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Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research

Request for Proposals

Maximum Funding: $180,000
Performance Period: February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2026

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 two years of postdoctoral biomedical research (phase I)
  • 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 II)

Applicant Eligibility and Qualifications

Applicants must:

  • Hold a research or clinical doctorate completed between three and six years prior to September 5, 2023*
  • Be positioned to secure an independent research position no later than July 2026
  • Be the first author on significant publications in leading peer-reviewed journals
  • 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
  • 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; and (c) is at the associate professor level or higher.

*The three- to six-year eligibility window 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 complete a letter of intent (LOI) using an online portal.

Step 1:  Click here to register.

Registrations must be submitted no later than 3:00 PM EDT on October 5, 2023. You will receive portal login details and LOI 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, Publications, Presentations, and Posters
  • Fellow’s Biographical Sketch and Mentor’s Biographical Sketch and List of Fellows Supervised
  • Resources and Environment Form
  • Signature Form

Review
LOIs will be reviewed by amfAR staff to verify applicant eligibility. The qualifications of eligible applicants will be assessed by peer review. The best-qualified eligible applicants will be invited to submit complete applications proposing original research to be conducted during the phase I fellowship period.

The LOI and application selection process are 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

  • Maximum Funding: $180,000 including maximum 15% indirect costs
  • Salary support is allowed, at a maximum of $130,000 (total costs), for the fellow only 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, and employer taxes.
  • 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 II funding for an additional $50,000 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.
  • Phase II funding can start any time during the Phase I performance period, or up to six months following the end of the Phase I period.

Other Important Dates
Applications invited:
Mid-November 2023 (tentative)

Applications due:
Mid-December 2023 (tentative)

Funding decisions announced:
Early March 2024

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

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