Developing a successful HIV/AIDS research program in the current competitive funding climate is challenging and may be greatly enhanced by the generation of supportive preliminary data, networking with faculty members that have complimentary research experience, and support from an established mentor. The CFAR Developmental Core provides resources and services to CFAR members to enhance career development in basic, clinical or social and behavioral sciences. Resources and services provided by the Developmental Core include funding for small grants to assist CFAR members in the generation of preliminary data to support grant proposals submitted to external funding agencies. The Developmental Core also participates in recruitment of faculty with HIV/AIDS research expertise not currently represented at Duke to enhance the HIV/AIDS research network. Finally, the Developmental Core provides mentoring resources and services, and it works to partner junior CFAR members with established CFAR members to serve as mentors able to provide guidance and support to enhance faculty development. 

Services Offered

Research Support is offered through several funding mechanisms.

Microgrant Awards
Pilot Awards
Administrative Supplement Awards

Faculty recruitment (professional network development)
The Developmental Core provides direct financial support to allow recruitment of talented faculty in targeted areas who complement and enhance the CFAR HIV/AIDS research agenda. The Developmental Core may partner with other Departments, Centers, or Institutes in the recruitment or retention of faculty members performing HIV/AIDS research. Please contact the Developmental Core to recommend a faculty recruit that may be suitable for a support from the CFAR Developmental Core.

Mentoring
The Developmental Core provides mentoring resources to ensure effective mentoring is available to support junior faculty members. Mentoring resources include tools to enhance a previously developed mentoring plan (mentor and mentee evaluation forms, mentoring plan templates, etc.) or assistance with developing a mentoring plan or selecting a mentor. Assistance with grant preparation and grant pre-review prior to submission to external funding agencies is also available.
Mentoring Resources

Grant Review process.
CFAR Pilot Grant applications are reviewed by an internal study section using the NIH review and scoring process. The study section review committee is composed of representatives from all Cores and other CFAR membership as expertise is needed. Since 2022 the committee has also included an external reviewer from another CFAR as part of inter-CFAR synergy. The review committee includes ESI as mentored reviewers, providing training in the grant review process for ESI as well as insight into how their own grant applications could be improved. Three reviewers are assigned to each application which is scored according to NIH review criteria, followed by an NIH-style table review. Microgrant proposals are reviewed by the Core and the CFAR Executive Committee, like NIH review of administrative supplements.

Early Career Grant Review Training
The Core staff will provide early career grant review training by inviting senior postdocs and junior faculty to participate in the CFAR Pilot Grant Review process and receive mentoring around the review of a grant application. This training provides insight into the process behind an NIH-style study section review.