CAMPUS NOTICE
University of California, San Diego
December 6, 2006
ALL AT UCSD
| SUBJECT: | CFAR New International Program |
The UCSD Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) includes investigators from UCSD, the Salk Institute, the Scripps Research Institute, and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology. Together we are working on multiple aspects of HIV/AIDS research. We presently have dedicated core programs in virology, molecular biology, flow cytometry, genetics, proteomics and protein expression, and clinical investigation. We also have a developmental core to encourage new investigators. For information about the overall goals and operations of the CFAR, please see our Web site (http://cfar.ucsd.edu).
We are pleased to announce the formation of a new International Program, intended to facilitate collaborations between CFAR-affiliated investigators and international colleagues working in resource-limited settings. The CFAR International Program is co-directed by Robert T. Schooley, MD, Professor and Chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD, Professor and Harold Simon Endowed Chair, and Chief, Division of International Health and Cross-cultural Medicine.
We would like to introduce five components of our new International Program and we invite you to check for progress and updates on the Program's Web page (http://cfar.ucsd.edu/international/index.html).
INTERNATIONAL PILOT PROJECT GRANTS: Applications for International Pilot Project grants are accepted in April and October. Application forms are available on the CFAR International Program Web page (http://cfar.ucsd.edu/international/index.html). Investigators from Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa are currently eligible, and other countries may be added in the future. These countries were selected after a comprehensive review of ongoing collaborations between UCSD investigators and investigators conducting meritorious AIDS research in other resource-limited settings. Applications are limited to $30,000 USD and investigators are required to document collaboration with a UCSD CFAR-affiliated institution.
VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAM: The Visiting Scholars program is designed to generate new collaborations between UCSD CFAR-affiliated institutions and scholars in international settings where HIV/AIDS is an important health program and the annual per capita gross domestic product is less than $5000 USD. In addition to forging new collaborations, the Visiting Scholars program will offer training to these scholars in areas that will enhance their research or training capacities related to HIV/AIDS research. Visiting scholars may request support from the CFAR International Program for periods ranging from one month to one year. Awards are expected to be less than $20,000, and only one award is permitted per person. Scholars are encouraged but not required to obtain matching funds from other sources. Scholars may request funds to support training with a CFAR-affiliated sponsor in an international setting; however, they must agree to be on campus at UCSD for at least one week toward the end of their award period. All scholars will be expected to give a lecture or seminar about their training experience. An application will soon be posted online.
TRAVEL GRANTS: Travel grants, too, are intended to facilitate collaborations between UCSD CFAR-affiliated institutions and investigators in resource-limited international settings. These grants will assist investigators traveling to or from the U.S. to work with their CFAR-affiliated colleagues on joint funding requests or on a specific aspect of research. As with the Visiting Scholars program, investigators eligible for these funds must live in countries with an annual per capita gross domestic product less than $5000 USD. Outbound travel (from the U.S.) will be limited to $2000 per trip. Inbound travel (to the U.S.) will be supported up to $3000 per trip. International investigators will be encouraged but not required to obtain matching funds from other sources. Although this travel could be for a number of purposes, first priority will be given to travel that supports the development of joint funding requests for submission to the UCSD CFAR international pilot project grant program or to NIH institutes.
ANNUAL RESEARCH DAY: The first CFAR International Research Day is scheduled on Friday, March 2, 2007. The purpose of the Research Day is to foster awareness of other CFAR members' research activities in international HIV/AIDS research; to facilitate collaborations between CFAR members who are interested in pursuing international HIV research; to provide a forum for visiting scholars, trainees, and junior faculty to present their research; and to disseminate CFAR-sponsored HIV/AIDS research in the community. Please check our Web page for updates.
FAQs ON INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH: Over the next few weeks and months, we will be addressing questions common to UCSD-based researchers conducting HIV/AIDS research and training programs in other countries. Our Web site will list FAQs with responses, including numerous links and viewing options (by grant, by country). This Web page will be an ongoing project that will improve with your recommendations.
We are excited about these opportunities to facilitate international HIV/AIDS research and training at UCSD. We invite you to view the CFAR Web site (http://cfar.ucsd.edu) and the International Program's Web page (http://cfar.ucsd.edu/international/index.html). We welcome your questions, comments and recommendations. Please contact the CFAR International Program administrative office at 619-543-4747 or e-mail cfar@ucsd.edu.
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Sincerely,
Douglas D. Richman, MD
Robert T. Schooley, MD
Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD |