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Joe Watabe, MS
CFAR Developmental Core Manager
Spring 2026 funding cycle: Applications available until Monday, March 2nd, 2pm PT.
- Call opens: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026 (2:00 pm PST)
- Funding results: Available before end of June 2026
Amount available: $50,000 in direct costs for 1 year
Apply through the UCSF Resource Allocation Program (RAP) portal
The CFAR Mentored Scientist Award (our primary award program) is a mentoring and training grant targeted toward early stage (either at a senior stage of clinical or postdoctoral training or junior faculty) investigators at UCSF or affiliated partner institutes in the conduct of an HIV research project. These awards are designed to acquire preliminary data and research skills to prepare investigators for a future grant effort. Applicants for this award must indicate a faculty research mentor(s) who will commit to guiding the applicant throughout the duration of the proposed project.
Designation of Mentor
All Mentored award applications from individuals at the Assistant Professor level or below require an HIV research mentor. Mentors can, but are not required to, have supervisory authority over the applicant. CFAR requires your research mentor’s support to advise and guide the research portion of your application before submitting it to RAP.
Of high interest to CFAR are investigations ranging from basic pathogenesis to clinical outcomes in the research areas of HIV/aging and inflammation, latency, cure, vaccines, co-infections, HIV in women, implementation science, and research related to HIV-infected and HIV-impacted Bay Area populations. Projects must be within NIH’s HIV/AIDS research high or medium priority areas. Projects in closely related areas (e.g. TB, HCV, drug use, etc.) must be clearly linked to HIV in order to be eligible for CFAR funding.
The award amount is $50,000 in direct costs for one year.
CFAR requests that applicants review the NIAID HIV Language Guide as they prepare their proposals so that they can follow best practices on language for communicating respectfully about HIV and related topics, including the use of person-first, non-stigmatizing language. Please contact us if you have any questions about this request.
For more detailed information about this RFA, please see the RAP Portal.
To see examples of previously funded projects, see the list below.
Mentored Science Awardees
139 Awards
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Modeling the effect of chronic HIV infection and inflammation on intestinal epithelial regeneration using organoid models
Modeling the effect of chronic HIV infection and inflammation on intestinal epithelial regeneration using organoid models
Abstract
Despite the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLWH) continue to experience chronic immune activation and remain at increased risk for non-AIDS-related comorbidities. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a central site of HIV pathogenesis, serving as an early target of viral replication and CD4+ T-cell depletion and persisting as a major viral reservoir during long-term ART.
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Modeling the effect of chronic HIV infection and inflammation on intestinal epithelial regeneration using organoid models
Modeling the effect of chronic HIV infection and inflammation on intestinal epithelial regeneration using organoid models
Abstract
Despite the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLWH) continue to experience chronic immune activation and remain at increased risk for non-AIDS-related comorbidities. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a central site of HIV pathogenesis, serving as an early target of viral replication and CD4+ T-cell depletion and persisting as a major viral reservoir during long-term ART.
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Gut Microbial Determinants of Immune Activation and Liver Disease in Virologically Suppressed HIV
Gut Microbial Determinants of Immune Activation and Liver Disease in Virologically Suppressed HIV
Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) experience excess liver fibrosis even in the absence of viral hepatitis or heavy alcohol use. Emerging evidence implicates gut barrier dysfunction and microbial translocation as central drivers of chronic immune activation and downstream hepatic injury. However, the specific gut microbial features associated with circulating markers of microbial translocation and liver fibrosis in treated PWH remain poorly defined. This study will leverage well-characterized data from the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) including16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples .
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Gut Microbial Determinants of Immune Activation and Liver Disease in Virologically Suppressed HIV
Gut Microbial Determinants of Immune Activation and Liver Disease in Virologically Suppressed HIV
Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) experience excess liver fibrosis even in the absence of viral hepatitis or heavy alcohol use. Emerging evidence implicates gut barrier dysfunction and microbial translocation as central drivers of chronic immune activation and downstream hepatic injury. However, the specific gut microbial features associated with circulating markers of microbial translocation and liver fibrosis in treated PWH remain poorly defined. This study will leverage well-characterized data from the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) including16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples .
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Quantifying Cumulative Drug Concentrations in Hair among Women Living with HIV Who Use Drugs in the San Francisco Bay Area
Quantifying Cumulative Drug Concentrations in Hair among Women Living with HIV Who Use Drugs in the San Francisco Bay Area
Abstract
Despite advances in HIV treatment and intervention, persistent differences in HIV treatment and care outcomes remain among women living with HIV who use drugs (WWH-WUD) in the United States. Substance use, shaped by and reinforcing psychosocial factors—including stress, depression, trauma, and stigma—undermines antiretroviral adherence, care engagement, and viral suppression.
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Quantifying Cumulative Drug Concentrations in Hair among Women Living with HIV Who Use Drugs in the San Francisco Bay Area
Quantifying Cumulative Drug Concentrations in Hair among Women Living with HIV Who Use Drugs in the San Francisco Bay Area
Abstract
Despite advances in HIV treatment and intervention, persistent differences in HIV treatment and care outcomes remain among women living with HIV who use drugs (WWH-WUD) in the United States. Substance use, shaped by and reinforcing psychosocial factors—including stress, depression, trauma, and stigma—undermines antiretroviral adherence, care engagement, and viral suppression.
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Treating Menopause Matters: Investigating music therapy as a tool using implementation science methods for menopause symptom management among women living with HIV in San Francisco
Treating Menopause Matters: Investigating music therapy as a tool using implementation science methods for menopause symptom management among women living with HIV in San Francisco
Abstract
Women living with HIV (WWH) experience more menopausal symptoms than women without HIV and are more likely to experience differences that make these symptoms difficult to manage. Among WWH, Black women are especially affected by menopausal symptoms. However, Black WWH are less likely than non-Black WWH to use effective pharmacological treatments to reduce symptom severity. Music therapy has potential to help Black WWH manage menopausal symptoms without the use of pharmaceuticals, but has not been tested in this population.
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Treating Menopause Matters: Investigating music therapy as a tool using implementation science methods for menopause symptom management among women living with HIV in San Francisco
Treating Menopause Matters: Investigating music therapy as a tool using implementation science methods for menopause symptom management among women living with HIV in San Francisco
Abstract
Women living with HIV (WWH) experience more menopausal symptoms than women without HIV and are more likely to experience differences that make these symptoms difficult to manage. Among WWH, Black women are especially affected by menopausal symptoms. However, Black WWH are less likely than non-Black WWH to use effective pharmacological treatments to reduce symptom severity. Music therapy has potential to help Black WWH manage menopausal symptoms without the use of pharmaceuticals, but has not been tested in this population.
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HIV and Female Genital Fistula: Co-morbidity and Integrated Care Opportunities in East Africa
HIV and Female Genital Fistula: Co-morbidity and Integrated Care Opportunities in East Africa
Abstract
Despite progress toward the UNAIDS targets, substantial gaps persist in the HIV care cascade, especially for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), who experience high HIV prevalence. Further, our parent data in Uganda demonstrates a higher baseline HIV prevalence (10.7%) among our larger fistula study cohort as compared to the national average (7.2%). Women face various factors that increase their risk of both HIV and maternal morbidities.
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HIV and Female Genital Fistula: Co-morbidity and Integrated Care Opportunities in East Africa
HIV and Female Genital Fistula: Co-morbidity and Integrated Care Opportunities in East Africa
Abstract
Despite progress toward the UNAIDS targets, substantial gaps persist in the HIV care cascade, especially for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), who experience high HIV prevalence. Further, our parent data in Uganda demonstrates a higher baseline HIV prevalence (10.7%) among our larger fistula study cohort as compared to the national average (7.2%). Women face various factors that increase their risk of both HIV and maternal morbidities.