Pilot Studies of Biological, Behavioral and Social Mechanisms Contributing to HIV Pathogenesis Within the Mission of NIDDK (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 24 162

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 162

The Pilot Studies of Biological, Behavioral and Social Mechanisms Contributing to HIV Pathogenesis Within the Mission of NIDDK (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity (PAR-24-162) is an NIH discretionary grant that supports early-stage, innovative pilot projects focused on HIV/AIDS research questions that fit within the mission areas of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The intent is to fund basic and translational studies that generate new mechanistic insights and preliminary data, positioning investigators to pursue larger follow-on projects. Because this is an R21 mechanism, the emphasis is typically on high-impact ideas and feasibility rather than fully mature programs of work. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this announcement.

The scientific scope is tied to the NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities established by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR), most recently referenced in NOT-20-018 (Update: NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining HIV/AIDS Funding). Within that broader NIH HIV/AIDS framework, this NOFO highlights several NIDDK-relevant directions. One major focus is understanding unique pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute to HIV-associated comorbidities, coinfections, and complications (often abbreviated as CCCs) that affect organs, tissues, and physiological processes central to NIDDKs portfolio, such as metabolic and endocrine function, digestive diseases, liver and pancreatic biology, nutrition-related pathways, and kidney and urologic health. Projects might explore how HIV infection, chronic immune activation, treatment exposures, or host responses drive organ-specific injury, accelerate disease progression, or alter normal physiology in these systems.

A second emphasized area is research on HIV reservoirs in tissues relevant to NIDDK. Reservoir biology remains a central barrier to durable viral control without continuous therapy, and this NOFO encourages studies that interrogate how and where HIV persists in specific tissue compartments and what biological mechanisms maintain that persistence. The long-term objective is to inform strategies that could contribute to long-term suppression or eventual eradication, but the projects supported here are meant to be pilot and mechanistic in nature, generating foundational evidence about reservoir dynamics, cellular niches, tissue microenvironments, and host factors in NIDDK-relevant organs.

A third theme is the role of behavioral and social mechanisms, particularly health-impeding social determinants of health, and how these factors may influence HIV comorbidities/complications or tissue reservoirs through multiple pathways. In practice, this can include mechanistic work that connects social and structural exposures (such as barriers to care, housing or food insecurity, stigma, stress, or other contextual factors) to biological outcomes relevant to NIDDK systems, for example via stress physiology, inflammation, metabolic changes, or treatment adherence patterns, as long as the work remains within the basic/translational and non-clinical-trial boundaries of the NOFO.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when categorized separately); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also calls out 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, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions regarding foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign elements in the project when appropriately justified and compliant with NIH policy.

From the source data provided, the agency is the National Institutes of Health, the activity category is listed under food and nutrition/health, and the CFDA number is 93.847. The original closing date shown is January 7, 2025. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided excerpt, which generally means applicants should consult the full NOFO text for budget limits, project period details, and any institute-specific funding expectations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pilot Studies of Biological, Behavioral and Social Mechanisms Contributing to HIV Pathogenesis Within the Mission of NIDDK (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2024-03-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-07. (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.

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