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

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 curriculum 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.
Prospective Applicants
Applications for the grant cycle from April 2023 to April 2024 are closed.
We seek to fund applicants interested in conducting health economics research on substance use disorder, HCV, or HIV. Areas of investigation include the economics of healthcare utilization, health outcomes, and health-related behaviors related to substance use disorder treatment policy, and the HCV and HIV care of people who use substances.
In the current grant cycle, we also encourage applicants to incorporate one or more of the following topics into their proposal:
- Drug overdose prevention including, but not limited to, opioid overdoses
- Syndemics of substance use, HIV, HCV, and related comorbidities
- Harm reduction and recovery support strategies
- Contingency management including, but not limited to, for treatment of stimulant use disorders
- Implementation science