CFAR Pilot Grant Program /
The Penn Center for AIDS Research (Penn CFAR) invites Pilot Grant applications offered through its Developmental Core. Proposals in HIV/AIDS clinical care, pathogenesis, virology, immunology, structural biology, vaccine development, epidemiology, or prevention research are considered relevant to the goals of the CFAR. The CFAR is especially interested in proposals that bridge programmatic areas and, in particular, (a) projects that link clinical, basic and behavioral scientists, and (b) investigators outside the HIV/AIDS field turning their focus to relevant projects linked with CFAR HIV/AIDS investigators. Note that per NIH guidelines, Clinical Trials cannot be supported through this funding mechanism.
All HIV/AIDS topics are welcome, and proposals are especially encouraged that address our high priority Scientific Working Group areas:
· HIV and Viral Hepatitis co-infection (with broad focus spanning basic, clinical, behavioral)
· HIV and Substance Use
· Strategies targeting HIV Eradication, HIV Reservoirs and Residual Inflammation
Amount: We offer awards up to $40,000 for each grant. Grants are for a one-year period and are not renewable. It is expected that funds will be available in August 2015.
Award Types:
Mentored Research Scholar awards: Young Investigators (Non-Faculty members)
· Instructor and Research Associate level
· A one-page mentorship plan with a mentor at the assistant professor level or above is required. Guidelines for the Mentorship Plan are available through the CFAR Web Site:
http://www.med.upenn.edu/cfar/developmental_mentorprogram.shtml
General Pilot Awards: Faculty members
· Post-graduate degree with an appointment equivalent to a staff scientist or assistant professor (or above) in any track at the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, or The Wistar Institute.
· For junior faculty applicants, a one-page mentorship plan with a senior faculty member is strongly encouraged; for non-HIV/AIDS investigators of any level, a partnership plan with an established HIV/AIDS investigator is strongly encouraged.
Eligibility
· Young investigators (Instructor/Research Associate) who have not received independent funding in HIV/AIDS and are poised to begin an independent project (Mentored Research Scholar award)
· New investigators who never have held extramural R01-level support from the NIH
· Investigators who have not previously been funded for work in HIV/AIDS
· Investigators who have worked in HIV/AIDS who wish to study an area that is a significant departure from their currently funded work
· New interdisciplinary collaborations involving investigators from different disciplines who have not previously worked together
Application Deadline: Monday, March 30, 2015
Cover page/instructions may be found at
http://www.med.upenn.edu/cfar/documents/Instructs_CoverpgFY2016.pdf
Note that the application should include a brief section that describes how this pilot project will lead to future independent funding.
Important additional information:
Pre-Submission Pilot Workshop:
A Pre-Application Workshop will be offered to help with the preparation of their pilot grant application. This is especially valuable for (a) junior investigators to help them craft a stronger research proposal and (b) all investigators to gain more information about the research services and resources provided through Penn CFAR Shared Resource Cores. For further information on the workshop or mentoring plans, contact Evelyn Olivieri, .
Pre-Submission Pilot Workshop: Friday, January 30, 2015
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
TBA
International Applications:
· All applications that include planned research activities at international sites outside the U.S. should be discussed with Dr. Pablo Tebas, , prior to preparation of the application.
· Applications with research activities in Botswana must be reviewed and approved by Dr. Harvey Friedman, before submission, to determine feasibility and related expenses.
For further information or questions please contact:
Pablo Tebas, M.D. (Director, CFAR Developmental Core)
Luis J. Montaner, D.V.M., M.Sc., D.Phil. (Co-Director, CFAR Developmental Core)
Evelyn Olivieri (Associate Director, Penn CFAR)