Applications for developmental funding must be submitted online using the Developmental Grant Application form.

Applications are due no later than 5:00 PM on the posted due date.

The application form includes the following sections and attachments (PDF attachments with 11 pt minimum font size and ½ inch minimum margins).

I. Investigator Information

II. Project Information

• Type of Application: Select only one option.
  • Initial AIDS Research Projects – applicants who have not yet received R01 type funding from NIH in the HIV/AIDS field.  Applicants must have a primary mentor, in the form of a senior colleague who is currently supported by one or more NIH R01, P01, or U01 research grants.
  • Pilot Projects testing new or innovative ideas – applicants who have received R01 type funding from NIH, but not in the HIV/AIDS field (new to HIV research)
  • Collaborative Projects – applicants would include at least one HIV investigator; collaborators must not have previous NIH R01 type funding together.
  • Community Engaged Research Awards – applicants who have not yet received R01 type funding from NIH in the HIV/AIDS field, and who collaborate with a community-based organization. The goal of the Community Engaged Research Awards is to provide pilot research funds to Co-Principal Investigator teams consisting of one academic investigator and one community-based investigator. These award funds will be shared between the academic institution and the community-based organization.
• CFAR Core Services Requested
  • Provide a brief description of the type of support that will be requested from relevant CFAR Cores. 
• Abstract Describing the Research (30 Lines)
• Project Performance Sites
• Senior/Key Personnel
• Other Significant Contributors

III. Budget

Projects are awarded in the amount of $40,00 for a maximum of 12 months. Funds may be used for the salary and fringe benefits of faculty and research personnel and for research-related supplies. No funds may be expended for mentor salary, equipment (including computers), domestic travel, or indirects (F&A). Funds for international travel associated with projects abroad may be requested with additional justification. In addition, travel to present finding may be requested. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

• PHS398 Form
  • The budget PHS398 form must be uploaded as a PDF document.
• Budget Justification
  • The budget justification document must explain the purpose of each expense in the budget and describe the role of each person (paid and unpaid) who is listed under Personnel. 

IV. Future Outside Funding Statement

This statement should include an explanation of how this developmental grant will enhance the chances for future funding.  For established investigators applying for pilot awards, please provide an additional statement addressing how the developmental application will not duplicate any current NIH funded research.  Developmental Awards are granted with the expectation that they will lead to future NIH proposals.

V. Alignment with the NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities

Explain how this project addresses the NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities. The NIH has developed a series of guidelines for determining whether a research project has a high-, medium-, or low- priority for receiving AIDS designated funding.  Since subsequent NIH awards are contingent on these priorities, it is important that developmental applications describe which of the priority areas the application addresses. Please review the NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities linked above.

VI. Research Plan (Upload PDF documents into the application template)

• Specific Aims (1 page)
• Research Strategy (maximum 4 pages)
  • Significance (background) (1/2 - 1 page)
  • Innovation (1/2 page)
  • Approach (experimental design and methods) (2 pages), which should include an appropriate analytical program for the proposal, as well as, a data management plan, if appropriate.
  • References (excluded from page limits)
• Study Timeline:  Upload a PDF document showing major project activities and expected timeline for completion.
• Protection of Human Subjects - Describe the procedures to protect human subjects in the conduct of the proposed research (e.g. informed consent, confidentiality, data management, etc.).

VII. Community Engagement Plan

The practice of providing feedback to study participants is fundamental to the ethical principal of respect for them and the acknowledgement of the valuable contributions they provide to research.  

• Community Engaged Research Projects
  • There is a requirement that grant recipients engage in bidirectional communication with participants and community members, with a focus on planning/development, initiation execution and dissemination of this research. Please refer to the ATSDR Core Principles of Community Engagement in forming your engagement plan.
• Initial AIDS Research, Pilot, and Collaborative Projects involving human subjects
  • Provide a brief description (100 words or less) of how you will engage with the community regarding this research (e.g., working with the C-CERC, dissemination of results to non-scientific audiences, etc.)

VIII. Biographical Sketch

Please upload biographical sketches for all key personnel/mentor(s) for the project. (NIH Biographical Sketch Form and Instructions)

IX. Letters of Support

All letters should be addressed to:

Review Committee, Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906

• Department Chief or Chair (required for all applications)must include a statement on the availability of institutional resources for the proposed study; assurance of protected time for Principal Investigator; and a statement of institutional commitment to the development of the PI's career.
  • Initial AIDS Research Projects and Pilot Projects:  Upload a letter of support from the primary mentor indicating the mentor fully accepts the time commitments essential to this role.
  • Collaborative Project: Upload letters of support from each collaborating investigator and/or organization.
  • Community Engaged Research Project: Upload letters of support from each collaborating investigator and/or community-based organization.

*If a significant element of the project will take place outside of the United States, upload letters of collaboration from the non-US based institutions and/or investigators.  Please contact the Providence/Boston CFAR for if you have any additional questions related to this. (CFAR@Lifespan.org).

Additional Considerations

You are encouraged to contact the Core Directors when designing your study. They can provide insight on how best to utilize the CFAR Core Services within your project. Please see description of CFAR Cores.

CFAR cannot fund clinical trials (research studies that involve human participants, participants are prospectively assigned to an intervention, the study is designed to evaluate the effect of the intervention on the participants, and the effect being evaluated is a health-related biomedical or behavioral outcome).  To determine if your study would be considered a clinical trial by these NIH standards, please utilize the NIH decision tool.  Any proposal submitted that is considered a clinical trial will be withdrawn prior to review.

Under the direction of the Developmental Core, each application will be evaluated by a team of reviewers with expertise related to the science addressed in the application. The Developmental Core will notify applicants of proposal disposition and written critiques of the proposed research will be provided to all applicants.

Scoring:

The CFAR developmental grant application scoring system uses a 9-point scale.  A score of 1 indicates an exceptionally strong application with essentially no weaknesses.  A score of 9 indicates an application with serious and substantive weaknesses with very few strengths.

Scores are provided in each of the following categories: 

• Significance: Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Will successful completion of the project provide the basis for future NIH funding? Does the proposal address the NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities?
• Investigator(s): Are the PIs, collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If early stage investigators or new investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? Has the PI previously received funding for a related project?  If the project is collaborative, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise? How will the award further the applicant’s career development?
• Innovation: Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?
• Approach: Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analysis well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility, and will particularly risky aspects be managed? If the project involves clinical research, are the plans for protection of human subjects from research risks included?

• Projects are awarded in the amount of $40,000 for 12 months. Funds may be used for the salary and fringe benefits of faculty and research personnel and for research-related supplies. No funds may be expended for mentor salary, equipment (including computers), domestic travel, or indirects (F&A). Funds for international travel associated with projects abroad may be requested with additional justification. In addition, travel to present findings may be requested.  Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis.
• For projects with an international component the investigator will be required to complete an NIH International Studies Checklist. International clearance by the NIH is required prior to initiation of the award.
• Clinical studies meeting the following criteria require additional NIH review prior to initiation of the award:
  • Studies involving new ways of using known drugs, treatments, or devices (allowed on a case-by-case basis)
  • Studies that are deemed above minimal risk by the Institutional IRB · Studies involving vulnerable populations (children, pregnant women, prisoners, individuals who are unable to provide informed consent, etc.)
  • Studies with populations with additional considerations for confidentiality and safety (transgender, sex workers, refugees, etc.)
  • Studies involving behavioral interventions (above minimal risk)
• All projects involving human subjects, or samples or data obtained from human subjects, are required to provide appropriate IRB approval documentation before initiation of the award.
• All projects involving the use of vertebrate animal subjects are required to provide IACUC approval documentation before initiation of the award.
• Any Serious Adverse Event (SAE) reported to your IRB office should also be communicated to the CFAR administrative office (CFAR@lifespan.org) within 48 hours.
• All projects will be required to submit progress reports to the CFAR administrative office every six months. The CFAR office will forward a reminder email prior to the due date. A report template will be provided at that time.
• Awardees may request a six-month no cost extension by completing the NCE request section located on the 12-month progress report.  If approved by the CFAR Developmental Core Directors, projects will be continued for an additional six-month period with no supplemental funds. It is expected that awardees complete their projects in a timely manner. 
• In the event other funds are received for your CFAR funded study and/or your level of effort needs to be reduced significantly, you are required to notify the CFAR administrative office (cfar@lifespan.org). Your funding status will be reviewed.
• Awards are non-transferable to institutions not part of the Providence/Boston CFAR network.

Outcome Expectations and Acknowledgment of support from the Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (NIH P30AI042853):

CFAR Developmental Awards are granted with the expectation that the funded research will potentially lead to abstracts, presentations, publications, and subsequent NIH funding.  In addition, awardees may be invited to present their CFAR funded research at CFAR sponsored events e.g. annual Research Forum. 

Awardees are required to acknowledge of the Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (NIH P30AI042853) in all presentations, publications and funding derived from Providence/Boston CFAR funding.  All dissemination activities and subsequent grant applications must be reported in the 6-month progress reports and/or the CFAR administrative office (CFAR@Lifespan.org).