Call for Applications: CIPHER Grant Program 2024-25

These grants enable recipients to become principal investigators for the first time on research projects addressing critical gaps in pediatric and adolescent HIV, while also advancing their career progression. With a focus on research capacity building, the programme cultivates a diverse and talented cohort of professionals from within low- and middle-income countries who will drive innovation and progress in this field.

This initiative aims to support research that can inform policy change and ensure better outcomes for infants, children and adolescents living with and affected by HIV in resource-limited settings while providing investigators the experience they need to compete for larger funding.

Funding Information

• Awards will be funded for up to USD 140,000 for up to two years (including direct research costs and applicable indirect costs). Second-year funding is contingent upon demonstration of satisfactory progress during year one.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility criteria and mandatory supporting documents:
  • The PI must be an early-stage investigator, that is, an individual who obtained their terminal research degree less than 10 years before the application deadline.
  • The investigator must serve for the first time as Pl. Plus who have previously received a non-training research grant exceeding US 30,000 are not eligible.
  • The PI must fulfil one of the following criteria prior to the submission deadline for the letter of intent:
    • They are a clinical research trainee (such as fellow, senior resident) at an academic institute or institute whose primary mission is research.
    • They have a faculty or comparable position (assistant professor, lecturer) at an academic institute or an institute whose primary mission is research.
    • They have an established position at an organization with adequate research infrastructure to undertake the proposed research activities.
  • The research project should demonstrate the potential to contribute to the optimization of HIV prevention, testing, treatment and or service delivery for infants, children and adolescents affected by HIV in resource-limited settings.
  • Available funds in any given year will be awarded to applicants from low- and middle-income countries (the applicant should hold a passport or national identity document from one of those countries) according to the World Bank classification.
  • The PI must choose a mentor with relevant expertise in pediatric and or adolescent HIV research (the mentor’s contact details and a letter of commitment will be requested from all applicants; a mentorship plan will be requested only from shortlisted applicants who are invited to submit a full proposal).
  • The budget should reflect that at least 80% of the direct grant expenses will be spent in low- and middle-income countries.
  • A letter to support from the applicant’s institution is, required as well as a copy of their terminal research degree or diploma.

For more information, visit International AIDS Society.