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Developmental Core

The Developmental Core supports career development of promising early-stage HIV investigators, leadership development of independent HIV investigators, and fosters multidisciplinary collaborations.

The core aspires to grow and sustain a robust HIV research workforce and engage in equitable community partnerships by providing opportunities for funding, training, and mentored research experiences.

Annual Mentoring the Mentors Workshop
This annual training enables emerging leaders, mid-career and senior faculty to gain specialized mentorship training, with a specific focus on nurturing early-stage investigators. For more information, contact cfardev@uw.edu.
Annual Mock Study Section
The CFAR Developmental Core hosts an annual Mock Study Section review to give early-stage investigators real-time feedback on unfunded project proposals in order to enhance their final submissions. Mid-career and senior faculty serve as reviewers and discussion leaders. This event enhances grantsmanship and review section skills for participating “Applicants” and “Reviewers”, respectively. For more information, contact cfardev@uw.edu.
Annual STI and HIV Research Symposium
The Annual STI & HIV Research Symposium, co-hosted by the UW Center for AIDS & STD (CFAS) and the UW/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) is our premier showcase for featuring emerging HIV and STI research talent within our community. Scientific talks include a keynote speaker and early-stage investigators, who are customarily recipients of developmental awards from the UW/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research and STI Cooperative Research Center. Representatives of community-based organizations and researchers at all career stages are encouraged to attend, network, and contribute to the Symposium discussions.

Developmental Core Mentoring Clinic
The CFAR Developmental Core mentoring clinic is a new initiative in 2021 to provide consultations for mentors and mentees across CFAR membership on strategies and resources to solve specific career development challenges. For more information, contact cfardev@uw.edu.
Developmental Core Resources Repository
Sample New Investigator Award Proposals:

Science Category: Basic

Science Category: Clinical Epidemiology

Other Resources:

Eastern and Southern Africa Early-Stage Investigator Group (ESIG)
The CFAR Developmental Core organizes a peer mentoring group for 12-15 new and early-stage HIV investigators who are all working in Eastern and Southern Africa. The monthly agenda rotates between members sharing works in progress and career development topics. The Eastern and Southern Africa Early Stage Investigator Group (ESIG) is a key approach by which our CFAR aids capacity-building amongst international collaborators and promotes anti-colonial scientific practices. For more information about how to apply or contribute as a mentor or sponsor, contact cfardev@uw.edu.
Manuscript Writing Workshop
The CFAR Developmental Core hosts an intensive, three-day mentoring program for trainees and early-stage investigators around manuscript writing methods, submission strategies and related ethical considerations. Next generation leaders and senior faculty are also invited to help lead by presenting on workshop topics and serving as writing coaches. For more information, contact cfardev@uw.edu.
The CFAR Developmental Core provides funding for research and training to early-stage HIV investigators, graduate, students, and community-based health advocates, as well as training mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Over the last 5 years, the CFAR Developmental Core has awarded over $1.3 MM to projects from a variety of types of science, including clinical, epidemiologic, basic, behavioral, and mixed methods. Geared towards new and early-stage investigators (ESIs), these grant programs have catalyzed researchers’ transition to independence and prepared them to secure subsequent funding.

The CFAR NIA was instrumental to launching my career. I have received a follow up R21, and a well scored (pending funding) R01. I would definitely advise any of my own trainees to apply for different mechanisms of support from CFAR, as it has been an excellent experience.

Anonymousresponse from 2021 CFAR Member Survey

To learn more about CFAR Developmental Core grant programs, visit the Find Funding page or contact cfardev@uw.edu.

Training, Networking, and Mentoring Opportunities programs and events offered by the CFAR Developmental Core are designed to encourage skill development, facilitate research dissemination and feedback, and enhance collaboration of early-stage investigators to support their success in HIV-research. We also offer further training for mentors to sustain and advance their mentorship skills.
To learn more about these services contact cfardev@uw.edu.
Visit our Early Stage Investigator Career Support and Core Services pages for more resources.
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Developmental Core YouTube Channel

Grace John-Stewart, Core Director
Jennifer Lund, Core Associate Director
Andrew Mujugira, Core Associate Director
Irene Njuguna, Core Faculty
Warren Phipps, Core Faculty
Keshet Ronen, Core Faculty
Alison Roxby, Core Faculty
Anna Wald, Core Faculty
Joseph Zunt, Core Faculty
Linh Newcomb, Grant and Finance Manager
Jacqueline Williamson, Program Specialist