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Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research

Request for Proposals

Maximum Funding: Phase 1: $180,000; Phase 2: $50,000
Performance Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027

Deadlines

Register for Portal Login and Instructions (REQUIRED) – 3:00 PM ET, March 19, 2025
Letter of Intent Submission – 3:00 PM ET, March 27, 2025

Background

The goal of amfAR’s Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research is to:

  • Facilitate the exceptional postdoctoral researcher’s transition to an independent career in HIV/AIDS research within an academic institution or nonprofit organization
  • Support up to two years of postdoctoral biomedical HIV research (Phase 1)
  • Provide the possibility of one additional year of research funding during the first year of an independent research position at an academic institution or nonprofit organization (Phase 2)

Applicant Eligibility and Qualifications

Applicants must:

  • hold a research or clinical doctorate completed between three and six years prior to February 4, 2025*;
  • be positioned to secure an independent research position no later than January 1, 2028;
  • be the first author on at least one impactful publication in a leading peer-reviewed journal;
  • propose a line of research sufficiently distinct from the mentor’s own research that it indicates future independence;
  • have made oral and poster presentations at major scientific conferences and meetings;
  • be affiliated with a nonprofit research institution anywhere in the world; and
  • be mentored by an experienced investigator at the same institution who: (a) is qualified to oversee the proposed research; (b) has successfully supervised postdoctoral fellows.

*The three- to six-year eligibility window (with allowances for medical and family leave and military service) starts from the date the most recent doctoral degree was completed. E.g., the window for Ph.D. candidates starts from the date of successful dissertation defense; the window for M.D., Ph.D. candidates starts with the most recent of the internship completion or successful dissertation defense dates.

Submission Requirements and Deadlines
Prospective applicants must register and then complete a letter of intent (LOI) using an online portal. Registrants will receive complete information about LOI requirements. There is no penalty if you register and decide not to submit.

Step 1:  Click here to register.

Registrations must be submitted no later than 3:00 PM EDT on March 19, 2025. You will receive portal login details, LOI instructions, and forms. Deadline extensions will not be allowed.

Step 2: Log in to the portal to complete the LOI and upload required forms, including:

  • Fellow’s Eligibility Details
  • Fellow and Mentor’s Biographical Sketches and Mentor’s List of Fellows Supervised
  • Project Title, Abstract, Hypothesis, and Specific Aims
  • Resources and Environment Form
  • Signature Form

LOIs must be submitted no later than 3:00 PM EDT, March 27, 2025.

Review
LOIs will be reviewed by amfAR staff to verify applicant eligibility and qualifications. The best-qualified eligible applicants will be invited to submit complete applications proposing original research to be conducted during the Phase 1 fellowship period. Applications will be assessed by external and independent peer review.

The LOI and application selection process is highly competitive. Only a limited number of investigators submitting an LOI will be invited to submit an application, and only a limited number of applicants will be awarded funding. Submission of an LOI does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full application. An invitation to submit a full application is not a guarantee of funding.

Funding Restrictions

Phase 1:

  • Maximum Funding: $180,000 including maximum 15% indirect costs
  • Up to $130,000 (including indirect costs) may be allocated to salary support for the fellow for the two-year period. Time and effort on the fellowship research project must be at least 50%. If additional funds are needed to support salary for effort at that level, they must come from other non-project specific sources available to the institution.
  • The balance of direct costs is available to support research costs, fringe benefits, or additional personnel contributing time and effort to the project.
  • The grantee Institution is required to provide funds or in-kind support to enhance the career development of the fellow (CFAR development funds; mentoring program; reduced-rate use of core facilities; etc.). The Institution must provide support for attendance at an NIH grant-writing workshop, or a similar training activity approved in advance by amfAR.

Phase 2:

  • An additional $50,000 (total costs) may be approved, at a later date, to support biomedical HIV/AIDS research costs during the first 12 months of an independent research position at any US or international nonprofit research institution. Unexpended funds from Phase 1 may be carried forward to Phase 2.
  • Phase 2 funding can start any time during the Phase I performance period, or up to six months following the end of the Phase 1 period.

Other Important Dates
Applications invited:
April 3, 2025 (tentative)

Applications due:
May 13, 2025 (tentative)

Funding decisions announced:
Late June 2025

Please email grantapps@amfar.org with any questions about this RFP.

Future requests for proposals
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