<p> CAPS Innovative Grants Program</p><p>Application deadline is Friday November 20, 2009, 5:00 p.m. </p><p>Application Guidance: Please complete the information on this page and include it as the first page of your application. The remaining information can be prepared in a word processing program. Applications should be single spaced, have at least one-inch margins on all sides, and be written in Arial, Palatino, or Times New Roman font (minimum size: 12 point). Application pages should include a header with the last name of the Principal Investigator and a page number.</p><p>DIRECTIONS: (1) To write in a field (gray area as shown here ), click ONCE in the CENTER of the field and then type your response. When finished, use your mouse to click into the next field. Do NOT try to go to the next field by pressing “enter/return” on your keyboard or using your tab key. (2) To select a box ( ), double-click INSIDE the box. A dialog box will appear. Under “Default Value” in the dialog box, choose “checked” and then click “OK.” Your selection will then be marked. Note: In order to be considered for funding, this application must be returned with all applicable subheadings filled out in the order shown. </p><p>I. PROJECT SUMMARY (Please fill in this section completely!) Title of Project: Principal Investigator: Department: Campus Address: Telephone Number: </p><p>Fax Number, e-mail address: </p><p>Mentor (new investigator awards only): Other Investigators: Total Funds Requested: </p><p>Submission Category: New Investigator Award New Research Directions Award Proposed Start date: </p><p>2009 CAPS Innovative Grants Application Instructions Page 1 NOTE: Sections II-X (Project Abstract through References) may not total no more than 11 pages. </p><p>II. PROJECT ABSTRACT: Approximately one half-page, single-spaced. Brief summary of the proposed study outlining its objective, aims, and design.</p><p>III. RESPONSIVENESS TO THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Approximately one half- page, single-spaced. Brief explanation of why the proposed application is responsive to the mission of the Innovative Grants Program. The Program is intended to support new HIV scientists and innovative new directions in HIV prevention research.</p><p> If the application is a New Investigator Award, describe the career objectives of the Principal Investigator and how the proposed work will contribute to obtaining independent extramural research funding. Remember that a New Investigator Award is meant to foster scientific independence among junior scientists. It is important to explain how this award will lead to such independence. Please also note: a PI is only eligible for a New Investigator Award if he/she has not previously held an NIH R01 and has not had other extramural awards similar in size and scope to an R01. Applicants may contact the Innovative Grants Program in advance to obtain a predetermination about whether or not they qualify as a New Investigator.</p><p> If the application is a New Research Directions Award, describe why the proposed study represents a substantial departure from prior work. Please note: the intention of this type of award is to support scientists who are beginning to study research topics that are significantly different than the topics of their prior work. It is important here for the PI to explain clearly why he or she believes the proposed research represents a fundamentally new direction. </p><p>IV. ROLE OF THE MENTOR (New Investigator Awards only): Approximately one half- page, singe-spaced. Mentorship is a critical step in fostering scientific independence. For this reason, each Principal Investigator of a New Investigator Award should (1) identify a mentor; (2) identify the domain(s)—in terms of area of knowledge, method of research, and/or career guidance—in which the PI anticipates needing guidance; and (3) describe the specific plans for obtaining input, feedback, and advice from the mentor. The plan should be developed in close consultation with the mentor. The CAPS Innovative Grants Program recognizes that mentorship will likely differ based on investigators’ career stage or their prior experiences. For example, the mentorship plan of a postdoctoral scholar embarking on a new area of research should typically be more involved than the mentorship plan for a early career faculty member who already has been leading projects in a related area of research (e.g., through a K award). </p><p>V. SPECIFIC AIMS: Approximately one page, single-spaced. Brief description of the goals and objectives of the project, including a description of its specific aims.</p><p>VI. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: Approximately one page, single-spaced. Description of the relevant background literature and of how the proposed study would advance knowledge about HIV prevention, treatment, morbidity, and/or mortality.</p><p>2009 CAPS Innovative Grants Application Instructions Page 2  Successful Application Tip #1: Help the reviewers understand the context surrounding your study. For example: Is it a pilot study for a larger effort? Is it a supplement to a larger study that adds a significant component? Is it a methodological study that will permit your research to advance? </p><p> Successful Application Tip #2: When discussing significance, address two levels. First, if your study is carried out, what difference will it make to the HIV/AIDS epidemic? Second, what difference will it make to your work? </p><p>VII. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND METHODS: Approximately three pages, single- spaced. Description of the specific research methods and data analysis procedures to be used.</p><p> Successful Application Tip #3: Provide sufficient detail so that reviewers who may not be familiar with your methods will be able to understand what is proposed.</p><p> Successful Application Tip #4: Be sure to discuss the topics below, if they are relevant:  Overview of design (several sentences summarizing the classification [randomized controlled trial, time series, etc.], the subjects, the key variables)  Study subjects, if applicable (who will be studied and to whom the findings will be generalized) — communities of color, women, children, LGBTQ individuals in study population — inclusion and exclusion criteria that define the accessible population — design for sampling from the accessible population (consecutive, convenience, etc.)  Variables (specify approaches to standardizing, blinding, validating, etc.) — intervention (include approach to randomization, if appropriate) — other predictor and confounding variables — outcome variables  Analysis issues: Quantitative Studies — statistical hypotheses to be tested — plans for analysis — sample size estimates  Analysis issues: Qualitative Studies — plans for data reduction and analysis  Quality control and data management plans (specify systems for assuring completeness and accuracy of data)  Resources, equipment, and physical facilities, if pertinent; do not include a description of CAPS if study will be conducted on-site at CAPS.</p><p> Successful Application Tip #5: Justify the sample size. It is understood that pilot studies using quantitative methods may not have adequate statistical power, but discuss how the data will be used to address the aims of the research.</p><p>VIII. PROJECT TIMELINE. Approximately one-quarter to one-half page. Outline of when project activities are expected to occur. Many investigators choose to display this </p><p>2009 CAPS Innovative Grants Application Instructions Page 3 information in a table. It is important in this section to demonstrate the feasibility of completing the proposed work in one year. Applicants, particularly those proposing to conduct international research, should also use this section to describe any existing resources and infrastructure that will facilitate the timely completion of the work.</p><p>IX. HUMAN SUBJECTS & ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS. Approximately two pages, single-spaced. If the proposed study involves direct contact with human participants, please discuss the following items:  Recruitment procedures and informed consent (How will participants be recruited and by whom? How will consent be obtained [verbal, written] and who will be responsible for obtaining it? What are the inclusion/exclusion criteria for participation? How, if at all, will participants be compensated for participation?)  Potential risks to participants  Procedures for protecting against or minimizing potential risks to participants  Potential direct benefits to participants, if any. (Remember: paying subjects for their time is not considered to be a direct benefit.)  Potential benefits to society by conducting the study  Brief discussion of why risks are reasonable given the anticipated benefits  If the study will limit eligibility by race/ethnicity, gender, and/or age, please describe why it is scientifically appropriate to impose this restriction.</p><p>X. REFERENCES. List all cited references. Remember, Sections II-X may not total to more than 11 single-spaced pages.</p><p>XI. BUDGET See attached Budget Form A. Please remember that the maximum amount of money that can be requested is $20,000.</p><p>Justification of Budget Describe the specific costs listed on the budget form. </p><p> For all personnel listed on the grant, please describe their qualifications, roles and responsibilities on the project, and proposed effort. This includes descriptions for “To Be Hired” positions. Also, please remember that most faculty and staff cannot “donate” time to a project; they must assign some percent effort to the grant (a minimum 1% effort is required, but more is preferable). An exception occurs when a faculty member has a discretionary source of funding that permits effort donation. (In general, grants and contracts are not discretionary sources of funding.) A second exception occurs for postdoctoral fellows on NIH training grants (i.e., awards with grant numbers the begin T32 or F32) and faculty members on NIH early career K-Awards (e.g., K01, K08, K23). They cannot be paid for their effort, as stipulated by the rules of these training grants. Individuals who cannot be paid on an Innovative Grant should still describe the percent effort they intend to dedicate toward the project. A note should also be included in their description to explain why no salary support is requested. (For example, “Dr. XXX has not requested salary support because he/she is currently funded on an NIH postdoctoral training grant (T32 MH12345).”</p><p>2009 CAPS Innovative Grants Application Instructions Page 4  For other (non-personnel) expenses, please describe the specific nature of the costs and how total expenses for the item were estimated. (For example, “Participant incentives, $1750. Thirty-five participants will each be provided with a $50 cash payment for completing a key informant interview.”) If an expense will be incurred in a foreign currency, please convert the expense to US dollars. </p><p> Remember that personnel at 50 Beale Street who have paid effort on a project must also have a comparable percentage of their office rent and IT charges covered by the grant. (Individuals who do not take paid effort—e.g., because they are on postdoctoral fellowship grant or NIH K-award—do not need to pay rent/IT from the Innovative Grant.) Applicants who are unfamiliar with how to estimate 50 Beale St. rent/IT charges may contact the Innovative Grants Program for more specific information.</p><p> Successful Application Tip #6: If "to be hired” designations are used, explain why, how this will be handled, availability of persons to fill the positions, etc.</p><p> Successful Application Tip #7: Please explain in detail any aspects of the budget where the necessity of the cost may be unclear to the review committee.</p><p> IMPORTANT NOTE: In general, the CAPS Innovative Grants Program discourages subcontracts. Executing subcontracts is labor intensive for CAPS administrative personnel and, in the case of pilot grants, results in only small amounts of money being moved to the subcontractor. However, the Program also recognizes the subcontracts are sometimes unavoidable. Applicants who believe that they will need a subcontract should contact the Innovative Grants Program in advance and receive approval to include a subcontract in their proposed budget. Subcontracts will only be approved for projects that are viewed as being feasible to complete in a one year time frame. At the time of approval, specific directions will be provided for how to present the subcontract in the application. Please note that it is not considered appropriate, particularly for New Investigator Awards, for a PI to assign the majority of research effort to a subcontractor and then to be minimally involved in the collection of the data.</p><p>X. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Please supply NIH biosketch forms for the PI and all other key personnel (including the mentor of a New Investigator Award). </p><p>A blank copy of the form can be retrieved here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/SF424R-R_biosketch.doc </p><p>A sample of a completed form can be found here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/SF424R-R_biosketchsample.doc </p><p>XI. APPENDICES Please limit appendices to no more than 10 pages.</p><p>2009 CAPS Innovative Grants Application Instructions Page 5 Please submit 9 hardcopies and one electronic copy of your application to CAPS by no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2009:</p><p>UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies Attn: Leslie Roos 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300 UCSF Box #0886 San Francisco, CA 94105 [email protected] </p><p>Receipt, Review, Award Schedules</p><p>CAPS Innovative Grants Program 2009 Call for Proposals</p><p>Late September, 2009 Request for Applications Released Monday, October 19, 2009 Letters of intent (LOI) are due Friday, November 20, 2009 Complete applications are due Early December, 2009 Peer review of applications Mid December, 2009 Final funding decisions are announced. Summer, 2009 Six month progress reports are due</p><p>Center for AIDS Prevention Studies 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300 San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 597-9106 fax: (415) 597-9213 http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/CAPS/about/innovative.php </p><p>2009 CAPS Innovative Grants Application Instructions Page 6</p>