Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 16 014
Apply for RFA DA 16 014
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Effects of Drugs of Abuse on Latent HIV Reservoirs in the CNS (R01)" 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 Dec 08, 2015 and posted on Dec 08, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 03, 2016. (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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Effects of Drugs of Abuse on Latent HIV Reservoirs in the CNS (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-16-014) is a discretionary NIH research grant supported under HHS-NIH (listed as HHS-NIH11) in the health and education funding activity area (CFDA 93.279). Its core focus is on HIV persistence in the central nervous system (CNS), with particular attention to the biology of HIV latency and how substance use may change the behavior of latent virus in brain-related tissues and cells. The program is framed around a major barrier to HIV cure strategies: even when antiretroviral therapy suppresses virus in the blood, HIV can remain hidden in long-lived cellular reservoirs, and the CNS is a uniquely complex and protected compartment where latency and persistence may be governed by distinct mechanisms.
Scientifically, the FOA aims to stimulate research that clarifies the molecular steps by which HIV latency is initiated, established, and maintained specifically within the CNS. That includes investigating which CNS-relevant cell types and microenvironments support latent infection, what host and viral factors lock the virus into a silent state, and what signals or conditions might keep that reservoir stable over time. A central theme is that latency in the CNS may not be identical to latency in peripheral blood or lymphoid tissue, given differences in immune surveillance, cellular composition, neuroinflammatory signaling, blood-brain barrier effects on drug penetration, and other features that shape viral persistence in brain compartments.
A second major emphasis is the role of drugs of abuse in modulating HIV latency and the size and persistence of CNS HIV reservoirs. In practical terms, the FOA is asking investigators to explore how substances such as stimulants, opioids, alcohol, or other commonly abused drugs may influence latency-related pathways in CNS cells, alter neuroimmune signaling, change transcriptional or epigenetic control of the HIV genome, or affect processes that expand, stabilize, or reactivate latent infection. This also includes understanding whether drug exposure changes the dynamics of reservoir formation, whether it makes the reservoir harder to eliminate, and whether it shifts the balance between latency and viral reactivation in ways that could worsen neuropathology or complicate treatment.
The public health rationale behind this FOA is that drug-abusing populations experience overlapping risks and clinical challenges, including higher rates of HIV acquisition in some contexts, potential adherence barriers, comorbid neuroinflammation, and other factors that may intensify CNS complications. By identifying the underlying mechanisms linking substance use to CNS HIV latency, the NIH is seeking actionable knowledge that can guide better interventions, including improved therapeutic strategies tailored to people who use drugs. The ultimate goal stated in the announcement is to generate information that can support development of new or improved therapies for HIV treatment in drug-abusing populations, with an implicit long-term aim of reducing persistent CNS reservoirs that may contribute to ongoing neurologic injury and that represent a hurdle for cure-focused approaches.
From an administrative standpoint, this is an R01 mechanism, meaning it is designed for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects rather than small pilot work. Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of applicants: state, county, city/township, and 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 and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education where specified); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities as allowed in the FOA text. The opportunity was posted on December 8, 2015, created the same day, and had a closing date of March 3, 2016. The summary provided does not list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, indicating those details were either not specified in the excerpt or were to be determined elsewhere in the full announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Effects of Drugs of Abuse on Latent HIV Reservoirs in the CNS (R01)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-DA-16-014.
Which agency is offering or supporting this grant?
This is a discretionary NIH research grant supported under HHS-NIH (listed as HHS-NIH11).
What is the CFDA number and funding activity area?
The CFDA number is 93.279, and the funding activity area is Health and Education.
What is the primary scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA focuses on HIV persistence in the central nervous system (CNS), emphasizing the biology of HIV latency and how substance use may change the behavior of latent virus in brain-related tissues and cells.
Why does the FOA focus on the CNS specifically?
The CNS is described as a uniquely complex and protected compartment where HIV latency and persistence may be governed by mechanisms that differ from those in peripheral blood or lymphoid tissues. The FOA highlights factors such as differences in immune surveillance, cellular composition, neuroinflammatory signaling, and blood-brain barrier effects on drug penetration.
What major barrier to HIV cure strategies does the FOA address?
The FOA is framed around the challenge that, even when antiretroviral therapy suppresses virus in the blood, HIV can remain hidden in long-lived cellular reservoirs. CNS reservoirs are emphasized as a particular hurdle for cure-focused approaches.
What kinds of research questions is NIH trying to stimulate through this FOA?
The FOA aims to stimulate research that clarifies the molecular steps by which HIV latency is initiated, established, and maintained within the CNS, including identifying CNS-relevant cell types and microenvironments that support latent infection and the host/viral factors that keep the virus in a silent state.
Does the FOA suggest CNS latency may be different from peripheral latency?
Yes. A central theme is that latency in the CNS may not be identical to latency in peripheral blood or lymphoid tissue due to CNS-specific features like immune surveillance differences, distinct cellular composition, neuroinflammation, and blood-brain barrier considerations.
What is the second major emphasis of this FOA?
A second major emphasis is understanding how drugs of abuse modulate HIV latency and the size and persistence of CNS HIV reservoirs.
Which substances are specifically mentioned as examples of drugs of abuse?
The FOA mentions stimulants, opioids, alcohol, and other commonly abused drugs as examples.
What kinds of effects of drugs of abuse does the FOA encourage researchers to investigate?
The FOA encourages studies on whether drugs of abuse influence latency-related pathways in CNS cells, alter neuroimmune signaling, change transcriptional or epigenetic control of the HIV genome, or affect processes that expand, stabilize, or reactivate latent infection.
Does the FOA address reservoir formation and reactivation dynamics?
Yes. It includes understanding whether drug exposure changes the dynamics of reservoir formation, whether it makes the reservoir harder to eliminate, and whether it shifts the balance between latency and viral reactivation in ways that could worsen neuropathology or complicate treatment.
What public health rationale is provided for this research area?
The FOA notes that drug-abusing populations face overlapping risks and clinical challenges, including higher rates of HIV acquisition in some contexts, potential adherence barriers, comorbid neuroinflammation, and other factors that may intensify CNS complications.
What is the ultimate goal stated in the announcement?
The stated goal is to generate information that can support development of new or improved therapies for HIV treatment in drug-abusing populations, with an implicit long-term aim of reducing persistent CNS reservoirs that contribute to neurologic injury and hinder cure approaches.
What grant mechanism is being used?
This opportunity uses the R01 mechanism.
What does the R01 mechanism imply about the type of work expected?
Based on the summary, the R01 mechanism is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects rather than small pilot work.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, city/township, and 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 and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education where specified); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities as allowed in the FOA text.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The summary includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also separately includes small businesses.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The summary includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education where specified).
Are government entities eligible?
Yes. The summary lists several government entity types, including state, county, city/township, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Are educational institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and independent school districts.
When was this opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted on December 8, 2015, and created the same day.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date listed in the summary is March 3, 2016.
Is an award ceiling listed in the provided summary?
No. The summary provided does not list an award ceiling, suggesting that detail was not specified in the excerpt or was available elsewhere in the full announcement.
Does the summary state the expected number of awards?
No. The expected number of awards is not provided in the summary excerpt.
What is the broader problem this FOA is trying to solve in HIV research?
The FOA targets the persistence of HIV in latent reservoirs despite effective blood viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy, with special emphasis on the CNS as a compartment where persistence may be harder to address.
How does the FOA connect substance use to CNS HIV persistence?
It proposes that drugs of abuse may influence biological pathways tied to latency, reservoir stability, and reactivation in CNS cells, potentially affecting how reservoirs form, persist, and contribute to neurologic outcomes.
Does the FOA explicitly link this research to improving therapies?
Yes. It explicitly frames the work as generating actionable knowledge to guide better interventions and improved therapeutic strategies tailored to people who use drugs.
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| Exploring Epigenomic or Non-Coding RNA Regulation in HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R01) Apply for RFA DA 16 012 Funding Number: RFA DA 16 012 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34) Apply for PA 16 073 Funding Number: PA 16 073 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $225,000 |
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