CFAR Supplemental Funds Due to COVID-19

Funding Opportunity Description

The Third Coast Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic created unanticipated challenges for Developmental Core awardees. As part of the CFAR’s commitment to supporting investigators pursuing HIV research grants from the NIH, the Developmental Core solicited applications for a one-time competition to add funds to CFAR awards that were adversely impacted by COVID-19. Some examples of adverse impacts were delayed or unavailable supplies; longer than usual processing time for agreements/regulatory approvals; interruptions to data or specimen collection; lack of access to facilities or technologies; and limited time for HIV research or work overall.

As with all CFAR-supported projects, the funds must support research that aligns with NIH priorities for HIV research
(NOT-OD-20-018). The work proposed in the supplement request must lead to a new application to the NIH by January 2024.

View the awardees who were announced in March 2023.

Funds Available and Duration of Support 

• Up to $20,000 to $30,000 in direct costs. Smaller budgets may be awarded.
• The Developmental Core plans to fund 2-3 awards.
• Projects must be completed by December 31, 2023. Proposals that explain how supplemental funds will accelerate research and offset delays experienced between 2020-2022 are especially welcome.
• Proposals must describe how the additional funds are essential to submission of a new NIH grant by January 2024. Projects ready to submit an NIH application sooner may be prioritized.

Eligibility

• Third Coast CFAR Developmental Core awards that are, or were, active at any point between May 2020 and December 2022:
  • Pilot Awards
  • NIH CFAR Supplements (research project topics only)
  • NIH EHE Supplements
  • Basic Science Collaborative Innovation Awards
  • EHE SWG Planning Awards
  • Community Collaborative Awards
• Awardees who are now R01-funded for HIV research are eligible. Please make a compelling case that the supplemental funding is essential to new proposals to NIH, to be submitted by January 31, 2024.
• Projects that require IRB or IACUC oversight must have approval at the time of submission.

Timeline and Review

• Applicants must express their intention to apply by emailing Justin Schmandt to address the following items:
  • Confirm eligibility
  • Determine the remaining balance of the original award
  • Identify ways to streamline administrative and contractual processes so that work can be completed by the end of December 2023.
  • Confirm that the planned subsequent NIH proposal is for an HIV research grant.
• Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on January 17, 2023 and will be competitively reviewed on an expedited basis.
• Follow up questions or requests to revise budgets will be shared with applicants by February 10, 2023.
• If applicable, departments/institutions must be willing to pre-spend in support of these awards. Wait times for chart strings at Northwestern University or subcontracts to the University of Chicago or other institutions are not allowable reasons for delays in the work proposed in the supplemental application.

Download the application instructions and form.

Contact Justin Schmandt with questions about this opportunity.