PILOT AWARD PROGRAM IN HIV/AIDS

Project Award Amount $40,000

Description of Grant Area
These pilot awards are intended to support HIV/AIDS 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.

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. A final progress report will be required (reports should reference subsequent funding acquired, research goals met, posters, publications, etc.), and in some cases an interim report will be required
5. If applicable: All funded research conducted in an international setting must have both UCSF and international institution CHR approval

Note: As a general rule, within any category, priority is given to applicants who have never received funding in that category, except for the 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, provided they are newly entering the field of HIV/AIDS research, but priority is given to junior investigators and new faculty who have yet to secure R01 funding.

Designation of Research Mentor
All pilot award applications from individuals at Asst. level or below require the designation of a faculty mentor. This should be an individual who has primary responsibility for overseeing the research career development of the applicant, and therefore advises the applicant on the formulation and writing of the application, as well as implementation of the project. Ideally this should be someone already assigned through the applicant's department. If no such person has yet been named, the applicant must arrange this before submission of the grant proposal. Please note that the decision on funding, along with the grant reviewers' comments, will be communicated to both the applicant and mentor.

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 Developmental Awards Programs for junior investigators in HIV/AIDS research with the potential to enhance the interfaces between clinical, basic and behavioral-epidemiological sciences. One of these awards programs is focused on the development of international scientists and international training programs. For the most recent Pilot Award Program description, download the CFAR Pilot 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.