Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 189

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 189

The Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging funding opportunity (PAR 18-189) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant program focused on research that sits squarely at the intersection of HIV and the aging process. It is designed for multidisciplinary projects that can deepen what is known about how people age with HIV and, at the same time, use established and emerging ideas from aging science to improve how HIV is prevented, diagnosed, treated, and managed across diverse real-world settings. Clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants can propose either non-trial research (for example, observational, mechanistic, or implementation studies) or trials when they are scientifically justified.

The FOA is built around two major goals. First, it seeks to improve understanding of aging itself by using HIV infection and HIV treatment as a lens for studying biological, clinical, and socio-behavioral dimensions of aging. In practice, this encourages research that can clarify how long-term HIV infection, chronic immune activation, antiretroviral therapy exposure, and social and behavioral factors interact with the aging process. Second, it aims to improve HIV-related health outcomes by applying what is currently known about aging science to the full continuum of HIV work: testing, prevention, treatment, and long-term management. This includes research that addresses HIV-related comorbidities, co-infections, and complications that may become more common or more complex as people grow older, and it explicitly highlights the need to study different populations and cultural settings rather than treating aging with HIV as a one-size-fits-all issue.

A key expectation is that proposed projects align with the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) scientific priorities referenced in NOT-OD-15-137. This matters because it signals that the program is not just broadly interested in HIV and aging, but also wants funded research to fit within NIH-wide strategic directions for HIV/AIDS research. Applicants should therefore be prepared to frame their aims in ways that clearly connect to those priorities, such as advancing knowledge that can translate into improved prevention or care strategies, addressing health disparities, or strengthening the evidence base for interventions that work in specific communities.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, reflecting the multidisciplinary and community-relevant nature of the topic. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S. government entities (state, county, city or township, special districts), as well as public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, and public or Indian housing authorities. The FOA is also open to federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. Beyond these standard categories, the announcement explicitly encourages participation from organizations that often play essential roles in HIV and aging research and services, including faith-based or community-based organizations and a range of minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). It also allows non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, which supports international or cross-regional work where aging with HIV may present different patterns of comorbidity, access to care, or cultural considerations.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity using the R01 mechanism, which generally supports substantial, hypothesis-driven or well-justified programmatic research projects. The opportunity was created on November 29, 2017, and the original closing date listed is January 7, 2021. The funding announcement references multiple CFDA numbers (including 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.361, 93.393 through 93.396, 93.399, 93.853, and 93.866), indicating that multiple NIH institutes, centers, or programs may be involved or that the topic spans several NIH funding lines. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text and any related NIH institute guidance for budget expectations and likely award volume.

Overall, the program is aimed at research that is both scientifically rigorous and practically relevant: work that explains how aging and HIV shape one another, and work that uses aging science to improve HIV prevention and care while addressing comorbidities, co-infections, and complications in diverse populations and settings.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.361, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (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.

Apply for PAR 18 189

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: