UMASS CFAR Developmental Grants RFP

The UMass Chan CFAR is not accepting Developmental Grant Proposals at this time.  Future opportunities for applications will be posted on this website. 

The intent of the University of Massachusetts Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) is to promote and strengthen AIDS-related research activities at this institution, particularly in high priority research areas which will be identified in future RFP's.  The UMASS CFAR will invite proposals from faculty investigators at the rank of Assistant Professor or above.  Proposals must address important AIDS-related research issues, which may be referenced in the Annual Strategy of the NIH Office of AIDS Research; and should strengthen the missions of the UMASS CFAR.  

Categories of Support

NEW INVESTIGATOR SUPPORT - Proposals from junior investigators who require funds to develop meritorious and independent lines of investigation will be considered.  Proposals from established investigators who wish to apply their expertise to pursue an HIV/AIDS related research project but who do not have prior experience in HIV/AIDS research will also be considered. 
 
COLLABORATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY AND TRANSLATIONAL PROJECT SUPPORT - We invite applications that apply multidisciplinary expertise of two or more investigators to AIDS-related research problems.  The intent is to encourage translational research involving basic and clinical investigators and to encourage investigators in other fields to apply their expertise to AIDS-related research.  Proposals involving investigators at UMASS and at neighboring institutions are also encouraged.

HIGH-RISK, HIGH-REWARD PROJECT SUPPORT - Truly innovative or new direction research in topics relevant to HIV/AIDS will be supported.

EMERGING RESEARCH SUPPORT – We invite proposals that address emerging scientific issues which are of particular importance in AIDS research. CFAR funding for such proposals will help investigators obtain preliminary data in order to pursue extramural research support.  
 

Proposal Format 

COVER PAGE – Include your name, your title, proposal type (listed above) for which you are applying, title of project, department, telephone, administrative contact, direct costs requested, human or animal docket numbers if applicable. Indirect costs are not included in the award.
ABSTRACT – One paragraph summary of the most important features of the application.
INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE – Summarize the focus of the application, under which of the afore-mentioned four objectives funds are being requested, and how completion of the major objectives would impact on competitiveness of the research for external funding.
SPECIFIC AIMS – Briefly outline realistic list of goals that can be completed within the allocated timeframe.
PRELIMINARY STUDIES – Summarize only that data which is directly relevant to the proposal.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN – Identify briefly techniques that will be employed.  In particular, identify resources on facilities, aspects of the project that will require access to CFAR core services and additionally, AIDS-related research reagents that can be provided by the CFAR.  Identify approval status of any experiments which involve the use of pathogenic organisms, radioactivity, recombinant DNA and animals. If the proposed research involves human and/or vertebrate animal subjects, include a human subjects and/or vertebrate animals section following the NIH Guidelines.  This section does not have to fit into the page limit.
BUDGET – Use PHS 398 Initial Budget Period (form page 4) page. Other documents do not have a specific format page requirement. Include a budget justification.
APPENDICES – Include NIH Biosketch of key personnel engaged in study, together with one pertinent manuscript or publication that has a direct bearing on the proposed study.
LENGTH OF APPLICATION – Emphasis is on brevity. Applications should be not more than 4 single-spaced pages (exclusive of budget, human and/or vertebrate animals sections and appendices) and should adhere to an abbreviated NIH grant application format.

Proposals will be reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Board based on the following criteria:

• SCIENTIFIC MERIT - Proposals will be judged on impact of the research, feasibility of the studies, available resources and expertise of the investigators.
• RESPONSIVENESS OF THE APPLICATION - High priority will be given to those applications that address one of the three objectives listed above.
• RELEVANCE TO AIDS RESEARCH - Proposals must be relevant to AIDS research.
• WORKING GROUP PRIORITIES - Proposals that address CFAR Working Group priorities will be given preference.  Current Working Group priorities will be released with each RFP.

Proposals must be PDF documents.  Grantees will receive awards of $15,000 - $40,000 per year.  Approximate award amounts by Category and Instructions for submission will be issued when this RFP is re-opened.

For more information contact:
 
Developmental Core Leaders can be contacted prior to submission of a proposal in order to gauge the AIDS relatedness of the proposed study and for help with proposal writing and application development.
Paul Clapham, Ph.D., phone: 508-856-6281
Stuart Levitz, Ph.D., phone: 508-856-1525.