Midwest D-CFAR's inaugural HIV Proposal Bootcamp fosters research collaboration and grant development

Dorothy Mangale, PhD, and Ginger McKay, PhD, have a consultation at the 2025 HIV Proposal Bootcamp. (PHOTO: Tina McGrath Photography)

David Haas, MD, presents at the 2025 HIV Proposal Bootcamp. (PHOTO: Tina McGrath Photography)

The Midwest D-CFAR hosted its inaugural HIV Proposal Bootcamp on the Washington University School of Medicine campus. This full-day, in-person event was 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 established investigators with expertise in HIV research. During the event, attendees received rapid, expert feedback on their grant proposals through a series of 30-minute, face-to-face “lightning round” consultations. We were joined by 12 “consultees” and 17 consultants for a total of 39 consultations throughout the day.

Proposals ranged in research area from implementation science to global health to basic science.

Consultees reported that they found the consultations valuable and appreciated the opportunity to connect with other HIV investigators during the networking lunch and “proposal integration time.” “HIV Proposal Bootcamp was a wonderful opportunity to bounce grant ideas off faculty with diverse expertise and benefit from their experience and insights,” shared Kalen Petersen, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and Bootcamp consultee. “It was also a great chance to get connected to the HIV research community at WashU, SLU, and other institutions, especially for early-stage investigators!”

Additionally, consultants expressed excitement about the proposals they reviewed. Enbal Shacham, PhD, associate dean for research and Midwest D-CFAR associate director, said the following about her experience: “It was a great experience to be able to participate in helping to build and refine future research that will come out of our Midwest D-CFAR. The impact of these types of projects have the potential to improve human flourishing and livelihoods throughout the world.”

In addition to the consultations, David W. Haas, MD, from Vanderbilt University delivered an enlightening keynote presentation discussing the impact of genetics on drug-drug interactions during HIV and TB therapies. Dr. Haas is an accomplished HIV clinical trialist and leader in human pharmacogenomic research relevant to HIV infection and its therapy. Throughout his presentation, Dr. Haas emphasized that when genetics affect multiple concomitant drugs, drug-drug interactions may be complex. Dr. Haas also served as a consultant at Bootcamp, meeting with several early-career investigators to review and refine their grant proposals.

Overall, Bootcamp was a tremendous success; the event spawned several new connections and research collaborations, and participants received multiple rounds of expert feedback on their proposals in development. We look forward to working further with the consultees to get their proposals ready for submission over the next few months.

The group of attendees, presenters, and consultants at the 2025 HIV Proposal Bootcamp. (PHOTO: Tina McGrath Photography)

Written by Kate Gershwin