Four-year outcomes from an HIV research pathway program for aspiring scientists at the University of California, San Francisco Center for AIDS Research

Background Persistent inequities in the biomedical research workforce highlight the need for early, sustained training approaches that support individuals from backgrounds historically underrepresented in science and medicine. We present results of a 4-year evaluation of an HIV mentored research program for pre-doctoral students from colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area. Methods The Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Scholars Program took place at the University of California, San Francisco from 2022–2025. We conducted an evaluation across four cohorts of scholars (n = 23) before and after each year of the program. Scholars were individually mentored by a CFAR investigator, completed an independent research project, attended weekly didactic HIV seminars, and participated in professional development activities, along with clinical and community shadowing. We implemented pre- and post-program surveys to assess research skills, confidence, career clarity, program experiences, and mentorship quality each year. Qualitative data were collected through scholar focus groups and in-depth interviews with faculty mentors. Results Across cohorts, scholars demonstrated consistent gains in research readiness, understanding of scientific processes, tolerance for research challenges, and clarity about their career paths. The proportion of scholars reporting high confidence in pursuing academic work increased from 52.2% to 86.4%, and interest in HIV research increased from 30.4% to 68.2%. All scholars reported a clear understanding of what a career scientist’s job entails, which was a significant improvement from baseline. Qualitative findings highlighted the central role of responsive and engaged mentorship, structured programming, and a strong sense of belonging within an HIV research community. Conclusions Over four years, the UCSF CFAR Scholars Program showed sustained feasibility and a large impact in strengthening research skills, scientific identity, and HIV career interest among early-stage trainees. These findings support early mentored research pathways as an effective strategy to diversify and strengthen the HIV research workforce.