Pilot Research Grants, Artificial Intelligence and Informatics Consortium (AI2)

Pilot Research Grants, Artificial Intelligence and Informatics Consortium (AI2) is a grant from Indiana University Indianapolis that funds early-stage research applying artificial intelligence and informatics methods to significant disciplinary challenges across clinical research, public health, education, law, business, and the sciences.

Grants support preliminary data collection, proof-of-concept work, or small-scale implementation intended to catalyze larger extramural funding from NIH, NSF, or other agencies. The AI2 Consortium funds up to three projects at up to $15,000 each for a nine-month period. Eligible applicants are current full-time faculty members at IU Indianapolis; cross-school or cross-department collaboration is strongly encouraged.

The application deadline was extended to April 1, 2026.

Grant Opportunities: Grant Opportunities: Artificial Intelligence and Informatics Consortium (AI2): Indiana University Indianapolis PILOT RESEARCH GRANTS, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Artificial Intelligence & Informatics Consortium at IU Indianapolis is seeking applications for funding to support research ideas from current IU Indianapolis faculty.

These pilot grants can be focused on an array of AI and/or informatics-related disciplines in which the investigators have demonstrated expertise, including clinical research, public health, education, law, business, chemistry, earth science and biology. Studies that address significant discipline challenges that can be supplemented with AI and/or informatics-related methods or solutions will be prioritized.

The pilot funding will provide opportunities for faculty to gather preliminary data, prove a concept, or implement on a small-scale an approach or solution that can be translated into a larger research project funded by an extramural grant. The consortium expects pilot grants will catalyze new funding applications to the NIH, NSF, and/or other extramural funding agencies.

Collaboration between investigators from different schools or departments is not a requirement, but it is strongly encouraged and considered as criteria for the review. The AI2 Consortium at IU Indianapolis will fund up to three (3) projects at a funding level of up to $15,000 for 9-months. We expect recipients to attend a joint meeting on a quarterly basis (every 3 months).

The purpose of these meetings will be to create shared learning across the projects, as well as an opportunity to learn more about how to translate the pilot work into a larger, extramural proposal. In addition, we expect funded investigators to work with the AI2 Consortium director and IU Research team to further develop and submit the extramural proposal by the start of 2027.

Request for Applications release date: February 25, 2026 Proposal Due Date: March 25, 2026 ***EXTENDED TO APRIL 1st! Notifications of Award: April 8, 2026 Project start date: April 9, 2026 Submission details including budget documents are included with this announcement. The PI should be a full-time faculty member at IU Indianapolis.

Co-investigators and collaborators are not required to have an IU Indianapolis affiliation. Requests for faculty salaries will not be Funding should go mainly to support staff, data resources, equipment, samples, and other related research needs. PI(s) are responsible for all grant reporting and fiscal PI(s) will be primarily responsible for ensuring team compliance with scientific, safety, and ethical responsibilities of the award.

PI(s) will be expected to comply with reporting requirements as a condition of receipt and continuation of Non-compliance of quarterly reporting and meeting attendance and/or annual reporting could result in the rescinding of funds. All personnel must be identified prior to the start date of the award to replace any “to be decided” positions proposed in the application.

A final summary of the project is also due at 12 months from the start date of the award. The template of which will be provided to the awardees based on their project milestones. Award funding amount: up to $15,000 Award period: 9 months, beginning once approval is No-cost extensions are allowed; all research expenses should be incurred by the end of the 9-month period.

Awardees must provide documentation of all necessary regulatory approvals (e.g., IRB approval) post-award. Supplies and other costs must relate directly to performance of the Funds cannot be used for course releases, development of teaching materials, or academic programs. The process involves submitting an application.

All documents should be submitted in a single PDF document; please use Arial size 11 font, with margins of 0. 5 inches. All materials must be submitted before 11:59:59 p.

m. on March 25, 2026 to Susan Walsh ( walshsus@iu. edu ) where they will be assessed by the AI2 consortium team.

Additional or supplemental materials cannot be accepted after the deadline and will not be reviewed. In a single document, please include the following sections, beginning each section with a new page: A.

Proposed Pilot Project Overview (1-page limit) The Project Overview should include the following: Project Information: Please include the project title, the name(s) of the PI and if applicable co- PIs and other key Include full names (first name/middle name/last name), degrees, rank, university/school/academic department, emails, and role in the project.

If the proposal includes investigators from different schools or departments, how will a multidisciplinary team strengthen the project? Scientific Abstract (250-word limit): Briefly summarize the proposed B. Research Plan (3-page limit, including tables and figures) This section should include the following elements to best allow reviewers to address the review criteria: Aims – What are the goals of the research?

Significance – Why is this research important? Innovation – What makes this research innovative? Approach – What will be done during the pilot period?

C. References (No page limit). Literature cited does not count toward the Research Plan's 3-page D.

Budget with Budget Justification (No page limit). Use PHS 398 Form Page 4 and Page 5 . The budget justification should include sufficient details for reviewers to assess whether appropriate resources have been requested.

E. List of Current Grants/Research (No page limit). For each PI, please list information on current extramural funding in which they are involved.

Provide the grant title, funding agency, name(s) of the PI(s), dates of the project, and a 1-2 sentence summary of the research project. The review criteria will include an assessment of the proposed pilot project to have scientific merit, innovation, and likelihood it may lead to extramural funding.

This program will have preference for projects that are novel as opposed to incremental efforts from already established and funded research. Also, preference will be given to researchers who are incorporating AI and/or informatics questions into their research for the first time. When applying, please note how the application fulfills the goals of this program.

Specifically, the applicant should address the following issues, where applicable: How does the project advance science or a discipline challenge? How is the project innovative? Does the research extend or support an existing research center or institute on campus?

To what extent does the proposed pilot project reflect interdisciplinary, cross-department/school collaboration on the IU Indianapolis campus? If you have any questions, please reach out to Susan Walsh ( walshsus@iu. edu ) or contact through the AI2 consortium website.