- Provide a mentoring component to all Developmental Grant Projects. All Developmental projects are will include a mentoring component to assist in research development.
- Provide investigators a link to the UAB institutional faculty development programs. Over the past few years UAB has made an institutional commitment to faculty development programs to assist faculty members in achieving their career goals. This is evidenced by the School of Medicine’s new Sr. Associate Dean of Faculty Development, Dr. Kathleen Nelson, in 2006 and the increase in number and breadth of faculty development resources at UAB. The CFAR Developmental Core acts as a liaison between CFAR members and the established faculty development programs on the UAB campus.
- Be a resource to CFAR Members for grant submission and review. The Developmental Core provides individual assistance to CFAR members and investigators preparing HIV/AIDS related grant applications. These services include assistance with grant preparation including financial planning and helping to establish links between the PI and appropriate experts at UAB for Letters of Collaboration (especially Core Directors and facilities available to CFAR members). If sufficient time is provided (by the PI), the Developmental Core will arrange reviewers at UAB and outside (with appropriate monetary compensation) to obtain high quality reviews prior to national submission.
- Provide educational opportunities. The Developmental Core provides additional educational opportunities for graduate, post-doctoral and fellows interested in HIV research at UAB. In collaboration with the CFAR Virology/Molecular Biology Core, yearly workshops will be offered in which graduate students, post docs and fellows, can become acquainted with current technology for growth and characterization of HIV. This will necessitate the trainees becoming certified in BSL2+ facilities for growth of HIV as well as learn contemporary methodologies for detection and analysis of HIV. The goal of this training is to acquaint and familiarize young investigators with current HIV using hands on techniques that we believe will energize the UAB community and provide new investigators and interest into HIV research.