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  2. Innovation

Pathfinder Innovation Projects

the graphic identifier for PIPs

PIPs News

Explore news from the PIPs program, including new publications, presentations, and updates from PIP 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

A snapshot of electrical activity in one well of the "brain on a chip."

Building lower-cost models of the developing brain to evaluate toxic chemicals.

Learn more about Brain on a Chip

Valley Fever

A drone flies above a landscape with three researchers standing in the background.

Using drones to study the link between wildfire smoke and an increasingly common fungal disease.

Learn more about Valley fever and wildfire smoke

Research Vessels

EPA R/V Lake Explorer II

Modifying an EPA research vessel to collect and analyze water samples as it moves.

Learn more about EPA research vessels

Harmful Algal Blooms

An algal bloom on a lake.

Using satellite imagery taken from space to measure harmful algae blooms on American lakes.

Learn more about HABs and satellites

See a list of recent PIPs awardees to learn about more cutting edge research projects!

Innovation

  • Challenges and Prizes
  • Pathfinder Innovation Projects
    • 2024 Awardees
    • 2023 Awardees
Contact Us About Innovation at EPA
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 19, 2025
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