The Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI) and the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research (CAHBIR) are pleased to announce the availability of Pilot Research grants to fund RU-New Brunswick and RBHS faculty in initiating neuroimaging research at CAHBIR on Busch Campus, Piscataway. 

There are often barriers to initiating neuroimaging research, including the expense of collecting pilot data, and the need for methodological skills in designing experiments and analyzing data. The Research Pilot grants are aimed at aiding RU-New Brunswick and RBHS faculty in developing research projects that make use of CAHBIR facilities on Busch campus, and to assist in the development of the skills necessary to successfully execute the MRI research. To enhance the ability of researchers to perform funded studies, CAHBIR offers a10-hr annual workshop aimed at familiarizing researchers with MRI scanning, image processing and analyses. PIs can include several members of their lab as part of the workshop, although priority should be given to individuals who are likely to be present in the lab for several years. Additional support is provided through one-on-one sessions with CAHBIR staff aimed at implementing the funded research project and helping with study design and data analysis. Researchers already possessing sufficient neuroimaging expertise are not required to attend the workshop and can allocate those funds toward data collection and other CAHBIR technical services.

A state-of-the-art research-dedicated 3T Siemens Prisma scanner with 64 and 20 channel head/neck coils, MRI-compatible visual/auditory stimulation and behavior/physiological response equipment including eye tracking, mock scanner, and a contrast agent injector. The core facility also provides expert technical support to users with all levels of experience. More information about CAHBIR is available at https://sites.rutgers.edu/cahbir/

Three different grant mechanisms are available- (Please see attached PDF files for details of each):

• Mini Pilot Grants for RBHS 

• Mini Pilot Grants for RU-NB

• Full Pilot Grants for RU-NB

Applications are due by April 1, 2023. Awards will be announced by May 15, 2023. Submissions received after April 1, 2023, will only be evaluated if funds remain after evaluation of on-time applications.

Questions: Questions about the proposals should be directed to david.zald@rutgers.edu