ERC Einstein Rockefeller CUNY Center for AIDS Research

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PROJECT SUMMARY ERC-CFAR: DEVELOPMENTAL CORE The Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY CFAR (ERC-CFAR) Developmental Core will strive to provide wide-ranging support to nurture and advance the HIV/AIDS research careers of tomorrow’s HIV/AIDS researchers. Our coordinated strategy for this renewal application will be implemented via three specific aims that are centered around early stage investigators (ESIs). In Aim 1, we will employ a multi-faceted mentoring process, which combines individually tailored mentoring plans developed for each ESI and multiple forums to enable ESIs to present their HIV/AIDS research progress to the ERC-CFAR community to garner feedback and develop new collaborations. In Aim 2, we will provide ESIs with opportunities to compete in the peer-reviewed ERC-CFAR catalytic pilot grants and microgrants programs or NIH CFAR administrative supplements opportunities. Aim 3 includes dual goals of enhancing trans- and intra-institutional collaborations and scientific communication. Collaborations will be increased by: (i) recruiting non-AIDS researchers to collaborate with CFAR investigators and by removing obstacles to succeed – both by providing microgrants up to $10K and access to HIV cohorts; (ii) organizing bi-annual virtual K-clubs that are attended by ESIs from Einstein, Rockefeller and CUNY and that include both presentations by successful ESIs and by the ERC-CFAR Developmental and Operational Core leaders about all available CFAR services that can assist ESIs in their research projects and planned grant submissions; and (iii) organizing bi-annual New York City-wide research symposia attended by all NYC HIV/AIDS researchers where individuals from the different major NYC institutions will be selected to present their cutting edge research. We will enhance scientific communication among the investigators of ERC-CFAR via (i) bi-weekly Trans-institutional ERC-CFAR virtual research seminars and biweekly Clinical AIDS Center/ERC-CFAR Grand Rounds; (ii) ERC-CFAR Invited Speaker Seminars; (iii) Monthly Virus Hub meetings consisting of 13 Einstein virologists, which includes 9 faculty members that are focused on research on HIV, HSV or HCV. This provides a special one-stop-shop for all ERC-CFAR ESIs to learn about the latest virological research going on at Einstein. The impressive impact of these highly coordinated and proactive mentoring services by the ERC-CFAR Developmental Core over the past 4 years of funding is demonstrated by accomplishments of our mentored ESIs that include $20.5 million of external grants and 250 publications. The high impact of the ERC-CFAR Developmental Core’s catalytic pilot grant program, which has awarded 14 pilot grants to ESIs so far (0.46 million) from all three participant institutions, is reflected in the fact that they have already garnered up to ~$8.1 million in NIH grants (a return on investment of 17.6) and that they have published over 70 papers.