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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Pilot Studies of Biological, Behavioral and Social Mechanisms Contributing to HIV Pathogenesis Within the Mission of NIDDK (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and it is identified as PAR-24-162.

What agency is offering this grant?

The funding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the opportunity is aligned with the mission areas of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

What type of grant mechanism is this?

This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly used for early-stage, innovative pilot projects where the emphasis is on feasibility and potential impact rather than a fully developed, long-term program of research.

What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The intent is to support basic and translational pilot studies that generate new mechanistic insights and preliminary data related to HIV/AIDS research questions within NIDDK mission areas, helping position investigators for larger follow-on projects.

Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?

No. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this announcement.

What kinds of research does the NOFO emphasize?

The NOFO emphasizes early-stage, innovative pilot projects focused on biological, behavioral, and social mechanisms contributing to HIV pathogenesis, as long as the research fits within NIDDK mission-relevant systems and remains basic/translational in nature.

How does this opportunity relate to NIH-wide HIV/AIDS research priorities?

The scientific scope is tied to the NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities established by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR), referenced in NOT-20-018 (Update: NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining HIV/AIDS Funding).

What does "within the mission of NIDDK" mean for topic fit?

It means the proposed HIV-related research should align with 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.

Does the NOFO encourage research on HIV-associated comorbidities, coinfections, and complications (CCCs)?

Yes. A major focus is understanding unique pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute to HIV-associated comorbidities, coinfections, and complications affecting NIDDK-relevant systems.

What kinds of mechanistic questions might be relevant for HIV-associated CCCs?

Examples described in the opportunity include studying how HIV infection, chronic immune activation, treatment exposures, or host responses drive organ-specific injury, accelerate disease progression, or alter normal physiology in metabolic/endocrine, digestive, liver/pancreatic, nutrition-related, kidney, or urologic systems.

Is research on HIV reservoirs within scope?

Yes. The NOFO encourages studies of HIV reservoirs in tissue compartments relevant to NIDDK, including how and where HIV persists and what mechanisms maintain persistence in those tissues.

What is the long-term objective of the reservoir-focused research encouraged here?

The long-term objective is to inform strategies that could contribute to long-term suppression or eventual eradication, while the projects funded under this NOFO are intended to be pilot and mechanistic, generating foundational evidence about reservoir dynamics and persistence.

What reservoir-related topics are specifically highlighted?

The opportunity highlights reservoir dynamics, cellular niches, tissue microenvironments, and host factors that may maintain HIV persistence in NIDDK-relevant organs.

Does this opportunity support behavioral and social mechanisms research?

Yes. A third theme is the role of behavioral and social mechanisms, including health-impeding social determinants of health, and how they may influence HIV comorbidities/complications or tissue reservoirs through multiple pathways.

What are examples of social determinants or contextual factors mentioned?

The opportunity references factors such as barriers to care, housing insecurity, food insecurity, stigma, stress, and other contextual exposures.

How should behavioral and social factors be linked to NIDDK-relevant outcomes to fit the scope?

The NOFO describes mechanistic work that connects social and structural exposures to biological outcomes relevant to NIDDK systems, for example via stress physiology, inflammation, metabolic changes, or treatment adherence patterns, while staying within basic/translational boundaries and not proposing a clinical trial.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, including 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; and various nonprofit, for-profit, and small business entities.

Are tribal entities and housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

Are nonprofits eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible (excluding higher education institutions when categorized separately).

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are institutions serving underrepresented communities specifically mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The announcement calls out 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).

Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly called out as eligible.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among eligible applicant categories.

Can foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply as the applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.

Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply.

Are foreign components allowed in the project at all?

Yes. Foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign elements when appropriately justified and compliant with NIH policy.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.847.

What activity category is this opportunity listed under?

From the provided source data, the activity category is listed under food and nutrition/health.

What is the closing date listed in the provided information?

The original closing date shown is January 7, 2025.

Is the award ceiling provided in the excerpt?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided excerpt.

Is the expected number of awards provided in the excerpt?

No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided excerpt.

Where should applicants look for budget limits and project period details?

Because the award ceiling, project period details, and institute-specific funding expectations are not included in the excerpt, applicants should consult the full NOFO text for those details.