Basic Research on HIV Persistence (R21) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Basic Research on HIV Persistence (R21) - PA-12-162

1) What is this NIH funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Basic Research on HIV Persistence (R21)", Funding Opportunity Number PA-12-162. It was a discretionary NIH grant program intended to advance basic, hypothesis-driven research into why and how HIV-1 persists in people receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

2) What problem is the FOA trying to address?

The FOA focuses on the scientific challenge that, even when standard antiretroviral treatment suppresses HIV in the blood to very low or undetectable levels, HIV can remain in the body in long-lived reservoirs. If therapy stops, the virus can rebound. The FOA sought research that improves fundamental understanding of the biological mechanisms behind that persistence under suppressive therapy.

3) What is the long-range goal of the research supported by this FOA?

The long-range goal described is to enable future therapeutic strategies that could lead to durable remission without ongoing treatment. At the most ambitious end, the goal includes potential full eradication of residual virus and a true cure for HIV infection and AIDS, informed by stronger basic scientific understanding of persistence.

4) What grant mechanism does this FOA use?

The FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) mechanism. R21 awards are generally used to support early-stage, innovative, and potentially high-impact ideas that may still be in a formative stage.

5) What kind of research was this FOA intended to fund?

The FOA was intended to fund basic, hypothesis-driven research specifically focused on HIV-1 persistence during HAART. It emphasized novel directions and creative experimental approaches that can expand the field's foundational understanding of persistence mechanisms.

6) What scientific topic area is explicitly emphasized?

A central emphasis is placed on new ideas and approaches related to HIV-1 persistence, particularly those that can clarify persistence mechanisms during suppressive therapy and strengthen the experimental tools used to study latent or persistent infection.

7) Does the FOA encourage model development?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights the creation or refinement of models as a key area of interest. Model development can include in vitro systems, animal models, or other experimental platforms that better mimic the biology of latent or persistent infection under suppressive therapy.

8) Does the FOA encourage assay development?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights assay development, including new methods to detect, quantify, or characterize viral reservoirs; measure replication-competent virus; or evaluate host and viral factors that help maintain persistence.

9) How close to clinical translation does a project need to be?

Based on the summary provided, the FOA is aimed at basic research that improves understanding of persistence under HAART in ways that can inform later translational or therapeutic work. It is not described as a clinical trial or late-stage translational program; the emphasis is on foundational studies and tool/model/assay development that can seed future intervention-focused research.

10) What is the award ceiling for this R21 opportunity?

The stated award ceiling is $200,000, consistent with the smaller, exploratory scale typical of an R21 project.

11) Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?

No. The listing states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

12) Which federal agency offers this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

13) How is the opportunity categorized in the listing?

In the funding activity categories listed, this opportunity is categorized under Education and Health.

14) Is this FOA currently active?

The dates provided indicate this listing reflects a historical/archived FOA. The summary notes original posting on April 12, 2012, and dates showing an original closing date of January 7, 2015, a listed current closing date of July 19, 2014, and an archive date of August 19, 2014. In other words, the listing describes what the FOA was intended to fund during its active period.

15) What types of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad and includes many organization types capable of conducting biomedical research. Eligible applicants include:

• Public and private institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities)
• For-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits)
• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
• Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
• U.S. territories or possessions
• Eligible federal agencies

16) Are specific types of designated institutions explicitly recognized as eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly recognizes eligibility for various designated institutions and organizations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations.

17) Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions allowed to apply?

Yes. The FOA states that non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are eligible to apply. It also states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations may apply, and that foreign components are allowed as defined by NIH policy.

18) What does the FOA imply about international collaboration?

By explicitly allowing foreign institutions, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, and foreign components under NIH policy, the FOA signals openness to international collaboration and to research settings where key cohorts, specimens, or specialized expertise may exist.

19) Where can applicants find the full FOA text?

The listing provides the NIH program link to the full announcement at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-162.html

20) Who is the listed contact for access or technical issues?

For access or technical issues, the contact route given is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV. The summary notes this is typical for NIH FOA troubleshooting rather than scientific programmatic questions.

21) What is the central focus that proposals needed to maintain?

The key focus described is that the research should be directly focused on improving understanding of HIV-1 persistence under HAART, including mechanisms and/or enabling models and assays, in ways that can inform future translational or therapeutic work.

22) What makes this FOA a fit for exploratory projects?

The FOA uses the R21 mechanism and is described as encouraging early-stage, innovative, potentially high-impact ideas, including new directions and creative experimental approaches that may still be in formative stages but could open new lines of investigation into HIV persistence.