Full Application

The Letter of Intent should contain the following:

1. Project Title
2. Principal Investigator
3. Brief description (2-3 sentences) of the proposed pilot project
4. Proposed mentors

• Applicants should submit the Letter of Intent to CDUHR.pilot@nyu.edu by June 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm.
• Please title the subject of the email “Pilot Project Letter of Intent” and with the name of the applicant, i.e., project principal investigator (PI).

We may contact the applicant with questions or suggestions for the Initial Statement of the Research Question.

The Initial Statement of the Research Question should be no longer than one page, and should include the following sections:

1. Project Title
2. Principal Investigator (and Co-Investigators if applicable)
3. Project Abstract: The overall purpose, specific aims, how the project aligns with both CDUHR’s mission and NIH HIV/AIDS funding priorities, and a brief statement of the methodology of the proposed research.
4. Requested Budget Amount

As part of CDUHR’s mentorship program, working with at least two mentors (both within and outside the mentee’s area of research) is highly recommended, particularly for early stage investigators and those new to HIV, HCV and substance use research. In the Mentorship Form, applicants should indicate their preferred mentors; the primary mentor must be a CDUHR Core Member and indicate a desired area of mentorship that is outside of the applicant’s own discipline and which is complementary to the project. If the applicant is not seeking mentorship, please explain why it is not needed.

When possible, mentors should be approached prior to development of the Research Question. At times, the selected mentor may not be available, and this can be discussed with the Core Director and/or Co-Director of CDUHR (Drs. Duncan and Hagan, respectively). Applicants already receiving mentorship are asked to identify the name, title, and affiliation of the senior investigator they are receiving mentorship from. Of note, affiliated investigators who are not recipients of the CDUHR Pilot Projects Award are also eligible to receive mentorship if desired and can be requested.

• Applicants should submit a completed Initial Statement of the Research Question and Mentorship Form to CDUHR.pilot@nyu.edu by July 1, 2024 at 12:00 noon.
• Please title the subject of the email “Pilot Project Initial Statement” and with the name of the applicant, i.e., project principal investigator (PI).
• Applicants will be notified of their invitation to submit a full application via email by July 3, 2024.

Full applications are due by July 31, 2024 at 5:00 pm via email submission to CDUHR.pilot@nyu.edu.

Please title the subject of the email Pilot Award Full Application and with the name of the applicant, i.e., project principal investigator (PI).

The full application requires the following components (documents should be single-spaced, half-inch margins on all sides, and use 11 point Arial font):

1. Abstract: maximum 300 words
2. Pilot Project Proposal: maximum of 3 pages in length. The proposal should include:
   • Specific aims
   • Background and significance
   • Responsiveness to CDUHR’s thematic focus of overcoming barriers to ending HIV/AIDS among PWUD
   • Research design & methods
   • Applicants should also identify if they meet any of the four aforementioned categories of researchers including whether they meet one or more of the underrepresented groups in health-related research as specified by NIH/NIDA.
3. Protection of human subjects (include a DSMP for clinical trials or studies with interventions)
4. References
5. Budget Summary and Justification:

• Timeline
• Detailed budget (one page)
• Budget justification in narrative form (one page)
• Budget and budget justification should detail how CDUHR funds will be utilized in the research process. Both should closely reflect the work described in the proposal. Budgets should only include direct costs for an 11-month period. The maximum request available is $25,000. Budgets may include costs to collect and analyze data and participant incentives. No indirect costs will be awarded. Salaries of PIs or co-investigators should not be included. Pilot project funds may not be used to supplement or prolong ongoing research, to support dissertation research or coursework, to purchase equipment, and cannot be used as bridge funds when other research support ends.

6. Investigator Biosketch: Please use the NIH Biosketch format (5 page maximum). An eRA Commons Username is not required for those who are not already registered.
7. Plan for publications and presentation of findings.
8. Brief letter(s) of support from the mentor(s) for the project.
9. Letter(s) of support from any collaborating organization(s).
10. Consortium statement from the applicant’s home institution or school/college acknowledging that no indirect costs will be included with the award.
11. Postdoctoral fellows must include a letter from the applicant’s home institution or school/college indicating that the term of the individual’s fellowship will extend beyond the end date for the proposed project.

Appendices should not be submitted with the application.

Note that NIDA requires CDUHR to provide a description and justification of all pilot projects before initiating them. Notification includes a description and rationale for the project, and addressing the question of how it falls within CDUHR’s mission. In addition, CDUHR must state that the project will comply with NIH policies, including approval of human subject research. Clinical trials and projects that pose greater than minimal risk to participants require prior approval from the NIDA project officer. The request for approval must include protocols for human subjects protection and a Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (DSMP). See NIH PAR-20-267, Section VI, “Prior Approval of Pilot Projects” for original language.