San Diego Nathan Shock Center

Pilot Grants and Training

Salk Institute for Biological Studies - San Diego Nathan Shock Center - Pilot Grants and Training

Pilot Grants and Training


Research Development Core

Research Development Core

The goal of the SD-NSC Research Development Core is to provide support for the career development of junior researchers entering the field of basic aging biology, as well as for established investigators who wish to join the field of aging research. The resources and activities offered include the option to:
  • Pilot Grant and Mentoring Program. Launch new heterogeneity of aging research projects through a pilot grant funding program that enables use of the SD-NSC Human Cell Models of Aging, Heterogeneity of Aging, and Integrative Models of Aging research resource cores. Pilot grant awards of ~$20,000 are available each year. In addition, each junior investigator will be paired with a senior researcher with expertise in the proposed research, who will serve as mentor through the pilot project period. Visit this page to know more about the next call.
  • Training. Receive training from the SD-NSC research resource cores, as well as networking and career development opportunities. Visit our Annual Training Events page for more information on current opportunities. Or visit our Past Training Events Page for previous years’ events.

2023 SD-NSC Pilot Grant Awardees

Luis Prieto
PROJECT TITLE Building a holistic framework to explore cancer in aging
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mayo Clinic
Laith Samarah
PROJECT TITLE Spatial assessment of cellular heterogeneity in aging
Postdoctoral Fellow
Princeton University
Ines Sturmlechner
PROJECT TITLE Profiling age-dependent T cell fate heterogeneity and dysfunction
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mayo Clinic
Sonia Vazquez-Sanchez
PROJECT TITLE The accelerated aging effect: Unmasking cellular hallmarks in Huntington’s Disease
Postdoctoral Fellow
UC San Diego
Daniel Whittaker
PROJECT TITLE Contributions of circadian disruption to the heterogeneity of brain aging
Postdoctoral Fellow
UC San Diego
Shanshan Yin
PROJECT TITLE Investigating the transcriptional and epigenetic heterogeneity in mammary glands during healthy aging and tumorigenesis
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Click to view 2022 Awardees »   Click to view Winter 2021 Awardees »   Click to view Spring 2021 Awardees »