Check out resources on the CFAR website!

Looking for resources on local organizations, community-engaged research, communication, and advocacy? Check out our newly revamped page on the CFAR website, which also includes a summary document for language about community engagement at the Duke CFAR and a description of our consultation services with our team and the D3C. If you have other resources to add, please let us know!

As the Duke CFAR prepares for re-competition, we want to make sure our website is up-to-date and highlights our many successes. Please reach out if you have new information, photos, or a story to share.

News from the CFAR

Congratulations to recently awarded Distinguished Professors from the Duke CFAR!

Duke University has awarded distinguished professorships to 32 faculty and will recognize them in a ceremony at the Washington Duke Inn on May 23.

“I am very pleased to honor these faculty members with distinguished professorships,” said President Vincent Price. “Their outstanding scholarship has advanced knowledge across a wide variety of fields and made a positive impact on society, and I am proud to have them as colleagues.”

Distinguished professorships honor faculty who are well-established members of the Duke academic community and have also achieved distinction as creative scholars in their field or in their ability to transcend disciplines.

“I congratulate my colleagues on receiving distinguished professorships recognizing their impressive scholarly achievements and leadership in our academic community and beyond,” said Provost Alec D. Gallimore. “Duke is tremendously fortunate to count these bold thinkers among its faculty.”

During its February meeting, Duke’s Board of Trustees approved the awarding of 32 Distinguished Professorships, effective July 1, 2024. These include four CFAR investigators. Please join us in congratulating:

Chris Beyrer (School of Medicine)

Gary Hock Distinguished Professor in Global Health

Michael Relf (School of Nursing)

Mary T. Champagne Distinguished Professor

Kevin Saunders (Department of Surgery)

Norman L. Letvin M.D. Distinguished Professor in Surgery and the Duke Human Vaccine Institute

Georgia Tomaras (Department of Surgery)

A. Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Immunology

View this announcement on the CFAR website.

Surgical Sciences celebrates trainee successes

The Division of Surgical Sciences shared many recent research and trainee successes including the following:

The Acharya lab is celebrating successes of several trainees: Ellie Zhang (left) successfully passed her preliminary examination – she will be studying HIV-1 interactions with GPCR co-receptors. Ruth Parsons (graduate student, bottom right), Bhishem Thakur, Ph.D. (postdoc, top right), and Aaron May (graduate student, top left) received travel awards to participate in the Biophysical Society meeting during February 2024 in Philadelphia. Ruth garnered multiple travel awards from various institutions, including the Biophysical Society, Duke Center for Virology, Duke Department of Biochemistry, and Duke University School of Medicine. Aaron received travel support from both the Biophysical Society and the Duke Center for Virology. Bhishem secured a travel award from the Duke Center for HIV Structural Biology to join the conference.

Postdoctoral trainees mentored by Keith Reeves and Stephanie Jost in CHSI’s Division of Comparative Immunology (DICI) have been busy preparing talks and attending conferences: Philippe Rascle, Ph.D. (left) recently gave an oral presentation titled, “MHC-E Presentation Mediates SIV-Specific NK Cell Responses in SIV-Infected Rhesus” at Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) on March 4, 2024. Ronald "RJ” Bouch, Ph.D. (right) will be giving an oral presentation at the upcoming 3rd HIV mucosal Systems Meeting at Meharry Medical College on April 10, 2024 titled, “Immunoglobulin A Fc receptor (CD89) expressed by natural killer cells may restrict innate signaling and cytotoxicity within the mucosal interface.” Ronald was also one of three winners of the inaugural CHSI Pilot Award program. Through this mechanism, awardees received up to $20,000, with the goal of securing future independent funding in cross-cutting research areas within immunology and computational biology. Congratulations, Ronald! See the CHSI recognition page here.

Trainees in Justin Pollara’s Lab have received recognition for their research projects within Duke and at national conferences. Paul Cray, Ph.D. (left), a Senior Lab Research Analyst, was selected for an Innovation Award for his proposal entitled “Optimization of mRNA for Antibody Production” as part of the Tomaras NIH P01 Impact of Antibody Effector Function Diversity on Antiviral Activity in Situ. Song Young Oh (right), a quantitative intern jointly mentored by Cliburn Chan and Justin through the R25 Quantitative Methods in HIV/AIDS Research program was not only selected to present a poster at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) conference but was also handpicked to present a video-highlight of her project. Song’s work with Drs. Pollara and Chan investigated links between the human FcR and IgG genetic variation and vaccine elicited antibody responses. Song also recently presented her work during the Immunology for Quants Affinity Group on February 26th. 

CEACR Webinar: Community-Centered Research Design

Friday, April 19, 2024 | 1-2:15pm ET| Zoom

This Community Engagement Alliance Consultative Resource (CEACR) webinar will explore considerations and strategies for engaging in participatory research processes with community members and organizations, including study design, partnership structures, engagement planning, and bidirectional communication.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the rationale and effective strategies for establishing partnership structures, processes, and agreements.
• Explore approaches to establishing bidirectional community involvement, feedback loops, and reciprocity.
• Consider examples of community engagement planning and tools that help promote and sustain trust, bidirectional communication, connectedness, and meaningful engagement and outcomes.

The CEACR Speaker Series brings together experts from academic, clinical, and community-based settings to lead discussions focused on inclusive participation in research. CEACR supports the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) mission by serving as a conduit for promising community-engaged practices. CEACR supports NIH-funded research teams who are seeking to apply principles of community engagement to address diversifying research participation, with a specific emphasis on communities traditionally underrepresented in research.

Register for the webinar.

CFAR-wide Webinar: CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) Update and Opportunities

Monday, April 22, 2024 | 3:30-4:30pm ET| Zoom

You are invited to attend our next CFAR- Wide Webinar, featuring Dr. Michael Saag with UAB CFAR.

Title: CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) - Update and Opportunities 

Register for the webinar.

AIDS 2024 Late breaker abstract submission open April 8 - May 2

July 22-26, 2024| Munich, Germany & Virtual

A small number of late-breaker abstracts will be accepted for oral or poster presentation at AIDS 2024. The late-breaker abstract submission will be open from 8 April to 2 May 2024. Late-breaker submissions must introduce data of unquestioned significance that meet a high threshold of scientific merit.

Learn more and submit an abstract.

Symposium - HIV in 2024: Progress, Problems, and Prospects

September 23-25, 2024| Frederick, MD

Led by the Frederick National Laboratory's Jeffrey Lifson, M.D. and Mary Carrington, Ph.D., the "HIV in 2024: Progress, Problems, and Prospects" symposium marks the third installment in the prestigious Hood College – Frederick National Laboratory Life Sciences Symposium series. This latest collaborative event builds on the enduring legacy of the Hood College–National Cancer Institute Oncogene meetings, which has served as a cornerstone of the scientific community in Frederick for more than two decades.

The Symposium, "HIV in 2024: Progress, Problems and Prospects" jointly organized by the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research and Hood College, is set to bring together a diverse audience of scientists, clinicians and students.

The event will feature presentations from esteemed experts, offering a state-of-the-art overview of the latest developments in critical aspects of HIV/AIDS research, including epidemiology, prevention strategies and advancements in clinical care.

The symposium will also address the persistent challenges that confront the field and innovative approaches aimed at overcoming these obstacles, focusing particularly on facets of HIV investigation with the potential to reshape clinical care and bolster prevention efforts. This symposium will serve as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, fostering collaboration and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of HIV.

Learn more and register.

Scholarship applications due April 10th for the 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference (HIVR4P 2024)

October 6-10, 2024| Lima, Peru & Virtual

Scholarship submissions for HIVR4P 2024, the 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference, are now open! You are eligible for a scholarship if you are at least 18 years old on 6 October 2024, working, volunteering or studying in the area of HIV prevention and require support to attend HIVR4P 2024. For more information about the scholarship programme, types of financial support, how to apply and the Journalist Fellowship Programme, visit the HIVR4P 2024 scholarship page. 

Scholarship applications will be accepted until April 10th.

Learn more about HIVR4P 2024 and conference scholarships.

8th Translational HIV Vaccine ESI Conference

October 21, 2024| New Orleans, LA

The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) will host the 8th Translational HIV Vaccine Early Stage Investigator (ESI) Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 21, 2024, prior to the NHP AIDS Symposium.

This conference is intended for ESIs who focus on translational HIV research in non-human primates (NHPs), or clinical HIV and TB research, and are within 10 years of completing their terminal research degree (PhD, MD, DVM), medical residency, or equivalent. Investigators will participate in career mentoring and networking designed for ESI working in translational HIV research. Past attendees have stated that the Conference has increased their skills and knowledge for career development and provided them with a venue to form new collaborations. 

There is no fee to attend the ESI conference. Attendees will also be invited to an NIH-sponsored pediatric-oriented meeting on Tuesday, October 22.

Registration is now open at the following link: 2024 ESI Conference Registration

The HVTN will provide a limited number of travel awards to attend this conference. This award will cover airfare, hotel, registration fees for the NHP AIDS Symposium, ground transportation, and per diem. The application is now open at the following link, and the deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 15, 2024: 2024 ESI Conference Travel Award Application

Learn more and register for the ESI Conference.

Wanted: Your Input for the NIAID 2025-2029 Strategic Plan

A message from Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., M.P.H., NIAID Director:

Now that I have spent the last six months learning about NIAID and getting to know the people and history that make NIAID special, I am even more excited and energized to plan for our next several years. In the years since NIAID prepared its last strategic plan, the institute—like the scientific community and the world at large—witnessed many changes. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly highlighted the risk of infectious diseases to the health of Americans and people worldwide, but equally notable were the global movements for social justice that have moved the discussion of ongoing health disparities in public discourse. These changes have altered how the scientific community collaborates and engages. In addition, scientific and technological advances have hastened the pace and trajectory of infectious, immunologic, and allergic disease research. Periods of transition like these create an opportunity, and we want to be prepared for it. A new NIAID Strategic Plan enables us to reflect on these and other changes, and to plan for the institute’s next five years—and how we can make our biggest contributions ever. 

In this plan, we want to incorporate many perspectives, so we are inviting public comments and feedback on our new Request for Information (RFI), which is now open and available for comment through May 27, 2024. I hope to hear from all of you: members of the scientific community, students and trainees, academic institutions, associations and professional organizations, advocates, patients, the private sector, and other community members.

Specifically, we invite feedback on the following NIAID research priorities:

• Priority 1: Advance foundational research on the immune system, host-pathogen interactions, and pathogen biology.
• Priority 2: Apply foundational knowledge of the complex interactions between microbes and the immune system to develop and test medical countermeasures against known infectious diseases (non-HIV/AIDS).
• Priority 3: Apply knowledge of HIV/AIDS to reduce HIV incidence through the development of safe and effective prevention, treatment, and cure strategies.
• Priority 4: Apply knowledge of basic immunology to develop and enhance intervention strategies for asthma, allergic and immune-mediated diseases, and transplantation.
• Priority 5: Support innovative research efforts to prepare for and respond to nationally or internationally significant biological incidents affecting public health.

In addition to these research priorities, we are looking for input on cross-cutting

themes such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); women’s health; health disparities; research inclusivity; and global health. Other topics of considerable interest include infrastructure and research facilities, data science and sharing, and ensuring that we have a trained workforce to execute our vision.

Feedback from the RFI will be addressed either within the plan or in an appendix to the plan. Please submit responses to NIAIDStrategicPlanRFI@niaid.nih.gov by May 27, 2024. 

I very much look forward to your input. It will be essential to shaping our vision for the next several years of NIAID’s contribution and impact. Please share this RFI opportunity with your colleagues and other interested community members.

Learn more and read the RFI.

Interest forms due April 12 for Emory T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Emory Training Program in Translational Research to End the HIV Epidemic is now accepting applications! The T32 program focuses on translational HIV science at the epicenter of the United States HIV epidemic in the South and was built around research activities in three major focus areas including 1) Laboratory-based basic science, vaccine, and cure research, 2) Patient-centered clinical research, and 3) Public health and implementation science.

Interested and eligible candidates must complete an online interest form on or before April 12, 2024 to be connected to one of the Program Directors, Drs. Ann Chahroudi, Colleen Kelley, or Patrick Sullivan, to discuss their application. Full applications are due May 3, 2024. 

Learn more and submit an interest form.

NIH Funding Opportunities

RFA-AI-24-011 Tailoring HIV Curative Strategies to the Participant (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• NIAID intends to commit $7M to fund 2-3 awards in fiscal year 2025
• Application Receipt Date: July 30, 2024 (Letters of intent due on June 30, 2024)
• Scientific inquiries can be sent to Leia Novak (leia.novak@nih.gov)
• Scheduling a pre-application meeting is highly encouraged

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Interventions to Reduce Chronic Inflammation and Inflammation-Related Morbidity in People Living with HIV/AIDS NOT-AT-24-035

Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-24-092

Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-24-091

NIAD New Innovator DP2 Information Released

The NIAID New Innovator Award website is now available! Awardee profiles and links to funded projects are available (FY19 through FY22). FY23 awardees will be added soon. Details on the program, current NOFO, and a message from Hugh Auchincloss are also available.

The NIAID New Innovator DP2 program has been in place since 2019 to help launch research careers for talented individuals with creative, novel, high-impact research concepts that may be risky or at a stage too early to fare well in the traditional peer review process. The NIAID DP2 program supports Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) of exceptional creativity who propose novel, original, and insightful research concepts with the potential to produce a major impact, test scientific paradigms, or advance key concepts on broad, important problems in biomedical research of priority to NIAID. ESIs who are either non-independent (postdoc or beyond) or within the first year of an independent research position may apply. (Note this is one of the key differences from the NIH Common Fund DP2 program, which is restricted to ESIs who are already independent.)

The next due date for the NIAID New Innovator Award (DP2) program (PAR-23-198) is October 11, 2024.

For all applicants:

• applicants must have a research or clinical doctorate (including PhD, MD, DO, DC, ND, DDS, DVM, ScD, DNS, PharmD, or equivalent doctoral degree), or a combined research and clinical doctoral degree.
• both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens may apply.
• $300K in direct costs per year for up to five years may be requested.
• applicants must have Early Stage Investigator status.

For newly independent applicants:

• the applicant must be within the first year of a faculty position or equivalent at a U.S. based institution at the time of application submission.
• 
  

For postdoctoral and other non-independent applicants:

• if selected for award, applicants must transition to an independent faculty position or equivalent at a U.S.-based institution within one year in order to activate the award.

Learn more from the website and PAR.

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