Code for the Cure Pilot Grant Campaign
Help Us Raise $15,000 to Power Genetic Research Innovation
At Code for the Cure Inc., we believe small projects can spark big discoveries. That’s why we’re launching a campaign to raise $15,000 to fund a pilot grant supporting groundbreaking research on genetic disorders.
What Is a Pilot Grant?
A pilot grant is a small, early-stage research award designed to help scientists gather the preliminary data needed to launch larger studies. These grants often serve as a vital first step toward breakthroughs in understanding diseases, developing treatments, or discovering new biomarkers.
While major grants can require extensive prior data, pilot grants allow researchers to test innovative ideas and explore uncharted scientific territory. Even a modest investment can yield powerful insights that attract larger funding from national research agencies or private foundations later on.
Why It Matters
Genetic disorders affect millions of individuals and families around the world, yet many rare or complex conditions remain underfunded. By supporting this pilot grant, you’re helping to:
-
🧬 Fuel early-stage genetic research that can lead to major discoveries
-
💡 Empower scientists to explore new diagnostic and treatment approaches
-
💖 Bring hope to families impacted by genetic diseases
-
🌍 Lay the foundation for future breakthroughs and larger-scale funding
Your donation directly supports promising research projects that can change lives.
Our Goal: $15,000
Every dollar counts. The funds raised will go directly toward launching one pilot study focused on genetic disorders — including researcher support, lab materials, and data collection.
Together, we can bridge the gap between promising ideas and proven medical solutions.
What specific research we are looking to fund?
1. Genotype–Phenotype Correlation Studies
Genotype–phenotype correlation studies aim to understand how specific genetic variants are linked to observable traits, disease severity, or clinical outcomes.
In a pilot project with a small budget, this might involve recruiting a limited group of patients who share a known genetic mutation and collecting detailed clinical data for comparison. These studies can reveal whether certain variants predict earlier onset, more severe symptoms, or different treatment responses.
Even with a small sample size, pilot data can highlight meaningful trends that justify larger, more comprehensive studies. Because they directly connect molecular data with patient outcomes, genotype–phenotype correlation studies are considered high impact and essential for advancing personalized medicine.
2. Biomarker Discovery Pilot
A Biomarker Discovery Pilot is a small-scale study designed to identify measurable biological markers linked to a specific genetic disorder.
These biomarkers may include DNA variants, RNA expression levels, proteins, or metabolites that correlate with disease presence, severity, or progression. In a pilot setting, researchers might analyze a limited set of patient samples to see if certain markers consistently appear in affected individuals compared to healthy controls.
This early work can reveal non-invasive diagnostic tools, ways to track treatment response, or new therapeutic targets. Although limited in scale, biomarker pilot studies generate valuable preliminary data that can justify larger investigations and directly contribute to improved patient care for genetic disorders.
3. Drug Repurposing Pilot Screens
A Drug Repurposing Pilot Screen is a research study that tests existing FDA-approved or well-characterized drugs on models of a genetic disorder to identify unexpected therapeutic benefits.
Instead of developing new compounds — a process that can take years — this approach leverages existing medications with known safety profiles to accelerate discovery. In a pilot project, researchers might apply a small library of drugs to patient-derived cells, organoids, or animal models and measure their effects on disease pathways.
Even on a small scale, these studies can reveal promising treatment candidates worthy of advancing into larger preclinical or clinical trials. Because they connect potential therapies directly to disease mechanisms, drug repurposing pilots are cost-effective, time-efficient, and translationally impactful.