High Priority HIV and Substance Use Research (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 25 060

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 25 060

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the "High Priority HIV and Substance Use Research (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional)" funding opportunity (RFA-DA-25-060) to support high-impact research that sits directly at the intersection of HIV and substance use. The central aim is to fund innovative projects that can open up new directions in HIV/AIDS research and generate practical advances in HIV prevention, treatment, and cure specifically for people who use drugs (PWUD). The FOA is designed for work that is ambitious and clearly positioned as "high priority," meaning applicants need to show that their proposed research addresses important gaps and has a strong potential to move the field forward.

A key requirement is that applications must present a detailed research plan backed by preliminary data and must explicitly explain the nexus between HIV and substance use. In other words, it is not enough to study HIV in general or substance use in general; the proposal needs to make a clear, defensible case for why substance use is central to the HIV-related scientific question, population, mechanism, intervention, or implementation challenge being studied. The program is also intentionally broad in the kinds of studies it will consider, welcoming approaches ranging from basic science through clinical research and on to implementation research. The "Clinical Trial Optional" label signals that projects may include a clinical trial if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not mandatory.

All proposed studies must align with the NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities described in NOT-OD-20-018, which outlines NIH-wide priorities and provides guidance for determining whether work qualifies as HIV/AIDS-focused for funding purposes. Practically, that means applicants should map their aims to those NIH HIV/AIDS priorities and make the alignment obvious in the narrative, rather than treating it as a general background reference.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both with and 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 (AANAPISISs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. However, the opportunity is not open to non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities applying as the primary applicant, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. At the same time, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may be able to include certain international elements if they meet NIH rules for foreign components.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the Education and Health funding activity area (CFDA 93.279). The posting lists an award ceiling of $1,500,000. The FOA was created on January 17, 2024, and the original closing date is February 11, 2027. Overall, this announcement is best understood as NIH seeking well-justified, data-supported, and clearly HIV-plus-substance-use-focused research that can produce meaningful scientific or public health advances for PWUD across the full continuum of discovery, clinical investigation, and real-world implementation.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "High Priority HIV and Substance Use Research (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-02-11.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• 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 RFA DA 25 060

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