The Johns Hopkins University CFAR is accepting applications for its sixth cohort of the NIH/NIAID-funded training opportunity in implementation science (IS) for early-stage investigators (ESIs) engaging in HIV-related research. In partnership with the Implementation Science Coordination Initiative (ISCI) at Northwestern University, the University of Alabama (UA), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), six slots will be available in the 2024-2025 cohort for joint training in sociostructural determinants of health (SDoH) and IS.

Since its inaugural class of 2019-2020, the Fellowship has engaged 128 fellows in the program. Implementation Science Fellows will be selected across the CFAR network, HBCUs, and US universities to participate in a mentorship program, including both didactic, online, and mentored small group training in IS methodology. The applied mentorship focuses on the development of a grant application which incorporates IS methodology and/or training and culminates in a two-day in person grant refinement and networking workshop. This workshop will take place in Baltimore on May 13-14, 2025, and attendance is a requirement of the Fellowship.

Fellows are expected to:

  • Complete a series of up to 22 pre-recorded modules.
  • Engage in live weekly discussion sessions throughout the Fellowship to discuss lectures, critical papers in the field, IS methods, and advance their grants. Note, the sessions are held on Thursdays from 3-4 pm EST from program inception October 17, 2024- May 2025, with breaks over the holiday seasons.
  • Develop a grant incorporating IS research.
  • Attend a two-day in person workshop with the mentorship team to present grant progress and receive feedback, which will take place in May 13-14, 2025.

The overarching goal of the Fellowship is to support ESIs focused on HIV-related research with training and mentoring opportunities in IS and to encourage and capacitate ESIs in the submission of successful IS-focused grants. Specifically, the objectives are:

  • Fill an implementation science training gap among emergent HIV-focused investigators.
  • Support ESIs in the development of an implementation science focused grant.
  • Foster cross-institutional networking and mentorship opportunities for ESIs within the field of HIV implementation science.

Joint Fellowship in SDoH and IS

The SDoH and IS Fellows will similarly apply to the HIV and IS Fellowship and will be expected to complete all of the requirements of the HIV and IS Fellowship. Additionally, SDoH and IS joint Fellows will attend a kick-off event with their community implementing partner at the UAB Institute for Human Rights (IHR) in Birmingham, Alabama, November 14-15, 2024, and attend the May 2024 culminating meeting one day early on May 12, 2025. Attendance at these events is a requirement of the joint fellowship.

Joint Fellows will receive a mentor from IHR and from the HIV and IS Fellowship. Applicants will be asked if they wish to be considered for the joint fellowship and if interested, will be required to complete additional questions about their underlying interest in SDoH, their experience with community partners, and whether they have a current community partner. Specific aims for their proposed grant should be relevant to both SDoH and IS. The proposed grant must also focus on domestic HIV research, and, if a community partner is included, the partner must be located in the US. Faculty at IHR associated with the SDoH and IS Fellowship include Tina Kempin Reuter, PhD (UAB) and Dione King, PhD (UA) as well as IHR faculty associates who research SDoH, equity, community-engaged research, and policy.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, August 30, 11:59 pm EDT, here.

Please see the flyer for additional information about the Fellowship. If you have any questions, please contact Anna Katomski at akatoms1@jhmi.edu.