alcohol testing results. This study will characterize how individuals with obesity, receiving maintenance-dose of GLP-1, process alcohol over time and explore links to intoxication and impairment outcomes.
Synergistic Neuromodulation for Stroke Recovery: A Pilot Study of Translingual Stimulation-Enhanced Brain-Computer Interface Therapy
Contact PI: Vivek Prabhakaran, SMPH-Radiology
Co-PI: Justin Williams, Biomedical Engineering
Co-funded by SMPH Department of Radiology
One of the common morbidities of stroke involves impairment of upper limb motor function with a third of patients having residual deficits. This proposal investigates the integration of Brain-Computer Interface systems using functional electrical stimulation and Translingual Direct Current Stimulation to enhance motor rehabilitation outcomes in chronic stroke survivors.
Improving Blastomyces Diagnosis and Treatment: A Pilot Study
Contact PI: Alana Sterkel, Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene
Co-PI: Alexandra Linz, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute
Funded by ICTR
Blastomycosis remains a severe and frequently misdiagnosed fungal infection across Wisconsin, where delayed diagnosis contributes to avoidable death or lasting health problems. This pilot leverages an established partnership between UW–Madison (including the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene) and the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute to address the roadblocks that currently limit clinical adoption of improved Blastomyces diagnostics.
Generation of a Humanized Rat for Translational Studies in Immunology
Contact PI: Nathan Welham, SMPH-Otolaryngology
Co-PI: Matthew Brown, SMPH-Surgery
Co-funded by the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center
Immunodeficient rodents engrafted with human genes, cells, or tissues are powerful tools for studying human immune function. This pilot looks to create a new type of immunodeficient rat that can accept and grow human blood-forming stem cells without the need for irradiation, and to show that it can be used as a reliable model for studying how the human immune system develops and responds inside a living animal.