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Eligibility  |  Application Requirements  |  Example Data Projects  |  Questions  |  Contact Info

HVTN is offering a new research opportunity: Scientific Pilot Awards for early career investigators.*

These pilot awards are designed for those who have already published first-author manuscripts; former Scientific Leadership Development awardees are encouraged to apply.

These Pilot Awards will fund investigators to engage in research at their sites. 

Responsive proposals will:

  • have an HIV immunology/vaccinology focus
  • advance the scientific career development of the awardee (such as by generating preliminary data).
  • strengthen the applicant’s collaborations with HVTN laboratories and/or statistical teams
  • use HVTN specimens or data

Qualitative or sociobehavioral research is not responsive to this proposal and will not be considered.

We anticipate funding 4-6 awards this year. 

The 2026 Application Cycle is now open! Deadline is 11:59pm, Pacific Time, February 17th, 2026

General Program Details:

Deadline: February 17, 2026 at 11:59 Pacific Time
 
Eligibility Criteria:
  • Early stage investigator with MD, PhD or equivalent doctoral degree*
  • Prior first-authorship record
  • Affiliation with an HVTN Core Site or site actively enrolling HVTN trials
  • Designated research mentor at your HVTN site

Awards will start 7/1/2026

How will scientists be selected?

  • Scientific merit of the project
  • Prior track record of clinical trials research and experience in HVTN
  • Mentor suitable for the proposed work and affiliated with HVTN
  • Demonstrated evidence of qualities such as intellectual rigor, independence, curiosity, responsibility, collegial teamwork, and ability to manage multiple priorities
  • Feasible project that aligns with HVTN network priorities

A complete application will include:

Project Proposal

Project proposal including specific aims and a research plan (Max 1500 words, fonts/margins according to NIH style)
The proposal should include:

  • Title
  • Background and Rationale for the study
  • Specific Aims and primary outcomes measured
  • Research Strategy and Analysis Plan
  • Deliverables
  • References (not counted toward the max word count)

Letter from Mentor

Letter from mentor attesting to your ability to complete the project and outlining support you will receive at your site.

List of Collaborators

A list of collaborators appropriate to the proposed project. For projects using non-publicly available HVTN data, this would include laboratory members involved in generation of the primary data and/or protocol team members involved in clinical trials.

A Completed Auxiliary Studies Proposal

A completed Auxiliary Studies Proposal is required if HVTN data or specimens are sought. See resources:

The proposal document should be included in the application but does not need to be submitted to the Auxiliary Studies Committee.

Budget Information

  • Budget with a limit of $35,000 (direct costs)
    • Do not include funds for travel or publications in the budget.
    • Salary support, laboratory reagents, statistical support are all acceptable.
  • Budget Justification (<1 page)
  • Download Budget Template (Excel doc)

Additional Materials

  • Regulatory/ethical Plan (if needed; this only applies to non-HVTN data or specimens)
  • Project Abstract (30 lines of text)
  • NIH Biosketch for the PI, limit 4 pages

Scientific Pilot Award Project Ideas:

The HVTN Concept Committee has described areas of priority research for our network using data already collected in the Cross-Protocol Study Initiative. These ideas could be explored further in a Pilot Award proposal, and include:

  1. Antibody and B cell integration: studies that can help understand affinity maturation and on versus off target responses; are there immune subsets that define desired functional outcomes across trials
  2. Neutralizing antibodies: understanding the relationships between neutralizing antibodies and epitope-specific binding antibodies, epitope-specific B cell frequencies, EMPEM structures
  3. T cell data: 27 color ICS data is available for discovery med platforms, but very limited studies have been done on Regulatory T cells, Memory T cells, T follicular helper cells, and granzyme and perforin. High dimensional or clustering analyses could provide insight into the relationships between these T cell responses and induction of epitope specific or Tier 2 antibodies

Committee priorities were described at the HVTN Full Group Meeting in May 2025, and were outlined in a talk that you can find here, or linked to from the FGM website here.

Scientists proposing work that involves these Concept Committee priorities should include Concept Committee and HVTN laboratory members in your collaboration.

Other project ideas: We also will support original proposals not discussed above that advance the HVTN research agenda, including basic science/laboratory research that can be completed in one year.

Questions?

  • Additional Information: For additional information or other questions please contact Alison Roxby.
  • Application Submission: please send your application via email to Francisco Rentas.


*We are using the NIH definition of an early-stage investigator, within 10 years of terminal degree. NIH also allows investigators to add extensions for specific personal issues or for larger disruptions/disasters: https://grants.nih.gov/policy-and-compliance/policy-topics/early-stage-investigators/extensions. Please reach out to us if your circumstances merit additional consideration.

For More Information, Please Contact

Francisco Rentas

Administrative Coordinator, HIV Vaccine Trials Network