BASIC SCIENCE AWARD PROGRAM IN HIV/AIDS

Project Award Amount $40,000

Description of Grant Area
These pilot awards are intended to support HIV/AIDS basic science research with the goal of developing the next generation of HIV/AIDS researchers with the potential to further extramural HIV/AIDS funding. Several funding sources are sponsoring these projects including the UCSF-GIVI Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and the AIDS Research Institute (ARI). Irrespective of funding source, the review process is the same.

The Basic Scientist Award provides funding for investigators and postdoctoral fellows with backgrounds in basic science, seeking seed money to get a project started or to gather preliminary data and findings for a future grant effort.

1. The award level for this program is $40,000 in direct costs. Partial investigator salary support may be requested; however, alternative use of funds should be included as not all funders allow PI salary support.
2. The number of grants awarded is determined by funding available.
3. The funding will last for a one-year period.
4. Periodic progress reports will be required (reports should reference subsequent funding acquired, research goals met, posters, publications, etc.).

Note: As a general rule, within any category, priority is given to applicants who have never received funding in that category, except for the Fogarty International Training Awards in HIV/AIDS and International Mentored Scientist Award Program in HIV/AIDS.

Eligibility
Junior level faculty (assistant/instructor) in all UCSF series, post-docs, and fellows at UCSF or an affiliated institution (e.g., San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco Department of Public Health, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, J. David Gladstone Institutes, Blood Systems Research Institute, etc.); faculty at the associate level and above may apply, but priority is given to junior investigators and new faculty at the associate level who have yet to secure R01 funding.

Criteria for Review/Evaluation of Applications
Applications that are complete and meet eligibility requirements will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate review committee convened by the UCSF Resource Allocation Program (RAP) in accordance with the review criteria employed by the NIH which include five core areas: 1. Significance, 2. Approach, 3. Innovation, 4. Investigator, 5. Environment. Each of these criteria will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score weighing them as appropriate for each application.

Additional information on funding agencies
(Please note this is provided for informational purposes only as the review process is centralized).

• CFAR offers five Developmental Awards Programs for junior investigators in HIV/AIDS research with the potential to enhance the interfaces between clinical, basic and behavioral-epidemiological sciences. Two of these awards programs are focused on the development of international scientists and international training programs. For the most recent Basic Science Award Program description, download the CFAR Basic Science Application guidelines. Additional information on all awards programs can be found on the CFAR website at CFAR Developmental Awards Programs.
• ARI supports projects focused on innovative HIV/AIDS research in any field, including clinical, basic, translational, epidemiology, social/behavioral, prevention, treatment, biomedical, policy, women-focused, and multidisciplinary research. Multidisciplinary and translational research proposals are especially encouraged. Research that is international in scope is allowed. For additional information, visit the ARI website at ARI Innovative HIV/AIDS Pilot Award Program.