Image
Joe Watabe, MS
CFAR Developmental Core Manager
Fall 2025 funding cycle: Applications available until Monday, September 29th, 2pm PT.
- Call opens: Thursday, August 28, 2025
- Deadline: Monday, September 29, 2025 (2:00 pm PST)
- Funding results: Available before end of December 2025
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
133 Awards
-
Social networks and their role in early initiation of antenatal care by HIV serostatus in Uganda
Social networks and their role in early initiation of antenatal care by HIV serostatus in Uganda
Abstract
Maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity are persistently high in Uganda where there is also a generalized HIV epidemic. Ensuring early and appropriate antenatal care (ANC) allows for screening, treatment, and prevention of complications, while offering education and support to ensure healthy pregnancies and maternal and fetal outcomes. Few Ugandan women initiate antenatal care in the first trimester, as recommended. Timing of antenatal care initiation may vary by serostatus but there is little research on this.
-
Social networks and their role in early initiation of antenatal care by HIV serostatus in Uganda
Social networks and their role in early initiation of antenatal care by HIV serostatus in Uganda
Abstract
Maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity are persistently high in Uganda where there is also a generalized HIV epidemic. Ensuring early and appropriate antenatal care (ANC) allows for screening, treatment, and prevention of complications, while offering education and support to ensure healthy pregnancies and maternal and fetal outcomes. Few Ugandan women initiate antenatal care in the first trimester, as recommended. Timing of antenatal care initiation may vary by serostatus but there is little research on this.
-
Engagement in HIV prevention and preferences for long-acting injectable cabotegravir delivery in fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Kenya
Engagement in HIV prevention and preferences for long-acting injectable cabotegravir delivery in fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Kenya
Abstract
Men in occupations that require high mobility, such as fishing, are particularly vulnerable to lapses in HIV prevention engagement. Kenya has been a leader in scaling up biomedical HIV prevention, including oral PrEP. However, in preliminary data from the Owete study, we found that uptake of HIV prevention, including daily oral PrEP, is low (3.8%) despite availability in government health facilities at no cost.
-
Engagement in HIV prevention and preferences for long-acting injectable cabotegravir delivery in fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Kenya
Engagement in HIV prevention and preferences for long-acting injectable cabotegravir delivery in fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Kenya
Abstract
Men in occupations that require high mobility, such as fishing, are particularly vulnerable to lapses in HIV prevention engagement. Kenya has been a leader in scaling up biomedical HIV prevention, including oral PrEP. However, in preliminary data from the Owete study, we found that uptake of HIV prevention, including daily oral PrEP, is low (3.8%) despite availability in government health facilities at no cost.
-
Deep analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific serological and T cell responses in people living with HIV
Deep analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific serological and T cell responses in people living with HIV
Abstract
Immunocompromised individuals, including people living with HIV (PLWH), are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 as compared to immunocompetent individuals. It remains unclear whether vaccines and previous infection stimulate equivalent immune defenses in PLWH, although HIV+ individuals have a higher rate of breakthrough infection than HIV- individuals post-vaccination. Recent studies have demonstrated that the quality and perhaps quantity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies elicited by mRNA vaccines are diminished in ART-suppressed people living with HIV as compared to uninfected individuals.
-
Deep analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific serological and T cell responses in people living with HIV
Deep analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific serological and T cell responses in people living with HIV
Abstract
Immunocompromised individuals, including people living with HIV (PLWH), are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 as compared to immunocompetent individuals. It remains unclear whether vaccines and previous infection stimulate equivalent immune defenses in PLWH, although HIV+ individuals have a higher rate of breakthrough infection than HIV- individuals post-vaccination. Recent studies have demonstrated that the quality and perhaps quantity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies elicited by mRNA vaccines are diminished in ART-suppressed people living with HIV as compared to uninfected individuals.
-
Hyperlipidemia and Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Among Persons Living with HIV in East Africa
Hyperlipidemia and Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Among Persons Living with HIV in East Africa
Abstract
Persons living with HIV (PLWH) are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this excess risk persists despite viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART). In the past 20 years, the global burden of CVD in PLWH has tripled, accounting for significant disease burden. Dyslipidemia is one mechanism by which HIV infection is associated with atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD), partly due to side effects of ART.
-
Hyperlipidemia and Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Among Persons Living with HIV in East Africa
Hyperlipidemia and Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Among Persons Living with HIV in East Africa
Abstract
Persons living with HIV (PLWH) are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this excess risk persists despite viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART). In the past 20 years, the global burden of CVD in PLWH has tripled, accounting for significant disease burden. Dyslipidemia is one mechanism by which HIV infection is associated with atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD), partly due to side effects of ART.
-
Modulating Interleukin-2-Inducible T-cell Kinase (ITK) to Target HIV Persistence
Modulating Interleukin-2-Inducible T-cell Kinase (ITK) to Target HIV Persistence
Abstract
Inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) belongs to the Tec family of tyrosine kinases, and is expressed in mast cells and T lymphocytes. ITK functions downstream of the T-cell receptor (TCR) and regulates T-cell development, activation and differentiation. The role of ITK signaling in HIV persistence is yet unknown. In this proposal we aim to determine the impact of ITK on?HIV latency reversal and infected cell proliferation in primary CD4+?T cells and cell lines. In addition, we propose to investigate mechanisms regulating establishment of latency by regulating activation status of CD4+T cells.
-
Modulating Interleukin-2-Inducible T-cell Kinase (ITK) to Target HIV Persistence
Modulating Interleukin-2-Inducible T-cell Kinase (ITK) to Target HIV Persistence
Abstract
Inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) belongs to the Tec family of tyrosine kinases, and is expressed in mast cells and T lymphocytes. ITK functions downstream of the T-cell receptor (TCR) and regulates T-cell development, activation and differentiation. The role of ITK signaling in HIV persistence is yet unknown. In this proposal we aim to determine the impact of ITK on?HIV latency reversal and infected cell proliferation in primary CD4+?T cells and cell lines. In addition, we propose to investigate mechanisms regulating establishment of latency by regulating activation status of CD4+T cells.