FY2021 CFAR Administrative Supplements

Guidelines for Concept Proposals

Purpose

The UCSF-Gladstone Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) announces the availability of administrative supplement funding from the NIH CFAR Program for projects related to the following areas of scientific interest:

1. Uptake and retention for long-acting HIV prevention and treatment
2. Interactions and effects of the microbiome and metabolome on comorbidities and co-infections in people with HIV
3. Disparities in Treatment and Outcomes in People with HIV with multiple comorbidities and co-infections
4. Impact of HIV infection and HIV-associated comorbidities, co-infections and complications on hemophiliacs and the hematopoietic system
5. Intersectional Stigma and its Effect on HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care
6. Increasing the Integration of Substance Abuse Services and HIV Prevention and Care (domestic projects only)
7. Understanding HIV Reservoir Establishment, Maintenance, Control, and Clearance
8. Natural History of Reservoir Establishment in Infants

More information on the above scientific areas can be found in the full announcement.  Please note the NIH Institute and Center contacts for each area of scientific interest for additional context.

Eligibility

Project leaders for all scientific areas of interest are restricted to:

• Early career investigators who have never received an R01-equivalent, P-series or U-series research grants
• Established investigators in non-HIV fields who have never received an NIH research award for HIV/AIDS studies (except for topics 2 and 3)
• Post-doctoral fellows are eligible to apply if they will assume a faculty position by the time the supplement project and funding begins

Studies that are a continuation of previously funded CFAR supplements or funded NIH applications that do not address new specific aims are not eligible for funding under this announcement. Additionally, a proposed supplement application that is linked to a proposed application not yet funded is not eligible for funding under this announcement.

Studies involving clinical trials are not allowed (see definition). Contact Lauren Sterling to check allowability.

Funding

Supplement awards are for up to one year with maximum funding per application of up to $150,000 Direct Costs. Awards will be made as supplements to the CFAR grant.

Each CFAR is limited to submitting a maximum of four applications across all categories; therefore we are conducting an internal competition to determine which applications will go forward for submission to the NIH.

Concept Proposal Application Process

To apply for this opportunity, please do the following:

1. If at all possible, please complete the very brief Intent to Submit form by 9 a.m. Thursday, February 25, 2021. This form is not required and is non-binding, but it will help us assist in identifying appropriate and non-conflicted concept sheet reviewers.
2. PLEASE SUBMIT CONCEPT PROPOSALS ELECTRONICALLY by filling out the Concept Proposal Submission webform and attaching ONE FILE (MS Word or Adobe PDF) that includes the following three components by 12:00 p.m. Monday, March 1, 2021:
   1. Cover letter with title of proposed project (maximum of 81 characters), name and contact information of Project Director, and name(s) and contact information of Mentor(s), if applicable. Please also address the following:
      1. Identify your selected Scientific Area of Interest from the eight areas listed above.
      2. Please specify any locations outside of UCSF, Gladstone, Vitalant, SFDPH, or SFVAMC, including the name of the institution(s) and their location.
      3. Include a table listing the key personnel to participate in the proposed project, including the following information: Names, degrees, institutional affiliations, and roles in project.
      4. Include a brief description of how you have addressed the purpose of this opportunity and the eligibility requirements described in the announcement.
   2. Description of proposal (limit one page, Arial 11 font or equivalent) briefly addressing the following:
      1. Background and rationale for the proposal
      2. Activities to be undertaken
      3. Expected outcome of these activities (value-added)
      4. Expected follow-up plan upon completion of the project
      5. A description of how the supplement and follow-up plan are expected to achieve this outcome.
         • Most importantly, clearly indicate how the proposed research activities are expected to lead to the development of stated goals.
         • References cited do not count towards the one page limit.
         • ​Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the review criteria listed in the full announcement.
   3. NIH-formatted Biosketch of Project Director. Please make sure to include past and current Research Support so that we can confirm Project Director eligibility.

Please note that the webform will not request budgetary details, but we ask that investigators be sure that the aims of their proposals can be achieved with the given budget. Refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement regarding allowable and unallowable costs. Please note that subcontract indirect costs are allowable and do not count towards the direct cost limit. Contact Lauren Sterling (cc: Frank Fernandez) if you have any budgetary questions.

After selection of the finalists (notified no later than March 10), budget and other business elements are due are due by 9a Friday, April 9, and research plan must be final by 9a Wednesday, April 14.​