Development Core

DEVELOPMENT CORE Abstract The Development Core stimulates and supports new HIV science and scientists through a variety of essential services that promote and facilitate research development and research careers. The Pilot Project Program provides small grants to CIRA affiliates; the Peer Review Program provides expert guidance and feedback on grants, manuscripts, and presentations for CIRA affiliates; and the Visiting Fellow program promotes international collaborations in high impact areas. The Core also supports several HIV training programs for junior scientists that are affiliated with CIRA and located in our Center(e.g., T32, R25, D43). Through its role with CIRA-affiliated training programs, the Core facilitates and expands access to resources that are essential to the successful conduct of HIV research, including community-based and community-engaged research and fosters a positive, enriching environment for aspiring HIV researchers and particularly those underrepresented in the field and/or those seeking to focus on HIV disparities in their research, in areas and with populations most impacted by HIV. CIRA’s Mentored Network of HIV Scholars provides additional support and structure for early-career CIRA affiliates to help them build their professional network, develop a robust professional support system, and help traverse challenging academic and funding systems. The Development Core will integrate health equity approaches (e.g., implementation science, community-engaged research, anti-racist mentorship) within all Development Core activities to help ensure that CIRA-affiliated research contributes to equitable advances in HIV prevention. Through the proposed activities, the Development Core will make a significant and unique contribution to CIRA’s mission of supporting research leading to sustainable impact on equity-enhancing practice and policy. Through expanded services such as the Mentored HIV Scholars Network, the Core will also ensure that CIRA’s 25 years of deep impact on supporting innovative research and passionate trainees continues and spreads across communities most in need of an equitable approach to HIV research and training.