Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 215

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 215

This NIH funding opportunity (PAR-23-215) is an R21 grant designed to help Early Stage Investigators build independence through preclinical HIV/AIDS research that uses nonhuman primate (NHP) models. The program is specifically aimed at researchers who are within 10 years of earning their terminal degree or finishing residency training, and who also have at least two years of postdoctoral experience. The main idea is to give these investigators enough resources and autonomy to launch or solidify a distinct line of work in NHP-based HIV research, generate compelling preliminary data, and become more competitive for larger independent awards later on (most notably an R01).

Projects supported under this announcement must be preclinical and must use NHPs as the central experimental model for HIV/AIDS research. Clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA, so the work needs to remain on the preclinical side, using primate models to test hypotheses, evaluate interventions, understand mechanisms, or otherwise advance the science that could inform future human studies. The scope is intentionally broad as long as the science is clearly grounded in HIV/AIDS and leverages the strengths of NHP models, which are often critical for studying viral pathogenesis, immune responses, prevention strategies, and therapeutic concepts in ways that smaller animal models cannot fully replicate.

In terms of research priorities, the FOA aligns with the FY 2021-2025 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research. That means proposals can fit into any of the major strategic areas, including reducing HIV incidence (for example, prevention approaches, vaccines, or prophylactic strategies tested in NHP models), developing next-generation HIV therapies (such as novel antiretroviral approaches, long-acting modalities, antibodies, or immune-based therapies), advancing research toward an HIV cure (including latency, reservoirs, immune control, and eradication or remission strategies), and addressing HIV-associated comorbidities, coinfections, and complications (for instance, interactions with other pathogens, inflammation-related complications, or organ system impacts that can be modeled in NHPs). The FOA also encourages work that advances cross-cutting areas of research, which typically includes enabling technologies, innovative model development, and approaches that can accelerate progress across multiple HIV research domains.

Eligibility is fairly expansive on the domestic side and includes many common applicant organizations: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district governments), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also explicitly highlights several institution types and community-linked organizations as eligible applicants, 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), along with faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. Federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations are eligible as well.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. In practice, that means the applicant organization and the work supported by the award must remain fully domestic under NIH definitions, without foreign components embedded in the project.

From a funding and timing standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant mechanism with an award ceiling listed at $400,000. The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.351, and the listed original closing date is 2025-09-07. Overall, the program is structured as a targeted on-ramp for newer investigators who are ready to lead independent NHP-based HIV/AIDS studies, producing the kind of preclinical evidence and scientific momentum that can support a longer-term research trajectory.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (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): 93.242, 93.351.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 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 PAR 23 215

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