What We Do

Pilot Grants

We equip early-career researchers with the tools to explore research opportunities, expand networks, and lay the groundwork for future economic research.

We are making investments to grow the next generation of substance use researchers. Through CHERISH pilot grants, we support early-career researchers and trainees to become proficient with health economic methods and lead innovative economic studies of substance use disorder and HCV and HIV treatment interventions.

Overview

CHERISH works with early-career researchers to ensure that pilot studies on substance use research are responsive to the rapidly changing health policy landscape.

Our pilot grant program is geared towards supporting recipients through each phase of their research project. Funded researchers receive curated training on economic research and dissemination, peer-to-peer mentorship, and opportunities to connect with CHERISH Research Affiliates and investigators across the United States.

Recipients can expand their research scope by investigating innovative methodologies or applications and collecting preliminary data to inform future grant proposals. Past grantees have acknowledged the support of the CHERISH pilot grant program in their scientific publications, national conference presentations, and grant submissions.

View funded pilots

2025-2026 CHERISH Pilot Grants (Now Closed)

Prospective Applicants 

Applications for 2025-2026 are now closed until the fall of 2025. 

CHERISH funds health economic research projects on healthcare utilization, health outcomes, and health-related behaviors consistent with our mission. With each application cycle, starting in the fall, we highlight topics of interest that reflect our mission and meet the evolving needs and priorities of substance use disorder research.  

Eligibility

Applicants can be located at any US-based institution; however, they must fulfill at least one of the following criteria:

We encourage applications from:

  • New or early stage investigators as defined by NIH
  • Investigators new to the field of health economics or substance use disorders
  • Individuals who have lived/living experience or perspectives reflective of populations impacted by substance use disorders

Expected Timeline for Cycle 12 (2026-2027)

  • Announcing Call for Proposals: Fall 2025
  • Letter of Intent Submission: January 2026
  • Proposal Submission: February 2026
  • Proposal Review: April 2026
  • Funds Awarded: May 2026
Past Webinar

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility is based on being a trainee of a CHERISH investigator/affiliate or being nominated by one. How does the nomination process usually look like?

You do not need to have a sponsor in place to apply or submit a letter of intent (LOI). After reviewing your LOI, we can connect you to a potential sponsor within CHERISH. If you are not already connected to a CHERISH Research Affiliate or someone from our network, please reach out to us.

What should I ask from a sponsor (e.g., letter of support or co-authorship)?

At the minimum, a sponsor can review your proposal and acknowledge in a letter of support that your project is consistent with NIH’s priorities for health economics and a good fit for the CHERISH pilot grant. They do not need specify a time, FTE, or co-authorship commitment.

Are there examples of project proposals that are not likely to be funded?

Project proposals are not likely to be funded if the relationship to health outcomes is unclear or distantly removed, or if the proposal does not consider health-related behaviors, healthcare utilization, or health outcomes.

How do you recommend integrating protected time with our department?

Pilot grantees use the funds for a variety of purposes, such as to support investigator or research staff salary or to purchase access to a large database. If you are devoting time that is supported by your institution, you should reflect this as donated time in your budget and budget justification, We understand that your needs may change, and after you’re awarded the pilot grant you may reallocate funds after seeking our permission.

More FAQs

Pilot Grants in Action

12/16/24 Profile Feature

Catching Up with Pilot Grant Recipients Sierra Castedo de Martell and Bulat Idrisov

In preparation for the 11th cycle of CHERISH pilot grants that is now open, former pilot grant recipients Sierra Castedo de Martell and Bulat Idrisov joined CHERISH Pilot Grant Director Brandon Aden, Senior Research Program Manager Jared Leff, and Communications Manager Bonnie Tse online to meet prospective applicants. Attendees raised questions about eligibility, the pilot […]

11/06/24 Research Highlight

Racial and Ethnic Disparities Along the Hepatitis C Care Cascade Among Priority Populations

Over the last two decades, injection opioid use has increased among reproductive-aged women, with resultant increases in mother-to-child hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmissions in the U.S. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment is highly effective at reducing and eliminating the risk of HCV transmissions. Yet, studies show lower odds of receiving DAA treatment for women compared to […]

10/16/24 Profile Feature

Announcing the 10th Pilot Grant Cohort Advancing the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, HCV, and HIV

CHERISH is excited to welcome a new pilot grant cohort for the 10th year. Spearheaded by CHERISH Pilot Grant Program Director Brandon Aden, the program is designed to help researchers gain familiarity with health economic evaluations, apply related methodologies to their pilot research, and build out the next stage of their careers. This year, CHERISH […]

07/26/23 Profile Feature

CHERISH Welcomes Pilot Grant Recipients to Advance the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, HCV, and HIV

Meet the ninth cohort of early-career investigators from the states of California, Texas, and Washington. CHERISH awarded each investigator up to $20,000 for a pilot study that focuses on conducting health economics research in substance use, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV. This year, CHERISH also encouraged applicants to integrate drug overdose prevention, the syndemics […]

01/20/23 Profile Feature

Catching Up with Pilot Grant Recipient: Rachel Epstein

Rachel Epstein is a clinician-scientist with demonstrated experience in analyzing large datasets to inform hepatitis C (HCV), HIV, and substance use disorder interventions. A CHERISH pilot grantee in 2019, she worked closely with her co-investigators Benjamin Linas, CHERISH Population Data and Modeling Core director, and Shashi Kapadia, a CHERISH Research Affiliate and an infectious diseases physician at Weill […]

07/27/22 Profile Feature

Five Researchers Receive CHERISH Pilot Awards to Advance the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, HCV, and HIV

The Center for Health Economics of Treatment Interventions for Substance Use Disorder, HCV, and HIV (CHERISH) is proud to recognize five early-stage researchers who will receive up to $20,000 in pilot grant funding between 2022 and 2023. Through the CHERISH pilot grant, researchers can investigate innovative methodologies or applications, collect preliminary data to inform external […]

11/29/21 Profile Feature

Catching Up with Pilot Grant Recipients Ali Jalali, Austin Kilaru, and Hao Zhang

Every spring, the Center for Health Economics of Treatment Interventions for Substance Use Disorder, HCV, and HIV (CHERISH) awards competitive pilot grants to investigators interested in developing health economic research in our areas of interest, with a focus on junior investigators and trainees. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, CHERISH pilot grants provide these investigators […]

11/11/21 Research Highlight

The Impact of Recreational Cannabis Laws and Cannabis Use Disorder Among Pregnant Patients

To date, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises pregnant patients not to use cannabis because of the increased risks of health complications to the pregnant individual and the newborn. However, as states expand access to recreational or medical cannabis, there is growing evidence of increased cannabis use and positive perceptions of cannabis among pregnant patients. […]

07/27/21 Profile Feature

Pilot Grant Recipients Receive Funding to Examine Health Disparities Related to the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, HCV, and HIV

Shoshana Aronowitz, PhD, MSHP, FNP-BC Follow Shoshana Aronowitz, PhD, MSHP, FNP-BC, on Twitter @shoshiaronowitz. Shoshana Aronowitz is a family nurse practitioner, community-engaged health services researcher, and assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Her research examines innovative delivery models to promote equitable access to substance […]

07/23/21 Research Highlight

Prescription Opioids Dispensed to Patients with Cancer with Bone Metastasis: 2011-2017

In the past decade, opioid prescribing in the United States has steadily decreased as federal and state officials implemented strict regulations on prescription opioids to address the opioid crisis. The downward trend sparked concerns of undertreating chronic pain and prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to formally clarify that the 2016 CDC […]

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