Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 18 002
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Advancing Exceptional Research on HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-18-002; CFDA 93.279) supports highly innovative, hypothesis-driven research projects that sit at the intersection of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. It uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism and is meant for applicants who can present a well-developed, detailed research plan backed by preliminary data. In practical terms, this program is designed for ideas that are both creative and realistically executable, where there is already enough early evidence to justify a full-scale research project and a clear path to generating impactful results.
A key purpose of the FOA is to push the field beyond incremental advances by funding studies with the potential to open entirely new directions in HIV research and/or create new prevention and treatment opportunities specifically relevant to people who use drugs. The announcement emphasizes that the connection to drug abuse cannot be vague or incidental. Applicants are expected to clearly explain the "nexus" with substance use, meaning the proposal should show why drug use meaningfully shapes HIV risk, transmission, prevention uptake, treatment engagement, comorbidities, or health outcomes, and how the proposed science will address that substance use-related dimension directly.
This FOA is positioned as a complement to two related NIH programs: the Avant-Garde Award Program for HIV/AIDS and Drug Use Research and the Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS. Those companion programs are described as high-risk, high-reward pathways that differ in structure and expectations. The Avant-Garde award is geared toward individual investigators pursuing bold ideas and does not require a detailed research plan, while the Avenir award is similar in spirit but targets early stage investigators. By contrast, the R01 opportunity described here is the more traditional route for innovative work that still requires the standard components of a rigorous R01 application, including a detailed plan and preliminary data, making it a better fit for teams or investigators who are ready to lay out clear aims, methods, and feasibility.
In terms of scientific scope, the FOA does not restrict applicants to a single subfield or method. Both individual researchers and research teams may apply, and projects can span basic, clinical, behavioral, social, implementation, or translational research, as long as the focus remains on HIV/AIDS in the context of substance use. At the same time, it requires alignment with NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities (referenced in NOT-OD-15-137). That requirement effectively anchors proposed work to NIH-identified priority areas in HIV research, while still leaving room for unconventional approaches and novel concepts, provided they are clearly relevant to HIV and substance use and can be justified within the NIH priority framework.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organizational types across the public, private, nonprofit, and educational sectors. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized), regional organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations. This breadth signals NIH interest in attracting strong ideas from a wide range of settings, including community-linked organizations and institutions serving populations heavily impacted by HIV and substance use.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, uses the grant funding instrument, and falls under education and health activity areas. The source information lists NIH as the sponsoring agency, with an original closing date of January 23, 2018, and a creation date of March 3, 2017. While the summary data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the central message of the FOA is clear: NIH is seeking ambitious, innovative R01 projects that can credibly advance HIV/AIDS science and improve prevention and treatment outcomes for people affected by substance use, backed by solid early evidence and a rigorous, detailed research strategy.Apply for RFA DA 18 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Exceptional Research on HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-03-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-23. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Advancing Exceptional Research on HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R01)
1) What is this NIH funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Advancing Exceptional Research on HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-18-002; CFDA 93.279). It supports highly innovative, hypothesis-driven research projects focused on the intersection of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse using the NIH R01 grant mechanism.
2) What type of grant mechanism does this FOA use?
The FOA uses the NIH R01 mechanism. It is positioned as a traditional R01 route that still emphasizes innovation, but requires standard R01 elements like a well-developed, detailed research plan and preliminary data.
3) What is the main purpose of the FOA?
The FOA aims to push the field beyond incremental progress by funding ambitious studies that could open new directions in HIV research and/or create new prevention and treatment opportunities specifically relevant to people who use drugs.
4) What does NIH mean by the "nexus" with substance use?
The FOA emphasizes that the connection to drug abuse cannot be vague or incidental. Applicants are expected to clearly explain how substance use meaningfully shapes HIV risk, transmission, prevention uptake, treatment engagement, comorbidities, or health outcomes, and how the proposed research directly addresses that substance use-related dimension.
5) Does the project have to be hypothesis-driven?
Yes. The FOA describes the supported projects as highly innovative and hypothesis-driven, and it expects a rigorous approach consistent with a full R01 application.
6) Is preliminary data required?
Yes. This program is described as intended for applicants who can present a well-developed research plan backed by preliminary data, with enough early evidence to justify a full-scale R01 project.
7) How innovative does the research need to be?
The FOA specifically seeks ideas that go beyond incremental advances. It is designed for research with the potential to open entirely new directions in HIV research and/or lead to new prevention or treatment opportunities relevant to people who use drugs.
8) How is this R01 FOA different from the NIH Avant-Garde Award Program?
This R01 FOA is presented as a complement to the Avant-Garde Award Program for HIV/AIDS and Drug Use Research. The Avant-Garde program is described as a high-risk, high-reward pathway geared toward individual investigators pursuing bold ideas and it does not require a detailed research plan. In contrast, this R01 requires a detailed plan and preliminary data.
9) How is this R01 FOA different from the NIH Avenir Award Program?
The FOA is also positioned as a complement to the Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS. The Avenir award is described as similar in spirit but targeted to early stage investigators. This R01 opportunity is framed as a better fit for investigators or teams ready to submit a traditional R01 application with clear aims, methods, feasibility, and preliminary data.
10) What kinds of research areas or disciplines are allowed?
The FOA does not restrict applicants to a single subfield or method. Projects may span basic, clinical, behavioral, social, implementation, or translational research, as long as the focus remains on HIV/AIDS in the context of substance use.
11) Are both individual investigators and research teams eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes that both individual researchers and research teams may apply.
12) Does the project need to align with NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities?
Yes. The FOA requires alignment with NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities referenced in NOT-OD-15-137. This anchors proposed work to NIH-identified priority areas while still allowing unconventional approaches if they are clearly relevant to HIV and substance use and are justified within the priority framework.
13) What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organizational types across the public, private, nonprofit, and educational sectors. Eligible applicants listed include:
- State, county, city, or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
14) Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for faith-based or community-based organizations.
15) Are minority-serving institutions included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The FOA specifically highlights additional eligible applicant categories 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).
16) Are tribal governments or regional organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized) and regional organizations as eligible applicant categories.
17) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions in the highlighted eligible applicant categories.
18) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes eligible federal agencies among the highlighted eligible applicant categories.
19) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes non-U.S. (foreign) organizations as eligible applicants.
20) What is the funding instrument and funding category?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant funding instrument.
21) What activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The source information lists the activity areas as education and health.
22) Which agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
23) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The FOA is RFA-DA-18-002 and the CFDA number listed is 93.279.
24) What was the closing date and when was the opportunity created?
The source information lists an original closing date of January 23, 2018, and a creation date of March 3, 2017.
25) Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or number of awards?
No. The summary data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
26) What is NIH looking for in terms of feasibility and execution?
The FOA emphasizes ideas that are both creative and realistically executable. It is meant for applicants who can show enough early evidence to justify a full-scale project and present a clear path to generating impactful results through a rigorous, detailed research strategy.
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