Current Research > CAPS Fellowships > CAPS Training Program for HIV-Prevention Research in Minority Communities

CAPS Training Program for HIV-Prevention Research in Minority Communities

A program that provides funding for HIV prevention research with ethnic minority communities


Current and past Visiting Professors and program faculty at the 2008 Conference and Reunion

Why this program?

The CAPS Training Program for HIV-Prevention Research in Minority Communities is designed to assist investigators already conducting HIV-prevention research with ethnic minority communities to improve their programs of research and obtain additional funding for their work. The goals of the program are:

  • To increase the quantity and quality of HIV prevention research targeting vulnerable ethnic minority populations.
  • To develop theory-based, culture-specific research methods for effective HIV prevention interventions.
  • To increase the number of minority group members among principal investigators funded by the NIH, CDC and other agencies.

    "Every aspect of my experience in the Visiting Professors program was extraordinarily helpful. The faculty at CAPS has vision and a deep sense of commitment to work with the Visiting Professors. The breadth of scholarly expertise in HIV and AIDS prevention along with a caring work ethic were core elements of the program." -2006 Visiting Professor

Who should apply?

The Collaborative HIV Prevention Research in Minority Communities program is designed for scientists in tenure-track positions or investigators in research institutes who have not yet obtained RO1 funding from the NIH or equivalent funding from another agency.

We seek scientists who are conducting theory-driven, culturally specific HIV prevention research with minority communities.  Evidence of prior pilot or intramural funding and publication in peer reviewed journals is desired.  Applicants must be eligible to be Principal Investigators at their institutions.

Criteria that will be considered in selecting scientists for this program:

  • Commitment to HIV prevention and minority-focused research.
  • Prior HIV prevention research with minority communities and community based organizations.
  • Past experience conducting research and writing papers.
  • Creative, innovative, and methodologically rigorous initial research plan.
  • Quality of letters of recommendation from colleagues and mentors.
  • Support from home institution (e.g., time off for research, seed money)

    "One of the best experiences of my professional training. The faculty is extremely knowledgeable about scientific research, publishing and the whole grant writing and review process… something critical for any junior faculty like me. Moreover, the relationships formed between the VP and their Mentor last forever. I am getting way much more out of the program than I expected!"

    "The VP program is a home away from home. The faculty have always been very encouraging and supportive of my ideas and research goals. They provided advice about the nuts and bolts of putting together a successful research plan, as well as offered their wisdom on how to navigate life as successful independent researcher. I’ve got the grants but more importantly I have colleagues and friends I can call upon for a lifetime. Anyone looking to be a successful HIV prevention researcher in communities of color would benefit greatly from the program."

Program activities

Each year a small number of scientists will be selected to develop an ethnic minority-focused HIV-prevention research project. Each scientist will work with CAPS investigators to develop a specific program of research tailored to his or her research interest. During the program scientists will:

  • Spend six weeks in San Francisco for three summers.
  • Receive a monthly stipend for living expenses (each summer) and roundtrip airfare to San Francisco.
  • Receive up to $25,000 to conduct preliminary research before the second summer, to strengthen an investigator-initiated RO1 application.
  • Design appropriate initial studies.
  • Analyze and write up data from these studies.
  • Plan subsequent research.
  • Apply for funding for their research program.
  • Respond to review committee comments on their application.

For detailed description of how this program works, please see the Program Overview and the Description of Summer Seminars and Activities.

Program dates

The program is now accepting new applicants for the summer 2010 summer training institute. Please download the application form. Completed applications and letters of recommendation are due no later than January 18, 2010. The summer program dates will be from June 21st through July 30th, 2010. Interested applicants can contact Jackie Ramos with questions or requests for further information.

Meet the Visiting Professors

The Collaborative HIV-Prevention Research in Minority Communities Program has now collaborated with 40 Visiting Professors: Sonya Arreola, George Ayala, Faye Belgrave, Gauri Bhattacharya, Lisa Bowleg, Deborah Brome, Emma J. Brown, Hector Carrillo, John Chin, Judith Cornelius, Stacey Daughters, Lauren Durant, Sonja Feist-Price, Sheldon Fields, Larry Gant, Dorie Gilbert, Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Kim Jacob-Arriola, David Malebranche, Wende Marshall, Robert Miller, Don Operario, Kurt Organista, Blanca Ortíz-Torres, Mark Padilla, Jesus Ramirez-Valles, Rocio Rivedeneyra, Lynn Roberts, Laura Romo, Fred Ssewamala, Lois Takahashi, Nelson Varas-Diaz, Dexter Voisin, Scyatta Wallace, Celeste Watkins, Darrell Wheeler, Eric Whitaker, Leo Wilton, Hirokazu Yoshikawa, and Maria Cecilia Zea. Meet all the Visiting Professors.

What have we accomplished?

CAPS is a leader in HIV-prevention research in minority communities. The unique contribution of the present project is that it will allow minority-focused investigators to use the technical assistance of a team of collaborators who are both successful researchers and knowledgeable about the issues of doing HIV prevention research with minority communities.

Directors: Tor Neilands, PhD (Quantitative Methods, Social Psychology), Diane Binson, PhD (Research Methods, Sociology), Marguerita Lightfoot (Counseling Psychology), and Jim Sorensen (Substance Use)

Co-Investigators: Judith Barker, PhD (Medical Anthropology), Cherrie Boyer, PhD (Psychology), Olga Grinstead Reznick, PhD, MPH (Clinical Psychology, Public Health), Jeanne Tschann, PhD (Social Psychology), Megan Comfort (Sociology)

For more information, please contact:

Jackie Ramos
Program Coordinator
50 Beale Street, Suite 1300
San Francisco, CA 94105
tel: (415) 597-4976
email: jackie.ramos@ucsf.edu

For more research opportunities in the area of HIV/AIDS and ethnic minorities, please visit The American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program and Office HIV/AIDS Research Training Fellowship Program.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).