Developmental Core

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The Developmental Core coordinates and supports faculty development and new research initiatives through a variety of mechanisms. The Core solicits applications, arranges for proposal review by internal and external experts in the field, provides formal critiques, and internally funds meritorious and innovative pilot research projects ("Developmental Research Grants" or DRGs) proposed by CAIR investigators, CAIR Affiliates, and postdoctoral Fellows. In the past five years, 15 funded DRGs have provided critical preliminary study data that led to over $9 million in NIH funding across 6 grants. In addition, the Developmental Core supjDorts visits by potential collaborators and the conduct of time-sensitive studies to respond to emerging opportunities in the HIV research field. Using an application format and review process modeled after the NIMH Small Grant Program, funding for preliminary studies is prioritized to support new Investigators and postdoctoral Fellows seeking to initiate lines of innovative pilot research. The Developmental Core also supports early-stage investigators through mentoring by senior scientists who oversee the successful completion of awarded DRGs. Choice of mentor will be individually-tailored to the interests, strengths, and growth objectives of each new investigator or Fellow. Funding for developmental projects will be prioritized using targeted RFAs to address the high-impact priority areas that CAIR has established for the upcoming renewal period. These include the evaluation and testing of behavioral interventions needed to implement biomedical HIV prevention approaches, establishing the effectiveness and impact of multi-level HIV interventions, reducing health disparities, and establishing best practices for rapid dissemination of effective interventions. All DRGs are required to include a clear plan for how the study will lead to extramural grant applications, manuscripts, and conference presentations. The Developmental Core also coordinates CAIR's Scholar's Workshop series to provide for internal peer review of manuscripts, scientific conference presentations, and planned grant applications of Center investigators and Fellows. The Core's Emerging Topics seminar series will provide a monthly venue for postdoctoral Fellows and early-stage investigators to read and discuss the latest research in high-impact areas of the field to spur greater understanding and work in these areas at the Center. The Developmental Core plans and coordinates monthly in-person and remote video CAIR Conferences, which bring to the Center local, national, and international experts in the field of HIV/AIDS to give colloquium-style presentations on emerging topics. Presenters are chosen to provide multiple perspectives on the latest developments in the biomedical, multi-level, health disparities, and translational research fields. The Core will serve as a resource to our region by continuing to co-sponsor, together with the Intervention and Dissemination Core, Biannual Community HIV prevention Conferences usually attended by 200-300 community leaders, researchers and community health workers to discuss topics critical to advancing HIV prevention and treatment. New to this renewal period, CAIR's technology infrastructure will be strengthened by developing video teleconferencing capacity to increase our capacity to draw nationally and internationally-recognized experts to these sponsored events. Developmental Core activities are fully integrated Into CAIR Centerwide Initiative Development Process. The Developmental Core closely collaborates with other Cores to ensure successful coordination of DRGs, as well as conference, review, and mentorship activities. Developmental Core-sponsored events and resources are announced via written and electronic correspondence to CAIR investigators, staff and Affiliates, as well as HIV-related agencies and health departments throughout the region. Evaluation of Developmental Core activities occurs after specific Core-sponsored events (such as individual CAIR Conferences) or at regular intervals (such as the throughout DRG process) to continually improve the services provided by the Core and to reach potential new Core resource users.