Developmental Core

The Midwest D-CFAR Developmental Core is dedicated to supporting scientific progress in the HIV response by expanding and reinforcing the network of investigators engaged in HIV research across St. Louis, the Missouri region, and nationally. The Core offers centralized resources for mentoring, training, and research funding to support the professional development of HIV-focused investigators. These efforts are designed to strengthen scientific collaboration across disciplines and between academic institutions and local stakeholders, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of HIV-related research initiatives.

To request a service from the Developmental Core, fill out a request form. You can also email us with questions at dev@midwestdcfar.org.

Core Team

  • Fred Ssewamala, PhD

    Fred Ssewamala, PhD

    DIRECTOR

    Washington University in St. Louis | Research: Training and developmental grants, social and economic development policy, HIV prevention, asset-based social programs, children and adolescent health

    Bio
  • Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, PhD

    Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, PhD

    CO-DIRECTOR

    Washington University in St. Louis | Research: Mentorship programs; Diversity, equity, and inclusion; clinical investigation, mobile health interventions, ART adherence

    Bio
  • Richard Grucza, PhD, MPE

    Richard Grucza, PhD, MPE

    CO-DIRECTOR

    Saint Louis University | Research: Interdisciplinary research, epidemiology, substance use, public policy, addictive behavior

    Bio
  • Samuel Kizito

    Samuel Kizito, MD, PhD

    CO-INVESTIGATOR

    Washington University in St. Louis | Research: Interventions to address structural barriers to access and adherence to HIV treatment, advanced quantitative research methodology

    Bio
  • Kate Gershwin, MPH, CPH

    Kate Gershwin, MPH, CPH

    COMMUNITY LIAISON MANAGER

    Washington University in St. Louis | Research: Public health, global health equity, community engagement, interprofessional education, advocacy

    Bio
  • Harvey Fields, Jr., PhD

    Harvey Fields, Jr., PhD

    CO-INVESTIGATOR

    Harris Stowe State University

    Bio

Core Activities

Pilot Awards

Supplemental support and funding will be provided to facilitate the growth of emerging HIV investigators conducting interdisciplinary research. These include:

  1. Investigator Pilot Awards for junior investigators seeking either K-series or their first R01 awards and senior investigators who have never been funded to work on HIV before who can contribute to interdisciplinary research.

  2. Partner Pilot Awards to support funding proposals that are co-led by an academic and an external partner.

  3. D-CFAR Enhancement Funds that supplement pilot funding obtained from other intramural sources when they address HIV to leverage institutional resources.

Learn more about these awards on our funding page.

Mentoring Program

The Midwest D-CFAR structured multicomponent mentoring program focuses systematic and personalized attention on emerging HIV investigators. The program nurtures a community of emerging investigators through events such as HIV works-in-progress (HIP) as well as non-supervisory career mentors who can complement existing scientific mentors. The program also leverages existing activities available in the Clinical and Translational Science Award Program.

HIV Proposal Bootcamp

HIV Proposal Bootcamp is an annual event in which individuals developing HIV-related grant proposals can receive rapid feedback and grant writing support from more experienced researchers through a series of six or more “lightning consultations” in a single day. 

HIV Works in Progress (HIP)

Our monthly HIP seminar is designed to enhance mentoring and peer-to-peer connections among emerging HIV investigators, supporting their career development and helping them successfully obtain their first R01 awards. Early-stage investigators are invited to present on a current HIV-related research project or grant proposal that they would like feedback on. Sessions are held on the first Wednesday of each month virtually on Zoom. Fill out this form to express your interest in presenting at a future session. A list of past presentations is available here.

Translational HIV Science Studios (THiS Studios)

THiS Studios are small gatherings of diverse scholars to discuss and address interdisciplinary problems related to HIV, convened by the Clinical Sciences Core and supported by the Developmental Core. Please contact us if you have a research idea you would like to explore in a studio.

Mentoring Symposium in HIV (MeSH)

This annual event aims to bring attention to mentorship and mentored research, with a mentorship expert speaker, award presentations to recognize excellent mentees and mentors, and an interactive workshop for building mentoring skills. 

Inter-CFAR HIV Mentoring the Mentors Training

The Developmental Core supports two investigators a year to attend the highly regarded "Mentoring-the-Mentors Workshop for HIV Researchers" held annually at a national CFAR meeting and led by Dr. Monica Gandhi from the University of California, San Francisco. 

Learn more about these events on our education and training page.