Community Collaborative Awards

The Third Coast Center for AIDS Research (TC CFAR) Developmental Core solicits applications for Community Collaborative Awards that focus on the development of community and academic partnerships that can lead to high priority HIV research projects in the future. View previously funded Community Collaborative Awards.

The RFA from the most recent competition is provided below for reference.

Funding Opportunity Description

The TC CFAR is requesting applications for Community Collaborative Awards to start in January 2025. The center’s Community Collaborative Awards are intended to foster HIV research partnerships between community organization staff and TC CFAR faculty members. The applicants may be new potential collaborators who will use the award to explore and plan a research partnership. Established collaborators are also welcome to apply; in these cases, the purpose of the award is to enhance or expand their partnership. All successful applicants will aim to compete for collaborative grants from the NIH or TC CFAR Developmental Core awards for research (e.g., Pilot or NIH Supplement) in the next 1-2 years.

Several examples of the types of activities Community Collaborative Awards can support are below. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Developing strategic plans to address gaps in public health programs
  • Seeking funding opportunities and writing grant applications to extend the partnership
  • Enhancing research infrastructure at community organizations and universities
  • Convening and facilitating community research forums or focus groups
  • Meetings between the community and academic co-principal investigators

Conducting research with these funds is allowable but is not the purpose of this opportunity. The TC CFAR is committed to making these awards accessible to community partners and will work closely with applicants to streamline administrative and financial processes. Potential applicants are encouraged to learn more about previous community collaborative awardees’ projects through a workshop on the TC CFAR website. View the recording.

Funds Available and Project Period

  • Up to $10,000 in direct costs are allowed and smaller budgets may be awarded. Indirect costs will be determined at the time of award.
  • The project period is limited to one year, with the earliest possible start in January 2025. All regulatory approvals, if needed, must be in place before work may begin.

Eligibility

Projects will be led by a Co-Principal Investigator team that includes a TC CFAR faculty member and a TC CFAR affiliate member from a community organization engaged in HIV-related work. Established and early stage investigators are eligible. Refer to the center’s website for additional information on membership categories.

Project Relevance to HIV Research

The partners’ interest in future HIV research must address one or more of the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) priorities for 2021-25 listed below. For this competition, the Developmental Core especially encourages proposals that align with the foci of either of the two upcoming Scientific Working Groups (SWG): HIV Dissemination Science and Practice; and HIV geroscience (i.e., biological mechanisms of aging and comorbidities for Persons Living with HIV).

  1. Reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS, including the development of safe and effective HIV/AIDS vaccines and microbicides
  2. Develop the next generation of HIV therapies with improved safety and ease of use
  3. Discover a cure for HIV/AIDS
  4. Reduce HIV-associated comorbidities and coinfections
  5. Basic research, health disparities, behavioral and social sciences research, epidemiology, information dissemination, implementation sciences, and training that cut across the four priority areas above are also supported.

Timelines

  • RFA issued: August 15, 2024
  • Required letter of intent due: October 18, 2024
  • Pre-submission review meeting: TBD
  • Applications due: November 22, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. Central Time
  • Earliest start date: January 2025

View the RFA

Developmental Core

Jenny Trinitapoli, PhD, The University of Chicago
Developmental Core Director

Kathryn Macapagal, PhD, Northwestern University
Developmental Core Co-Director

Elena Martinelli, PhD, Northwestern University
Developmental Core Co-Director

Justin Schmandt, MPH, Northwestern University
CFAR Associate Director

To request information about Developmental Core awards and services, contact Justin Schmandt.