The objective of the CFAR/ARI HIV Research Boost Award mechanism is to provide small grants with a rapid turnaround to support individuals and groups within the UCSF (and affiliates) HIV research community. This program provides reimbursement of direct purchases of $50-$5,000 per approved request.
Awards made to individuals are intended to “boost” or enhance HIV research productivity by providing timely crucial resources that cannot easily obtained through other funding mechanisms.
Funds are intended to be used to:
- Enable a new HIV research grant application that is expected to be submitted within the next 12 months
- Gather data needed for an HIV research grant application that is being revised for resubmission
- Obtain supplemental data needed for a publication that is being revised for resubmission
- Reduce obstacles encountered during a currently funded research project.
- Provide opportunities for training that would otherwise be unavailable.
Awards made to groups are intended to provide support for activities that benefit a segment of the local HIV research community. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Support for an HIV-research related conference, symposium, seminar, training, workshop, exhibit or other event of interest
- Funds for specialized shared equipment, software, or other technology. This includes requests for matching funds from UCSF necessary for institutional grant applications.
Other ideas may be eligible. Please email lauren.sterling@ucsf.edu if you have a question about whether your idea could be funded.
Allowable Expenses
Funds may be used for the following purposes:
- Salary/benefits (e.g. employee for short-term period to assist in data collection or analysis)
- Consultant costs
- Equipment (computers will only be considered under approved circumstances, must be necessary for the completion of the work, and costs should be shared across other benefitting projects)
- Supplies (e.g., antibodies, RNA-Seq kits, cell culture supplies) or software (e.g., Dedoose)
- Study participant incentives or other items/services necessary for recruitment or retention
- Funds to support specimen acquisition
- Core Services (including, but not limited to CFAR cores, e.g., CTSI/other biostatistical support, sequencing costs, bioinformatics support)
- Event expenses (food allowable, but not including alcohol)
- Travel support, if for one of the following purposes
- To meet with study personnel/collaborators at the study site
- To obtain necessary training or technical assistance
- To present the results of a previously funded CFAR or ARI/Gilead RAP or Strategic Support award
- Training course or workshop fees
- Poster Printing
- International IRB fees
Applicant Eligibility
Individual Awards: Any investigator working in HIV research across UCSF and its affiliates. Priority will be given to investigators who meet the NIH definition of Early Stage Investigator or who are from backgrounds underrepresented in HIV research.
Group awards: Any group of individuals working in HIV research in the UCSF (or affiliate) HIV research community. One individual should take the lead in submitting the application.
Application Submission Process
Applications can be submitted below, and will include:
- Completed webform with a description of the request and a budget and justification
- Applicant’s NIH Biosketch
- If submitting for a new grant application, a link to the RFA/PAR
- If submitting for a revise and resubmit on a grant or paper, a copy of the reviewers comments/summary statement.
- If submitting a group application, a list of potential beneficiaries.
Additional Requirements
- All applications involving human or animal subjects must have IRB approval before funds will be released.
- Award recipients and a description of their awards may be posted on the UCSF-Bay Area CFAR website.
- Award recipients must provide a brief report on the outcome of the funding.
- Funds must be spent within 6 months of award, except in the case of requests for matching funds from UCSF necessary for institutional grant equipment applications or other pre-approved exceptions.
- Boost Award funding must be acknowledged in any reports, abstracts or publications supported as follows: This research was supported by a CFAR/ARI HIV Research Boost Award. The program is jointly supported by the UCSF-Bay Area Center for AIDS Research (NIH grant P30 AI027763) and the UCSF AIDS Research Institute.
Deadlines
Applications are due by 5:00pm the *First* Wednesday of each month for all months applications are received. AY2024-2025 applications were accepted 8/7/24 and 11/6/24, and funds for the year have now been expended. We anticipate holding our next competition either 5/7/25 or 6/4/25 for a July 1 start date. Submissions will be reviewed by an internal committee comprised of CFAR/ARI leaders and a decision made within 3-4 weeks.
