Exploiting in vivo or in situ imaging approaches to understand HIV-relevant processes in the context of substance use disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trials Optional) | RFA DA 21 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 21 005

This NIH discretionary grant opportunity (RFA-DA-21-005) focuses on pushing forward imaging-based research that can clarify how HIV (and the related simian model virus, SIV) behaves in the body, especially in the real-world context of substance use disorders (SUD). The central idea is to support projects that either further develop advanced in vivo (inside a living organism) or in situ (within intact tissues) imaging methods, or apply already-emerging imaging approaches in new ways, to answer HIV-relevant questions that are difficult to resolve with standard sampling alone. The program is designed to help researchers directly observe where virus persists, how infection and treatment affect tissues over time, and how SUD or SUD treatments may interact with HIV disease biology.

A major scientific emphasis is on understanding HIV/SIV infection dynamics and the persistence of latent reservoirs, meaning pockets of virus that remain in the body even when standard antiretroviral therapy suppresses virus in the blood. The opportunity also encourages work on the downstream pathogenic consequences of infection, such as inflammation, tissue damage, or neurological impacts, and on measuring or visualizing the effects of therapies, whether those therapies target HIV/SIV itself or address substance use disorders. Projects can be structured to look at how infection or treatment changes biological processes in ways that are spatially localized (for example, specific regions of lymphoid tissue or particular brain structures) and temporally dynamic (for example, before and after treatment initiation, during relapse cycles, or across stages of disease).

Applicants may propose studies in nonhuman primates or in humans, and the tissues of interest explicitly include blood, lymphoid tissues, and brain. This matters because HIV reservoirs and immune interactions can differ substantially across these compartments, and SUD-related effects are often especially relevant to the central nervous system and immune function. Imaging and related technologies in this context can include modalities that track cells, virus-associated signals, inflammatory processes, or drug distribution and activity, with the goal of producing more direct, anatomically grounded evidence than what can be inferred from blood tests alone.

The funding mechanism is the R61/R33 phased innovation award, with clinical trials listed as optional. In general, this structure is meant to support projects that start with a milestone-driven early phase (R61) focused on feasibility, optimization, or proof-of-concept, and then transition to a second phase (R33) intended for more expanded development and application once the early milestones are met. That design fits imaging technology work well, since methods often need an initial period of validation, optimization, and demonstration of measurable performance before they can be deployed at scale in larger studies.

Eligibility is broad, reflecting NIH’s typical emphasis on including a wide range of research institutions and community-relevant organizations. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), tribal governments that are not federally recognized, eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and regional organizations. This wide net signals an intent to support imaging innovations and applications wherever the relevant expertise and populations exist, including settings with strong community ties or specialized access to cohorts.

Administratively, the opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health, tied to CFDA number 93.279, and uses the grant funding instrument. The original closing date listed is July 9, 2021, and the creation date for the opportunity is March 24, 2020. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data. Overall, the program is aimed at accelerating imaging-driven insights into HIV persistence, tissue-specific disease mechanisms, and treatment effects, while explicitly addressing the added complexity that substance use disorders can introduce into HIV acquisition risk, disease progression, brain and immune system impacts, and treatment outcomes.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploiting in vivo or in situ imaging approaches to understand HIV-relevant processes in the context of substance use disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trials 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 2020-03-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-07-09. (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 RFA DA 21 005

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