High Priority HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of the NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAS 18 698

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS 18 698

The High Priority HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of the NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity, numbered PAS-18-698, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant announcement designed to expand and strengthen HIV/AIDS research that clearly fits within the scientific scope of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The central purpose is to stimulate studies that respond to the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) high-priority HIV/AIDS research priorities, as laid out in NOT-OD-15-137, which provides the NIH-wide guidelines for what qualifies as AIDS-designated funding and the priority areas NIH is aiming to advance. In practical terms, this means proposed projects need to be both (1) strongly aligned with NIDDK mission areas such as diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, digestive diseases, nutrition, obesity, kidney/urologic/hematologic diseases, and related complications, and (2) meaningfully connected to HIV/AIDS research priorities defined by OAR.

The funding mechanism is an NIH Research Project Grant (R01), which is typically used to support mature, hypothesis-driven research programs with a substantial scientific scope. The FOA is listed as “Clinical Trial Optional,” meaning applicants may propose either clinical trial research or non-clinical-trial research, as long as the project meets NIH definitions and requirements. This flexibility is important for HIV-related work within NIDDK’s areas because some high-impact questions can be addressed through observational studies, mechanistic laboratory research, translational studies, implementation approaches, or interventional clinical trials depending on the topic and readiness of the field.

This announcement sits in the broader NIH funding activity category associated with health and food/nutrition (CFDA 93.847), reflecting NIDDK’s emphasis on metabolism, nutrition, and organ-system diseases, and how HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy, and co-morbid conditions intersect with these areas. While the FOA text provided does not list a specific award ceiling or an expected number of awards, applicants should generally interpret R01 support as substantial but competitively awarded based on scientific merit, program relevance, and available appropriations. The original closing date shown is January 7, 2021, and the FOA creation date is March 5, 2018, which are useful for understanding the historical timeframe of the announcement and for checking whether NIH has reissued, updated, or replaced it with a newer iteration.

A notable feature of this opportunity is the broad eligibility. Beyond the standard range of U.S. applicant organizations (including state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; and public housing authorities), it is open to public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. It also explicitly highlights eligibility for a wide set of mission-relevant and equity-focused institution types and community-linked organizations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). In addition, it includes faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility signals NIH’s intent to encourage diverse applicants and settings, including those serving populations disproportionately affected by HIV and its metabolic, renal, gastrointestinal, nutritional, and endocrine complications.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as an NIH/NIDDK pathway for investigators to pursue high-priority HIV/AIDS research questions that sit at the intersection of HIV and NIDDK-relevant diseases and systems, while also aligning with NIH-wide OAR priorities for AIDS-designated research. Applicants would be expected to make a clear case that their proposed aims advance HIV/AIDS science and directly map to NIDDK’s mission areas, whether through basic mechanisms, translational pathways, clinical investigations, or (optionally) clinical trials, using the R01 framework to support a rigorous, well-justified research plan.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "High Priority HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of the NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAS 18 698

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