HIV Proposal Bootcamp fosters research collaboration and proposal development
April 9, 2026
Octavio Mesner, PhD, Enbal Shacham, PhD, and Darius Rucker, MEd during their Bootcamp consultation. (PHOTO: Tina McGrath Photography)
The Midwest D-CFAR recently hosted the second annual HIV Proposal Bootcamp on the Washington University School of Medicine campus. Bootcamp is designed to support emerging HIV researchers in developing competitive grant proposals. Researchers from WashU, Saint Louis University, and the University of Missouri submitted aims pages and were matched with investigators with expertise in HIV research. During the event, attendees received rapid, expert feedback through a series of 30-minute, face-to-face “lightning round” consultations. We were joined by 20 “consultees” and 22 consultants for a total of 67 consultations throughout the day, a 71% increase in consultations from last year.
Proposals ranged in research focus from implementation science to global health to basic science. The majority of concept papers were for NIH mechanisms (R21, R01, R34, R13), but several concepts were targeted toward private funders, including Merck.
Each consultee met with two to six consultants, building on comments throughout the day. Participants shared that they found the consultations valuable and appreciated the opportunity to connect with HIV investigators across the Midwest D-CFAR network. One consultee shared that their consultation sessions “drew [their] attention to potential pitfalls in the proposal concept that may result in it not being funded.” After Bootcamp, participants synthesized feedback to refine their proposals ahead of submission.
Consultants also expressed enthusiasm about the day, highlighting the consultation sessions as a particular bright spot. One consultant commented that they were “so inspired meeting everyone and seeing the work of the [early-stage investigators]. The one-on-one sessions were fabulous.” Beyond the grant writing support, Bootcamp offered HIV investigators from across the country an opportunity to connect and build meaningful relationships.
Panel discussion with members of the Midwest D-CFAR EAC, moderated by Aditi Ramakrishnan, MD, MSc and Emmanuel Tetteh, MD, MPH. (PHOTO: Tina McGrath Photography)
In addition to the consultations, Manya Magnus, PhD, MPH of George Washington University delivered a phenomenal keynote on Collaborative Science in Action: How CFAR Partnerships Drive Innovation and Impact HIV Research. The keynote was followed by a lively panel discussion with members of the Midwest D-CFAR External Advisory Committee (EAC), moderated by Aditi Ramakrishnan, MD, MSc and Emmanuel Tetteh, MD, MPH, early-stage HIV investigators and members of the Midwest D-CFAR. The panelists discussed Collaborative Pathways in HIV Research, emphasizing that HIV researchers - particularly emerging investigators - will need to be creative, nimble, and collaborative in order to navigate the current funding landscape. The EAC members also participated as consultants at Bootcamp, meeting with several early-stage investigators to review and refine their grant proposals.
Following the panel, several early-stage investigators presented “flash talks” of their current research. Julia López, PhD, MPH, LCSW presented her Midwest D-CFAR pilot project, ENGAGE-HIV, which aims to inform the development of a decision-making guide for healthcare providers on chest/breastfeeding for people living with HIV. Octavio Mesner, PhD, discussed Pathways to PrEP: A Methods Approach, a project that aims to leverage the Healthy Young Men’s Study to understand how Merck’s once-monthly oral PrEP might circumvent barriers to ART adherence among young Black and Latino MSM. Finally, Priya Pal, MD, PhD presented her Midwest D-CFAR pilot project, Turning HIV’s Rapid Evolution Into Its Achilles Heel, which explores how the innate immune system is able to block replication of a subset of HIV viruses, X4 tropic virus.
Finally, Jenny McKenzie, PhD, Co-Director of the WashU ICTS Research Development Office, shared a guide to ICTS Research Development Program resources, many of which are completely free to ICTS members.
Overall, the second annual HIV Proposal Bootcamp was a tremendous success; the event spawned new connections and research collaborations, and participants received multiple rounds of expert feedback on their proposals in development. We look forward to working with Bootcamp participants to get their proposals ready for submission over the next few months.
The group of attendees, presenters, and consultants at the 2026 HIV Proposal Bootcamp. (PHOTO: Tina McGrath Photography)
Written by Kate Gershwin.