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Funding

CFAR Award Program for New Investigators

The UW/FHCRC Center for AIDS Research Developmental Core announces the availability of funds to support New Investigator Awards (NIAs) in the area of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related research.

An electronic version of this RFA is available here [13K, PDF].

Purpose
Eligibility
Types of Projects
Funding Available
Pre-Submission Requirements
Pre-Award Requirements
Post-Award Requirements
Application Instructions

Purpose

The main purpose of the awards is to encourage investigators to pursue careers in HIV/AIDS research and support their development. Awardees should plan to use CFAR-supported data as the basis for subsequent applications to other funding sources.

Eligibility

  1. Current UW junior faculty (including acting positions) who have not had an R01 grant in HIV/AIDS
  2. Scientists completing fellowships
  3. Senior post-doctoral fellows initiating a new area of research that will form a basis for their independent program
  4. Junior faculty being recruited to the UW faculty or affiliated institutions
  5. Investigators with comparable appointments at UW-affiliated institutions (e.g., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, and affiliated foreign institutions)
  6. Minority investigators at the University of Hawaii with comparable positions

Note that applicants are required to have an MD or PhD or equivalent degree in order to be eligible to apply. NIH K awards do not impact on eligibility as long as the requested funds support different items. (The research can be on the same topic.) Successful applicants usually have some preliminary data to support their application. Resubmission of revised projects by previous applicants that address critiques of prior proposal are allowed (see application instructions).

Types of Projects

HIV-related research is defined broadly and includes basic science, clinical, epidemiological, and behavioral, and health services research. Per NIH, we cannot fund clinical trials of investigational drugs, but we can fund behavioral interventions. If you are considering a study involving approved drugs and/or standard-of-care, please contact Ann Collier (acollier@uw.edu, cc:(laurenst@uw.edu; 206-744-3293) to determine whether your proposed project would be eligible for funding through CFAR.

Funding Available

Awards will be up to $45,000/year (direct costs) for non-interdisciplinary applications or up to $55,000 (direct costs) for interdisciplinary projects for up to 2 years. The award can be used for salary, technical support, laboratory supplies, equipment, and travel costs related to the project. Be sure to read our Computer Policy [13K, PDF] if you would like to budget for a computer.

Requests for Second Year of Funding: Second year funding is contingent upon demonstration of satisfactory progress during year one.

Pre-Submission Requirements

Biostatistical Consultation: All applicants are required to discuss their proposal with one of CFAR's biostatisticians prior to/during the preparation of their application. This consultation is best done early in the preparation process but no later than October 1, 2009. Contact Sarah Holte at sholte@fhcrc.org, cc:(laurenst@uw.edu).

Use of CFAR Resources: We encourage applicants to use CFAR Cores or link to CFAR Scientific Programs. Go here for more information.

Collaborative Proposals: Multidisciplinary projects are encouraged and are defined as involving 2 or more investigators that have differing areas of expertise or different research focuses, e.g. applicant and a co-investigator with differing areas of expertise or applicant plus 1-2 co-mentors with at least one of the co-mentors having different expertise than the applicant (at least one mentor must be faculty at UW or a UW affiliate). In a cover letter, the applicant must provide a rationale as to why the applicant considers the project to be interdisciplinary.

Mentoring: It is strongly recommended that applicants identify a mentor. A statement from the applicant's primary mentor that they have read and discussed the application with the applicant must accompany the application (can take the form of a letter of support - see 'Mentor Statement' in Application Instructions below). Please note that a Mentoring Committee will be formed for successful applicants to provide guidance for their career development and to assess progress of each NIA awardee at least annually.

International Applicants: International applicants must obtain approval that they are eligible to apply prior to development of their proposal. They should send a current NIH format biosketch or curriculum vitae for review to Ann Collier at acollier@u.washington.edu (cc:(laurenst@uw.edu) no later than September 22, 2009.

Institutional Approval: UW applicants do not need departmental, school, or Office of Sponsored Programs signatures. Applicants from other institutions should prepare and submit a NIH 398 face page, with concurrence from their institution's business official. Please note that the CFAR has negotiated indirect cost waivers from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. For more information, contact Lauren Sterling (laurenst@uw.edu; 206-744-8876). Applicants from affiliated institutions are required to consult with the Program Coordinator about their budgets prior to the development of their proposal and no later than October 1, 2009, to clarify budgetary issues. Contact Lauren Sterling (laurenst@uw.edu; 206-744-8876).

Pre-Award Requirements

Human Subjects and Animal Care Approvals: Animal Care and Institutional Review Board approvals, if applicable, must be obtained prior to receipt of an award, but are not required to submit an application. Proposals involving either international sites or clinical research above minimal risk will require additional clearance from NIH prior to receipt of an award, which includes IRB approval from all participating sites and human subjects training certification for all key personnel.

Post-Award Requirements

  1. Prior to funding, a copy of all Institutional Biohazard, Animal Care and IRB approvals must be forwarded to the CFAR Program Coordinator. If the project involves human subjects and the institutional IRB has deemed the study "greater than minimal risk", the awardee must submit a Clinical Research Checklist to the CFAR Program Coordinator before funding is released. If the project is being conducted overseas, prior approval from NIH is required prior to commencement of the study.
  2. Awardees will be required to submit yearly progress reports to the CFAR and make an oral presentation at the annual UW AIDS & STD Research Symposium.
  3. CFAR support must be acknowledged in all publications derived from CFAR funding.
  4. In the event that pending other support is funded which overlaps with or reduces your effort on this CFAR project, you must notify the CFAR Program Coordinator. Your funding status will be reviewed and if it is determined that you are unable to meet the specific aims of your CFAR proposal, the CFAR award will be revoked.
  5. After project is completed, be available to provide information about publications, collaborations, and future grants related to your CFAR project.

Application Instructions

After completing all pre-submission requirements submit the following in one MS Word file by 11:30 p.m. October 9, 2009 to cfarawds@u.washington.edu and 4 paper copies to Lauren Sterling, Program Coordinator, Box 359930 or Harborview 2WC 117. Use the PHS Form 398 (11/07 version) and NIH R01 format with the modifications listed below. No appendices are allowed. Do not submit Targeted/Planned Enrollment Tables. Submit a detailed budget, not a modular budget. The Research Plan ('Specific Aims' through 'Research Design and Methods') is limited to 10 pages.

  1. Cover letter (including reviewer suggestions, justification for interdisciplinary award (if applicable), response to reviewer critiques (if resubmission)*, other pertinent information)
  2. Face page: (Form page 1)
  3. Abstract page: (Form page 2)
  4. Detailed budget for 12 month period: (Form page 4)
  5. Complete budget and justification: (Form page 5)
  6. Biographical Sketch for the NIA applicant only (including research support section C)
  7. Resources Page
  8. Research Plan ('Specific Aims' through 'Research Design and Methods' limited to 10 pages)
    • Specific Aims (suggested length ?-1 page)
    • Background and Significance (suggested length 1-2 pages)
    • Preliminary Studies (suggested length 2-3 pages)
    • Research Design and Methods (suggested length 3-5 pages)
    • Protection of Human Subjects (if applicable; maximum 1 page)
    • Vertebrate Animals (If applicable; maximum 1 page)
    • Bibliography and References Cited (as needed)
  9. Mentor's Statement
  10. Letters of support (Letters of support from collaborators essential to the proposed project must accompany the application)

* Procedure for Resubmission

If you have applied in the past, and wish to resubmit your application, please state in your cover letter: