Community Collaborative Awards

Funding Opportunity Description

Third Coast CFAR Community Collaborative Awards are intended to support the exploration or development of new partnerships between community organizations and CFAR faculty members. Proposals focus on the development of academic-community 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.

The types of activities that will build collaboration and can be supported by this award include the examples below.

  • Developing strategic plans to address gaps in public health programs
  • Seeking funding opportunities and writing grants to extend the partnership
  • Enhancing research infrastructure at community organizations and universities
  • Convening and facilitating community research forums or focus groups
  • Monthly 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 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 recent community collaborative awardees’ projects through a July 2021 workshop. View the recording and slides.   

Funds Available and Duration of Support

  • One-year award
  • Up to $10,000 per year
  • Annual submission cycle

Eligibility

Projects will be led by a Co-Principal Investigator team that includes a CFAR faculty member and a 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 or contact Justin Schmandt to determine eligibility.

Common expenses include

  • Salary support for community and academic Co-PIs, salary support for staff
  • Stipends for Community Advisory Board members
  • Consultants to provide SWOT analyses for the collaboration and its research goals
  • Technical assistant to develop MOUs and support compliance with applicable regulations
  • Travel and meeting expenses

Project Relevance to HIV Research

The partners’ interest in future HIV research must be related to the NIH Office of AIDS Research priorities for 2021-25. In the fall 2021 cycle, the CFAR gave special (but not exclusive) priority to research focused on comorbidities that occur with higher incidence in people living with HIV, including but not limited to: COVID-19, cardiovascular diseases, sleep disorders, and non-AIDS defining cancers.

Timeline

  • Required letter of intent due: April 4, 2022
  • Mandatory pre-submission review meeting: TBD
  • Applications due: May 10, 2022 by 11:59 p.m.
  • Earliest project start date: July 2022 (varies depending on regulatory and administrative components required)

View the RFA.

Developmental Core

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

Richard D’Aquila, MD, 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.