Pathfinder Innovation Projects
Pathfinder Innovation Projects (PIPs) challenge EPA scientists to pursue high-risk, high-reward research that could provide transformative solutions to our most pressing human health and environmental challenges. The internal competition offers staff time and seed funding to the most promising proposals. Pathfinder Innovations Projects give EPA scientists a playground to test ideas that could become game-changers for environmental protection.
Since the program began in 2011, EPA has funded 153 PIPs, applying an innovative lens to problems such as climate change, and high priority contaminants like PFAS and 6PPD-Q. Read the cards below to learn about some especially exciting Pathfinder Innovation Projects.
Brain on a Chip
Building lower-cost models of the developing brain to evaluate toxic chemicals.
Valley Fever
Using drones to study the link between wildfire smoke and an increasingly common fungal disease.
Research Vessels
Modifying an EPA research vessel to collect and analyze water samples as it moves.
Harmful Algal Blooms
Using satellite imagery taken from space to measure harmful algae blooms on American lakes.
See a list of recent PIPs awardees to learn about more cutting edge research projects!