The UCLA-CDU CFAR and the UCLA AIDS Institute are accepting applications for pilot projects to fund studies that advance implementation science addressing HIV prevention, treatment and care within Los Angeles County and the United States. Funding is provided entirely by the UCLA AIDS Institute. The UCLA-CDU CFAR will administer the program, coordinate peer review, and oversee award administration. The intent is to leverage the CFAR infrastructure while expanding implementation science capacity across UCLA, CDU, and its partners. We anticipate awarding two grants in this cycle.
Maximum request per applicant: $50,000 Direct Costs
Deadline for receipt of Letters of Intent: September 14, 2026
Applicants whose letters of intent are favorably reviewed will be invited to submit a formal proposal.
- Formal proposals will then be due by December 7, 2026.
- Applicants will be notified of a decision by February 2027.
The project period is for two years, with the earliest starting date of February 2027.
Please note: Despite the project period noted, no funds may be spent, and no research activities may begin until all required IRB approvals are on file with the CFAR. If pre‑award spending is necessary, you must obtain written approval from the CFAR and AIDS Institute prior to incurring costs.
Investigator Eligibility
- Applicants must qualify as Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs), defined as investigators who are within 10 years of completing their terminal research degree or postgraduate clinical training and who have not yet competed successfully for an R01-equivalent award. The Letter of Intent should describe the applicant’s commitment to a career in HIV implementation science research and how the proposed pilot project will support their development toward future independent funding.
- Investigators without prior implementation science experience related to HIV are required to include at least one Co-Investigator (without salary support) with expertise in HIV-related implementation science. A list of potential collaborators with relevant expertise can be found here. Investigators seeking assistance identifying collaborators should contact UCLA-CDU.CFAR@mednet.ucla.edu at least three weeks prior to the Letter of Intent deadline.
- Projects focused on Los Angeles County or that include Los Angeles County will be prioritized.
- Meaningful stakeholder engagement is strongly encouraged. Projects involving healthcare systems, clinics, public health departments, community-based organizations, community advisory boards, or other implementation partners should describe how these stakeholders will contribute to the development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of the proposed research. Applicants proposing studies conducted in Los Angeles are encouraged to identify community, public health, or health system partners whenever appropriate.
- Qualifying applicants should have UCLA or CDU Principal Investigator Status or be eligible for an exemption under UCLA Policy 900: Principal Investigator Eligibility or CDU Policy 602.17: Eligibility to Submit Proposals for Extramural Support. Applicants qualifying through an exemption must provide a letter from their Division Chief or Department Chair (UCLA) or the Vice President for Research (CDU) verifying eligibility.
Funding Criteria/Guidelines
- Domestic HIV Implementation Science Focus
- Projects must focus on HIV implementation science within the United States.
- Applications should focus on developing and/or testing strategies for overcoming barriers to the adoption, adaptation, integration, sustainability, scale-up, and spread of evidence-based interventions, practices, programs, tools, treatments, guidelines, and policies
- Projects involving international research, foreign subawards, or foreign collaborations are not responsive to this funding opportunity.
- Consultation Before LOI
- Investigators who are unsure whether their project is responsive to this funding opportunity, or who would like guidance regarding implementation science methodology or program priorities, are encouraged to contact Jina Lee to schedule a brief consultation with the Core B Directors.
- Investigators who are new to implementation science are especially encouraged to seek consultation prior to submitting a Letter of Intent.
- Projects may address any aspect of domestic HIV implementation science, including, but not limited to:
- HIV prevention (including PrEP)
- HIV testing and linkage to care
- HIV comorbidities and syndemic conditions
- Retention in care and viral suppression
- Health equity and disparity reduction
- Implementation of care within healthcare systems or public health settings
- Digital health
- Policy implementation
- De-implementation of low-value practices
- Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Significance of the implementation problem and relevance to Los Angeles County
- Scientific rigor/Application of relevant theories, models, and frameworks
- Implementation strategies and process
- Study design and methods
- Implementation outcomes
- Setting, context, and stakeholder engagement
- Team expertise and partnerships
- Feasibility, particularly to be completed within the allowed timeline
- Likelihood that the pilot project will generate preliminary data supporting future NIH implementation science funding
- Potential of the early-stage investigator to become an independently funded researcher
- Proposals should clearly describe how the pilot project will position the investigators for future external funding, particularly NIH implementation science mechanisms (e.g., R01, R21, R34, K-series, or equivalent federal or foundation funding).
- Applicants should clearly describe roles of co-investigators and mentors, including conceptual guidance, implementation science expertise, methodological support, stakeholder engagement, or career mentorship.
- Evidence of investigator productivity will be considered during review, including previous publications, prior pilot funding outcomes, ongoing grant submissions, and the potential of the proposed project to establish a sustainable implementation science research program.
- Competitive applications that foster collaborations among UCLA, CDU, affiliated clinical sites, public health agencies, healthcare systems, and community organizations are encouraged.
- Meaningful stakeholder engagement is strongly encouraged. Competitive applications should describe how healthcare providers, patients, community organizations, public health agencies, or other stakeholders will inform the design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of the proposed project.
- Applications will be evaluated by a peer-review committee.
- Annual progress reports and end of project reports will be required from all awarded PIs.
- All awarded projects must have at least one consultation with the UCLA-CDU Community Advisory Board (CAB) prior to study launch.
- The UCLA-CDU CFAR and the UCLA AIDS Institute must be acknowledged in all publications and presentations regarding the successfully funded project.
- Funds will be released only after all required regulatory approvals (e.g., IRB, ARC, human subjects training, or other applicable institutional approvals) have been received. Although regulatory approval is not required at the time of application, funding cannot be released until all required approvals are in place.
Instructions for Letters of Intent
Because only a limited number of full proposals will be invited, applicants are encouraged to use the Letter of Intent to clearly demonstrate the significance of the proposed implementation science project, its potential impact, and its likelihood of leading to future external funding.
Letters of intent must be no longer than two pages, and must include the following:
- Name, degrees, and full contact information (email, phone, mailing address) of the PI and all Co-Investigator(s).
- Justification of eligibility (i.e. confirmation of ESI status), including discussion of the applicant’s commitment to a career in HIV implementation science research and plans to become independently funded.
- If a PI exception is needed, please include a brief letter of support/endorsement to apply from the ESI’s Division Chief or Department Chair
- Proposed Specific Aims and a brief description of the implementation science approach and methods associated with each aim.
- Brief summary of the PI’s and Co-Investigator(s)’ experience conducting research, including HIV research and implementation science research.
- Description of planned collaborations with healthcare systems, clinics, public health agencies, community-based organizations, or other implementation partners, if applicable.
- Future funding plan, describing how the proposed pilot project is expected to lead to subsequent external funding (e.g., NIH R01, R21, R34, K-series, or equivalent).
- Total amount of funding requested.
- Domestic Research Statement: “This project will be conducted entirely within the United States and does not include a foreign subaward, subcontract, or other foreign component.”
- NIH biosketches for the PI and all Co-Investigator(s) (does not count toward the two-page limit).
Letters of intent must be received via email to UCLA-CDU.CFAR@mednet.ucla.edu.
- Letters of intent must be received by September 14, 2026.
Instructions for formal proposals will then be forwarded to applicants whose letters of intent are approved.
- Formal proposals will then be due by December 7, 2026.
Successful applicant PIs must provide their NIH Commons ID number. During the award period and for up to ten years post-award, awardees must provide the following information to the UCLA-CDU CFAR by November 30th of each year: (1) all publications that resulted from CFAR-supported research with PubMed ID, and (2) all PHS and non-PHS federal support that contributed to or resulted from the CFAR-supported research.
Questions about eligibility, letters of intent, or formal proposals can be directed to
Sign up for our Listserv to receive notifications when a new RFA is open.