# Developmental Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $507,581

## Abstract

Core B: Developmental Core
ABSTRACT
The mission of the Developmental Core (Core B) is to catalyze new research directions in HIV/AIDS priority
areas and launch new AIDS research careers. Central to this goal, Core B nurtures young investigators, attracts
new-to-AIDS scientists, galvanizes the formation of innovative interdisciplinary teams, and provides funding.
Since creation of the Core in 1999, it has funded 148 pilot grants with a total of $5.6M, yielding $113.6M
in subsequent NIH awards for a 20:1 return on investment (ROI); in the past 5 years it has funded or co-
funded 43 pilot grant projects with a total of $1.5M, resulting in $18.3M in NIH funding for a 12:1 early
ROI. The Developmental Core is led by Drs. Elizabeth Lowenthal (Director) and Una O’Doherty (Co-
Director), and aims to:
1. To provide an efficient, dynamic and responsive funding process to catalyze new scientific domains,
engage and support the next generation of HIV investigators and leaders, encourage entry of established
investigators from other areas into AIDS research, and enhance diversity in the CFAR community. We
will: (1) Fund Pilot Grants that support innovative projects and new or new-to-HIV investigators; (2) Partner with
campus entities to create joint pilot research opportunities that promote synergy and multiply the impact of CFAR
funds; (3) Provide nimble, rapid funding for junior investigators to obtain targeted data for resubmission of a
grant, to support presentations at important scientific meetings or to publish in high-impact open access journals
through our Microgrant Program; (4) Issue special RFAs to fund timely research into emerging priorities.
2. To recruit, engage, and support CFAR investigators through mentoring and partnership programs. We
will: (1) Mentor and educate, providing advice and support to new and new-to-AIDS investigators; (2) Engage
the full CFAR community to stimulate additional targeted mentorship by Core leaders, Scientific Working Groups,
and partnerships with strategically matched and experienced CFAR faculty; (3) Execute a series of Workshops
and Review Panels that bring established experts and young scientists together for feedback and to nurture
interdisciplinary interactions.
3. To catalyze impactful research in NIH HIV/AIDS research priority areas. We will: (1) Bring together
investigators from basic, clinical and behavioral sciences to brainstorm topics of overlapping interest; (2) Engage
researchers from across the Penn, CHOP and Wistar campuses with the Philadelphia Department of Public
Health and other community partners; (3) Identify and recruit promising emerging investigators in complementary
fields whose work overlaps with NIH HIV/AIDS research priority area; (4) Support pipeline initiatives that bring
diverse researchers into the field.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10896652
- **Project number:** 2P30AI045008-26
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Una T O'Doherty
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $507,581
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1999-07-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10896652

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10896652, Developmental Core (2P30AI045008-26). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10896652. Licensed CC0.

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