Gilead Sciences – Research Scholars Program in HIV & Community PrEP Implementation (March 2027 Deadline)

Awards of Up to $180,000 Supporting Community-Based HIV Prevention Research and Healthcare Innovation Nationwide

Gilead Sciences is accepting applications for its Research Scholars Program in Community PrEP Implementation, which supports emerging investigators working to improve HIV prevention services in community healthcare settings across the United States.

The program aims to strengthen community-based research capacity, expand access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), address healthcare disparities, and improve the integration of HIV prevention into primary care.

Three researchers will be selected to receive funding of up to $180,000 each over a two-year period. Funding is administered through the participating community health organization.

Organization: Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Support Type: Corporate-sponsored research awards
Geographic Focus: United States — Nationwide
Funding Amount: Up to $180,000 per award
Number of Awards: Three
Application Deadline: March 7, 2027

About the Funder

Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing treatments and improving health outcomes in areas of significant medical need, including HIV, viral hepatitis, and oncology.

Through its Research Scholars Program, Gilead invests in emerging investigators whose research has the potential to advance scientific knowledge, reduce healthcare disparities, and improve patient outcomes.

The Community PrEP Implementation program specifically focuses on strengthening HIV prevention research within community healthcare settings.

The awards are funded directly by Gilead Sciences, Inc., rather than the Gilead Foundation.

What This Program Supports

HIV Prevention & PrEP Implementation

Research examining ways to incorporate HIV prevention services into routine primary care and community healthcare delivery.

Potential projects could address screening, referrals, patient engagement, and access to preventive healthcare.

Healthcare Access & Equity

Research addressing structural obstacles that prevent underserved populations from accessing HIV prevention services.

Applicants may explore approaches to improving care for communities disproportionately affected by HIV.

Healthcare Delivery Innovation

Research testing innovative healthcare delivery models that improve the availability, coordination, or effectiveness of community-based HIV prevention services.

Projects should demonstrate potential for practical implementation and broader adoption.

Community-Based Research Capacity

Initiatives that strengthen the ability of community health organizations to conduct independent research and generate evidence that can improve clinical practice.

Early-Career Investigator Development

The program also supports the professional development of emerging researchers through senior mentorship, organizational support, and dedicated research time.

Eligible Support Types

Funding supports independent research conducted through a participating community health organization.

Eligible expenses may include:

• Investigator and essential research team compensation
• Research supplies and materials
• Equipment rental or leasing
• Training and resources for community members
• Limited statistical analysis and participant recruitment costs
• Travel to scientific meetings to present research findings
• Limited organizational overhead

All expenses must relate to the approved research project and comply with Gilead’s budget requirements.

Eligibility & Preferences

The program is intended for early-career investigators working in partnership with U.S. community health organizations.

Eligible Community Health Organizations

Organizations that may participate include:

• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
• Community health centers
• Primary care clinics
• Addiction treatment clinics
• Pediatric and adolescent health clinics
• Obstetrics and gynecology practices
• Public health department and housing clinics

Other community organizations providing healthcare, social services, education, or advocacy for populations affected by HIV may also be relevant partners.

Investigator Qualifications

Applicants must meet the program’s professional qualifications, including:

• An eligible medical or health-related doctoral degree, or an equivalent qualification
• Appropriate early-career research experience
• Employment by, or a contractual relationship with, the participating community health organization
• An experienced senior research mentor
• Institutional support that protects at least 30% of professional time for research
• The ability to finish the proposed study and produce research outputs during the award period

Academic investigators generally must be within five years of their first faculty appointment.

Investigators employed directly by community health organizations should generally have three to five years of research experience. Gilead indicates that exceptions to the experience guidelines may be considered for promising candidates.

Applicants must also have U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or authorization to work and conduct research in the United States throughout the award period.

Academic & Community Health Partnerships

Researchers based at universities or other academic institutions may apply through a qualifying community health partnership.

However, the community health organization must administer the award, retain the research agreement and intellectual property, and remain responsible for the study.

The project must be developed, implemented, and sustained in partnership with the community health organization.

Funding is intended for one principal investigator. Academic institutions cannot receive a subaward through this program.

Geographic Eligibility

Nationwide — United States

The program supports investigators conducting research through U.S.-based community health organizations and public health clinical settings.

Gilead does not identify specific state or regional priorities for this funding cycle.

Ineligible Requests

The program does not support:

• Research evaluating an individual pharmaceutical product
• Head-to-head comparisons of pharmaceutical products
• Expenses already covered by another funding source
• Transfers of award funds to academic institutions through subawards
• Compensation or fringe benefits for mentors or students
• Purchases of durable equipment
• Individual equipment purchases exceeding $2,500

Research must remain product-neutral, including studies involving Gilead products or competing products.

Applicants whose proposed research receives partial support from another funder must demonstrate that expenses do not overlap.

The program is not intended to provide unrestricted operating support or general community health programming unrelated to an eligible research study.

Funding Amounts

Maximum Award: $180,000

Number of Awards: Three

Total Potential Funding: $540,000

Award Period: Two years

Funding is paid to the participating organization in annual installments of up to $90,000.

Release of the second installment requires an approved research progress report.

Budget Restrictions

Applicants should review the complete budget guidelines before preparing their funding requests.

Timeline & Review

📅 Application Status: Open

📅 Application Deadline: March 7, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time

📅 Number of Awards: Three

📅 Funding Period: Two years

📅 Award Notification: Not specified on the main opportunity page

📅 Second-Year Funding: Subject to progress report approval

Review Process

An independent scientific committee evaluates eligible research proposals based on their scientific quality, originality, and practical feasibility.

Selected projects are also subject to Gilead’s internal validation process.

Gilead does not direct the investigators’ research methods, analysis, interpretation, or publication decisions.

Application / Request Process

Applications must be completed through Gilead’s online Research Scholars application portal.

Applicants should prepare the following materials:

Research Proposal

A proposal of no more than five pages, excluding the abstract and bibliography.

The bibliography may contain up to 20 references.

Professional Qualifications & Mentorship

• Applicant and mentor biographical sketches
• Mentor recommendation and support documentation
• A detailed research training and mentorship plan
• Collaboration documentation when working with multiple mentors

Organizational Support

A letter from the community health organization explaining its commitment, available resources, and plans to sustain the proposed work.

Academic collaborations also require institutional endorsement from the appropriate academic department leader.

Budget & Additional Funding

An itemized research budget, budget summary, and disclosure of existing or pending funding requests.

Online Application Responses

Applicants must also provide a research abstract, a 300-word career development plan, and information about their experience working in community health settings.

Application templates and additional instructions are available on the official program website.

Apply / Learn More: https://researchscholars.gilead.com/hiv_prep_us/about

Eligibility Guidelines: https://researchscholars.gilead.com/hiv_prep_us/program-specifics/eligibility

Application Requirements: https://researchscholars.gilead.com/hiv_prep_us/application-essentials/application-requirements

Budget Guidelines: https://researchscholars.gilead.com/hiv_prep_us/application-essentials/budget-guidelines

Program Contact: gileadsciencesrsp@bcdme.com

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is particularly well suited for:

• Federally Qualified Health Centers seeking to strengthen research capacity
• Community clinics serving populations disproportionately affected by HIV
• Community health organizations working to expand HIV prevention services
• Public health clinical programs addressing healthcare access barriers
• Early-career investigators developing community-based research projects
• Academic researchers with established community healthcare partnerships
• Healthcare organizations seeking to improve HIV prevention delivery through evidence-based innovation

The Gilead Research Scholars Program offers a substantial funding opportunity for community healthcare organizations seeking to build research capacity while advancing HIV prevention and healthcare equity.

Its emphasis on community health organizations makes it particularly relevant to healthcare providers that may have fewer opportunities to access traditional academic research funding.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Competitive research award cycle
Application Deadline: March 7, 2027
Maximum Award: $180,000
Number of Awards: Three
Total Potential Funding: $540,000
Award Period: Two years
Geographic Eligibility: Nationwide — United States
Indirect Cost Limit: 10%
Eligible Applicants: Qualified early-career investigators partnered with community health organizations
Funding Recipient: Community health organization
Mentorship Requirement: Yes
Academic Subawards: Not permitted
Best Suited For: Community health organizations, FQHCs, and qualified investigators advancing HIV prevention and community-based healthcare research