JHU Center for the Advancement of HIV Neurotherapeutics (JHU CAHN) - Development Core

PROJECT SUMMARY – DEVELOPMENTAL CORE The JHU NIMH Center Developmental Core was established to promote innovative, high-risk, high-impact NeuroHIV research through the use of Pilot Project Grants. Through the lifecycle of the Developmental Core, 46 pilot projects have funded this type of research. Awardees subsequently published 137 articles directly linked to their pilot funding and obtained over $18 million dollars in subsequent follow-up awards. To align with the Center’s priorities of developing therapeutics for the CNS complications in PWH and to enhance workforce development, we propose the implementation of three new initiatives: 1) establish an online pilot grant dashboard to broaden reviewer participation and career development monitoring; 2) initiate a microgrant funding program to fund cutting-edge technological advances and latest developments in the NeuroHIV field; and 3) initiate a community science education program and a community engagement speaker series to foster the development of scientists who can talk about the significance of their research in a manner that educates, engages, and offers opportunity for participation from members in our HIV community. While most recent data shows that progress is being made in providing support to early stage and new investigators as they advance in their careers to independent investigators, there continues to be a need for directed mitigation strategies for women and underrepresented minority trainees. With these new initiatives as well as close collaboration with the Clinical Core, we expect to over the next five years to strengthen the pilot grant administration process, enhance one- to-one mentoring and opportunities for collaboration between NIMH Centers on novel drug development targeting CNS complication in virally suppressed people with HIV.