Developmental Award Guidelines

The CFAR Research Development Fund provides support for three types of projects:

1. Initial AIDS Research Projects: Basic or clinical investigators new to the AIDS research field who do not have AIDS-related research support, with a strong focus on junior investigators.
   
   
2. Pilot Projects: Established investigators with or without former AIDS-related research support may apply for funding to investigate promising new areas of research with the aim of developing data that will result in an application for R01-type funding. Please contact Core Director (John.Coffin@tufts.edu ) to discuss the proposal prior to the submission deadline in order to determine eligibility.
   
3. Collaborative Projects: Two or more established investigators (at least one of whom has AIDS-related research support) who would like to collaborate on a specific project that is not currently supported by extramural or intramural funds and which promises to enhance the overall quality of AIDS research, may apply for funds for a collaborative project. Please contact Core Director (John.Coffin@tufts.edu ) to discuss the proposal prior to the submission deadline in order to determine eligibility.

Other AIDS research projects that do not fall within the above guidelines will be considered on a case by case basis provided that such proposed projects are developmental in nature and have the potential for future NIH funding.

Developmental funding is not intended to supplement an ongoing NIH-funded project but rather stimulate new research topics and inter-disciplinary collaboration.

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Applicants for all types of projects must have a full-time appointment at either Brown University or Tufts University at the rank of Assistant Professor or greater. Applications from Fenway Community Health Center researchers will be accepted if the applicant does not have a Brown or Tufts appointment, but only if the researcher has a comparable appointment at an academic institution that does not itself have an NIH-funded CFAR.

If you are applying for either a pilot or collaborative project please contact the Core Director (John.Coffin@tufts.edu) to discuss the proposal prior to the submission deadline in order to determine eligibility.

Faculty with backgrounds in either basic or clinical investigation, including investigators committed to research in the developing world are encouraged to apply.

In exceptional circumstances, individuals who have successfully reached the goal established for an initial CFAR developmental grant, and have obtained NIH-R01 funding for further related studies, may be eligible to apply for a second CFAR Developmental Grant in a new HIV/AIDS research domain. Please contact the Core Director (John.Coffin@Tufts.edu ) to discuss eligibility.

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Awards for all project types are $40,000 for a maximum of one year. In exceptional circumstances, requests for lesser amounts may be considered for discrete projects. Once awarded, the CFAR Executive Committee may grant a one-year no cost extension to the project. In this situation, the Principal Investigator must submit a written request with justification to the CFAR Administrator for review by the CFAR Executive Committee. If approved by the CFAR Executive Committee, projects will be continued for an additional twelve-month period with no supplemental funds. Developmental grant recipients will not be awarded extensions beyond this additional twelve months.
Funds may be used for the salary and fringe benefits of junior faculty for research support and laboratory personnel and for research-related supplies. No funds may be expended for equipment, domestic travel, or indirects. Funds for international travel associated with projects abroad may be requested with additional justification. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Awards are non-transferable to institutions not part of the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown CFAR network.

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Under the direction of the Developmental Core Director, each application will be evaluated by a team of two reviewers with expertise related to the science addressed by the application. Applicants may suggest specific reviewers or request exclusion of specific reviewers. Reviewers will provide an evaluation of the application along with a numerical score. The CFAR Executive Committee will consider these evaluations in making final funding decisions. The Director of the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown CFAR will notify applicants of awards. Written critiques of the proposed research will be provided, to all applicants.

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Investigators are required to notify the Executive Committee in writing of significant changes in the focus of the research, conduct of the research plan, or significant rebudgeting of funds during the course of the project.

Interim progress reports and mentor evaluation forms are to be submitted to the CFAR Administrator (Vgodleski@lifespan.org) every six months. The interim progress reports must include a brief report on the progress to date, copy of the appropriate committee approval letters (i.e., IRB, Animal Welfare, DNA, etc.) if appropriate, and include any resulting collaborations, resulting publications, resulting awards or applications submitted to outside funding agencies and foundations.

Within 30 days of completing the project, the investigator should submit a final progress report stating preliminary scientific findings, a report of any possible research applications that may stem from the project, and any publications that resulted from the research. Recipients will also be required to report applications or publications that result from this project on an annual basis for two years after the completion of the project.

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Presentations and publications of research supported by CFAR developmental awards must acknowledge the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown CFAR program.

The preferred citation is:

This research was funded in part (or in its entirety) by a 200x (enter appropriate year of award) developmental grant from the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research, an NIH funded program #P30 AI42853.

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