As of July 1, 2025, several important updates have been made to the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) of Northern Ohio’s longstanding Core Utilization Pilot (CUP) Award Program. These changes aim to streamline the application process and broaden the program’s impact across partner institutions.
We are also pleased to welcome Amar Desai, PhD, as the new co-lead of the Clinical & Translational Science (CTS) Pilot Module. In this role, Dr. Desai will oversee the CUP Award Program, helping guide its strategic direction and support for early-stage translational research. Dr. Desai shared:
"The Core Utilization Pilot is an incredible resource for researchers, helping them access high-quality shared facilities across our campuses. I've seen the impact myself: CUP funding supported a critical experiment that led to a recent publication from my lab. I'm looking forward to serving as co-lead and working with Drs. Grace McComsey & Umut Gurkan, and the CTSC team to help more investigators benefit from this program."
What’s New
-
Simplified Application Process:
The CUP application in InfoReady has been revised to include fewer required questions and now allows a streamlined, three-page maximum upload for research details. -
Updated Core Eligibility List:
The list of cores eligible for CUP funding is being reviewed and updated regularly. If you are interested in using a core that is not currently listed, please contact the CTS Pilot Program Administrative Lead, Anna Thornton Matos, to request review and consideration for inclusion. -
Website Improvements:
The CUP program page will soon reflect these updates, with improved navigation and resources for prospective applicants.
About the CUP Program
The Core Utilization Pilot (CUP) Award Program provides up to $10,000 in support to help investigators access eligible core facilities across all CTSC partner institutions. These funds are designed to generate preliminary data for extramural grant submissions or peer-reviewed publications, while also encouraging the use of advanced technologies and expertise.
Ideal uses for CUP funding include:
-
Testing previously collected specimens
-
Developing cross-disciplinary collaborations
-
Advancing diagnostic, therapeutic, or outcomes assessment tools
-
Creating enabling technologies or devices
-
Fostering basic-clinical research partnerships
-
Supporting community-based research initiatives
Impact in Action
CUP Award recipient Christine R. Davis, MBA, shared the following reflection from her team’s project, ED-ALTO: Patient Participant Experience and Perspectives Related to Integrative Pain Management:
“We sincerely thank you for looking favorably on our application and selecting it to receive $10K in funding. We’ve positioned your generous support toward a patient-facing financial reward and support program to help participants overcome obstacles that prevent full engagement in our research and access to recommended care. With these funds, our team can reduce disparities in patient engagement and increase awareness of evidence-based, nonpharmacologic pain management modalities. We look forward to keeping you updated on our success and progress.”
For more information about the CUP Award Program or to explore eligible cores, please visit our website or contact Anna Thornton Matos directly.