2026 CREST Phase II Pilot Grant Awards
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Oct 1, 2025
We are excited to announce that the Clinical Research Training Program (CREST) at SUNY Downstate is now accepting applications for Phase II Pilot Grant Awards. This program is designed to cultivate a diverse cohort of clinician-scientists who are committed to strengthening research capacity and reducing health disparities in Brooklyn and beyond.
About the Program
The CREST Phase II Pilot Studies program provides up to $50,000 in pilot funding to support mentored clinical and translational research projects. These projects are intended to generate preliminary data for future NIH funding applications (K or R series). Up to four awards will be made for a single 12-month period.
Funded projects are expected to:
- Advance health equity through areas such as health services research, translational science, community-engaged research, implementation science, and population health research.
- Lead to peer-reviewed publications and future NIH grant applications.
Eligibility
- Open to clinical fellows and junior faculty (within 7 years of first faculty appointment) holding a clinical doctorate (MD, DO, DDS, DNP, PhD with clinical responsibilities).
- Applicants must have prior rigorous research training (including completion of CREST Phase I or equivalent) and a CREST mentor at Downstate.
- Multi-PI applications are not permitted, though co-investigators and collaborators are welcome.
Application Process
- Letter of Intent Deadline: February 23, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
Submit to Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu and include:
- Descriptive title of the proposed study
- PI contact information
- Names of mentor(s) and key personnel
- Short abstract (≤500 words)
- NIH Biosketch (≤5 pages)
- Full Application Deadline: March 15, 2026 (for selected applicants)
Selection
Applications will be reviewed by a peer-review committee, with recommendations made to the CREST Advisory Committee and Community Advisory Board. Criteria include the significance of the research question, scientific rigor, feasibility, investigator qualifications, and career development plan.
We encourage you to share this opportunity widely with eligible scholars. Together, we can continue to support the development of diverse clinician-scientists and advance health through innovative research.
Learn more about the program and application details here: CREST Program – Post-Doctoral & Clinical Fellows
For questions, please contact Lakia Maxwell at Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu.