Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 24 092

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 092

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting applications for a grant opportunity titled "Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-24-092). This is a discretionary NIH research grant using the R21 mechanism, which is commonly used to support exploratory, developmental, or early-stage projects that can generate proof-of-concept data, launch new directions, or test innovative ideas that may be too preliminary for larger awards. As noted in the title, clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component, but they are not required to do so.

The central focus of this opportunity is research at the intersection of HIV and aging. NIH is looking for multidisciplinary projects that use HIV infection and its treatment as a lens for understanding aging, while also using modern aging science to improve HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management. The opportunity is framed around two main objectives. First, it aims to improve understanding of the biological, clinical, and socio-behavioral aspects of aging specifically in the context of HIV and antiretroviral therapy. This can include how HIV and long-term treatment shape age-related physiology, immune function, inflammation, frailty, neurocognitive changes, and other trajectories that may differ from aging in people without HIV. It also emphasizes that aging is not just biological; NIH is explicitly inviting work that considers clinical patterns and socio-behavioral factors, such as mental health, substance use, stigma, social support, housing stability, health care access, and the broader lived experience of older people with HIV.

Second, the NOFO seeks research that improves approaches for testing, preventing, and treating HIV infection, as well as managing HIV-related comorbidities, co-infections, and complications, across diverse populations and cultural settings, by applying current approaches from aging science. In practical terms, this encourages investigators to bring tools and frameworks from geroscience and the study of age-related chronic disease into HIV research, for example by tailoring prevention and treatment strategies for older adults, refining screening and diagnostic approaches, improving management of multimorbidity, and addressing complications that become more common with age. The mention of different populations and cultural settings signals interest in work that is attentive to heterogeneity in risk, outcomes, and care environments, including research that is culturally grounded or that addresses structural and contextual determinants of health.

A key requirement is alignment with the HIV/AIDS Research Priorities established by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR), referenced as NOT-OD-20-018. In other words, even if a project is strongly focused on aging science, it still needs to fit within NIH-wide HIV/AIDS priority areas as defined by OAR. Applicants should expect that responsiveness to those priorities will matter for how well an application fits the purpose of the announcement and how it is viewed during review and programmatic consideration.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that might contribute to HIV and aging research. Standard eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local 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; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories that reflect NIH interest in inclusive participation and community-engaged capacity, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility signals that NIH is open to a wide range of institutional settings, including community-rooted organizations and international partners, which can be especially relevant for socio-behavioral research, implementation questions, and culturally specific interventions.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is managed by NIH, was created on December 11, 2023, and lists an original closing date of January 7, 2027. The notice includes an award ceiling field but does not provide a specific dollar cap in the provided source text, and it also does not specify the expected number of awards in the excerpt. The NOFO is associated with multiple CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers, reflecting NIH’s cross-institute involvement and the fact that HIV and aging research can cut across many scientific and clinical areas (including immunology, neurology, mental health, substance use, infectious disease, chronic disease, and health services research).

Overall, this grant opportunity is aimed at accelerating creative, cross-cutting HIV and aging studies that can clarify why and how aging unfolds differently in people with HIV, while also producing actionable knowledge to improve prevention, care, and long-term health outcomes for diverse groups of people living with or at risk for HIV. The R21 mechanism makes it particularly well-suited for novel interdisciplinary collaborations and emerging ideas that need an initial round of support to establish feasibility and generate early results.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R21 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, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.313, 93.393, 93.396, 93.399, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-01-07.
• 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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