Yale University

Funding Opportunity

CIRA and the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (LTB CFAR) are jointly providing funding up to $40,000 for one pilot project in HIV/AIDS prevention research. The pilot project should focus specifically on domestic research and must be conducted collaboratively by junior faculty and early stage investigators from CIRA and the LTB CFAR. Preference will be given to projects that focus on priority populations and agendas identified in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy which encompass implementation research and focus on small urban centers with high HIV prevalence to align with the mission of the New England HIV Implementation Science Network, a joint CIRA/LTB CFAR initiative. See below for the complete FOA and application guidelines.

 

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT
Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS and
Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research

Key Dates:

  • Release Date - Monday, December 1, 2014
  • Letter of Intent Due Date - Monday, February 16, 2015 - DEADLINE EXTENSION
  • Full Application Due Date - Thursday, April 2, 2015, 5:00pm EDT

To: Principal Investigators at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS & the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research

From: Charles Carpenter, M.D., Director, Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research & Paul D. Cleary, Ph.D., Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS

Subject: Funding for Collaborative Pilot Projects in HIV/AIDS Prevention Research

Purpose

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA) at Yale University and the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (LTB CFAR) will provide funding jointly for a pilot project in HIV/AIDS prevention research that will be conducted collaboratively with CIRA and the LTB CFAR investigators. Proposed projects should be consistent with the missions of both sponsoring organizations:

  1. CIRA supports innovative, interdisciplinary research that combines behavioral, social and biomedical approaches focused on the implementation of HIV prevention and treatment and the elimination of HIV disparities; and,
  2. The Lifespan/Tufts/Brown CFAR's ultimate goal is to improve the lives of people living with HIV and prevent new infections by serving as a basis for extensive collaborative, multi and interdisciplinary research. The development of junior investigators within the field is crucial to stemming this epidemic.

Consistent with both organizations' missions, research that focuses exclusively on the basic biology of HIV or research to develop new HIV treatments will not be considered. Preference will be given to projects that focus on priority populations and agendas identified in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy which encompass implementation research and focus on small urban centers with high HIV prevalence to align with the mission of the New England HIV Implementation Science Network, a joint CIRA/LTB CFAR initiative. 

Implementation research is defined as the systemic study of how a specific set of activities and designed strategies are used to successfully integrate an evidence-based public health intervention within specific settings (e.g., primary care clinic, community center, school). For further information on implementation research see the NIH website. 

Funding Available

CIRA and LTB CFAR will fund one (1) project in this cycle with a maximum award of $40,000. Projects must be completed within one (1) year of the notice of award. Unexpended funds will revert to CIRA and LTB CFAR. Proposals to supplement a study that is already funded by another source will be considered only if the proposed project is clearly distinct from the funded project.

Eligibility

This funding opportunity is focused specifically on domestic research conducted by junior faculty/early stage investigators at CIRA and LTB CFAR. Postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, research associates and those new to HIV research are not eligible to apply for grants through this program. Applications written primarily by graduate students or others in the name of a PI will not be considered.

Junior/early stage investigators may apply for funding to support new research development initiatives and pilot work that will lead to future external grant applications submitted by a CIRA and LTB CFAR research team (i.e., the grant should appear to have an equal likelihood of being ultimately submitted through either CIRA or LTB CFAR with a substantial subcontract to the other organization).

All proposals will require a minimum of two PIs, one from CIRA and one from LTB CFAR, who will make equal contributions to the proposed research and have roughly equal expenditures. Applicants must demonstrate their intent to apply for external research funding within a defined timeline and describe new research that could not be achieved without the collaboration. Preference is to support new collaborations by funding a new CIRA and LTB CFAR team. If the team applying has worked together previously, the researchers must justify that the proposed research will constitute a significant departure from past work.

Application Process

Letters of Intent (New Deadline Announced): Applicants must submit a brief letter of intent by February 16, 2015. The letter should include a descriptive title of the proposed project, a one-paragraph project description and the names and contact information for the CIRA and LTB CFAR investigators and community partners and other non-Yale and non-LTB CFAR employees who will work on the project.

Applications: Based on the letters of intent submitted, CIRA and LTB CFAR will invite full applications from investigators whose proposed projects meet the following criteria:

  • The pilot is aligned with both organizations’ missions;
  • The pilot can be completed in one year;
  • The pilot has the potential to lead to a larger research study funded by the National Institutes of Health or other granting agency.

Full applications are due by 5:00pm EDT on Thursday, April 2, 2015.

Please email the application as a single PDF attachment to Kate Stoddard (kate.stoddard@yale.edu). Please use page numbers and structure your application according to the following specifications:

  1. Use Arial font size 11, with one-inch margins on all sides.
  2. Include a Cover letter with the project title, PIs’ names, phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, PIs’ department affiliations and positions, total project costs and names of all key personnel on the project.
  3. Abstract (maximum 30 lines).
  4. Detailed CIRA budget (not to exceed $20,000 and one year) and budget justification, and detailed LTB CFAR budget (not to exceed $20,000 and one year) and budget justification. Please use PHS 398 Form 4 for BOTH BUDGETS.  Funds can be used to support research-related expenses including PI and other personnel effort, travel, and materials and supplies. The funds may not be used to support travel to conferences, routine office equipment such as computers, or indirect costs. Prior to proposal submission, applicants are strongly encouraged to review their budgets with Gai Doran (gai.doran@yale.edu), Assistant Director, Administration at CIRA.
  5. Specific aims (one page) State the general purpose and objectives of the study and any hypotheses to be tested.
  6. Research plan (maximum six pages not including references cited) consisting of three sections:
    • Significance (1.5 pages)
    • Innovation (0.5 pages)
    • Approach (4 pages). The approach section should specify a timeline for completion of the project within one year of award.
  7. References cited.
  8. For projects involving human subjects, please include a detailed description of plans for the inclusion and/or exclusion of minority groups or subgroups, women and children. Applicants should refer to Part II of the NIH Application Guide SF 424 R&R. Your application must include copies of Human Subjects Training Certificates for all key personnel identified in the cover letter; and,
  9. Do not include Appendix materials.

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a joint committee composed of CIRA and LTB CFAR affiliates, including Community Advisory Board members.

Funds will be awarded in April, 2015, based on the following criteria:

  • Scientific merit of the research plan based on internal and/or external reviews;
  • Equal collaboration among CIRA and LTB CFAR investigators;
  • The equal likelihood at its inception that a proposal will elicit external funding through either CIRA or LTB CFAR, with a significant subcontract to the other;
  • Importance of the research question;
  • Extent to which the project is novel or innovative, especially proposals testing new methodologies, theories, and/or new domains in need of pilot data;
  • Composition of the research team (cross-disciplinary work will be given preference);
  • Relevance of the proposed project to the missions of CIRA and LTB CFAR; and,
  • Project’s relevance to implementation research in small urban centers with high HIV prevalence.

If a project is funded, it will be "matched" to an appropriate Core at CIRA and/or LTB CFAR from which the PIs can receive support at start up and while conducting their study, to analyze results, peer review manuscripts, explore and apply for external funding options, and ultimately secure funds.

Inquiries

We welcome inquires about this opportunity. Please contact:

Kate Stoddard
Assistant Director, Development Core
Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA)
Kate.stoddard@yale.edu
203-764-8476

OR

Vicki C. Godleski
CFAR Administrator
Lifespan/Tufts/Brown CFAR
Vgodleski@Lifespan.org
401-793-4068



Published: Monday, December 8, 2014