Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 11 217
Apply for PA 11 217
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanistic Studies of HIV exposed Seronegative Individuals (HESN)(R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855 Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation Research 93.856 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 25, 2011 and posted on May 25, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2014. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Independent school districts For profit organizations other than small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Special district governments County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Foreign (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH funding opportunity PA-11-217, titled "Mechanistic Studies of HIV Exposed Seronegative Individuals (HESN) (R21)," was a discretionary grant program designed to push forward research on a particularly important and puzzling group of people: individuals who experience repeated exposure to HIV yet do not become infected and remain seronegative, or who otherwise show clear resistance to infection. The central goal of the initiative was to move the field beyond descriptive findings and toward studies that can explain how protection works. In practical terms, NIH was signaling that simply reporting correlations (for example, a certain immune marker being higher in HESN cohorts) was not enough; proposed projects needed to directly test mechanisms and build evidence for causality, meaning a plausible biological explanation supported by experiments or designs that can distinguish cause from coincidence.
This opportunity used the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically aimed at exploratory or developmental research that can generate strong proof-of-concept data, open new lines of investigation, or support early-stage mechanistic testing when the idea is compelling but not yet fully developed for a larger R01-style project. The listed award ceiling was $200,000, and the program did not require cost sharing or matching funds. The activity category aligned with health research, and the CFDA program areas tied to it were 93.855 (Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation Research) and 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research), reflecting the immunologic and infectious disease foundations of HESN research.
From an applicant standpoint, eligibility was broad and included many types of organizations: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses were explicitly listed, and small businesses were also eligible); and multiple levels of government such as state, county, city/township, and special district governments. It also included tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and independent school districts. The eligibility language further extended to specific institution types and communities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Faith-based and community-based organizations were included as eligible as well. Importantly, the announcement allowed participation by non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, and foreign components of U.S. organizations, indicating NIH interest in leveraging global cohorts and international expertise, which is often essential for assembling well-characterized HESN populations and exposure histories.
Administratively, this funding opportunity was issued by the National Institutes of Health, posted and created on May 25, 2011. The original and final closing date was May 7, 2014, and it was archived on June 7, 2014. NIH provided support contacts through the Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking issues, and the full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide at the provided link.
Overall, the program can be read as a focused attempt by NIH to accelerate the translation of HESN observations into actionable biology: identifying and validating protective mechanisms that could inform HIV prevention strategies such as vaccines, microbicides, prophylactic approaches, or immune-based interventions. The emphasis on causality set a clear bar for study design quality, encouraging investigators to use rigorous mechanistic experiments, well-controlled comparisons, and approaches capable of demonstrating that a proposed immune, genetic, or mucosal factor actually contributes to resistance rather than merely traveling alongside it.
FAQs: NIH PA-11-217 - Mechanistic Studies of HIV Exposed Seronegative Individuals (HESN) (R21)
What is the focus of NIH funding opportunity PA-11-217?
PA-11-217 supports research on HIV Exposed Seronegative Individuals (HESN), meaning people who experience repeated exposure to HIV yet do not become infected and remain seronegative, or who otherwise show clear resistance to infection. The program is centered on explaining how protection works, not just documenting that it appears to exist.
What does NIH mean by "mechanistic studies" in this announcement?
In this context, "mechanistic" means projects should move beyond descriptive observations and toward studies that can explain causality. NIH emphasized that reporting correlations (for example, an immune marker being elevated in HESN cohorts) was not sufficient on its own. Proposed work was expected to directly test mechanisms and support plausible biological explanations with study designs or experiments that can help distinguish cause from coincidence.
What types of results was NIH trying to encourage through this program?
The initiative aimed to accelerate the translation of HESN observations into actionable biology by identifying and validating protective mechanisms. These insights could help inform HIV prevention strategies such as vaccines, microbicides, prophylactic approaches, or immune-based interventions.
What grant mechanism was used for PA-11-217?
This opportunity used the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for exploratory or developmental research. R21 projects often generate proof-of-concept data, open new lines of investigation, or support early-stage mechanistic testing when an idea is promising but not yet ready for a larger R01-style effort.
What was the award ceiling for this R21 opportunity?
The listed award ceiling was $200,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Which research areas or program categories are associated with this opportunity?
The activity aligned with health research. The CFDA program areas tied to the opportunity were 93.855 (Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation Research) and 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research), reflecting the immunology and infectious disease foundations of HESN research.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many organization types, including public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses, and small businesses were also eligible); and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district governments).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Tribal governments and tribal organizations were included as eligible applicants.
Are public housing authorities and independent school districts eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities and independent school districts were explicitly included among eligible applicants.
Did the announcement encourage participation from specific institution types (such as minority-serving institutions)?
Yes. The eligibility language extended to specific institution types and communities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Were faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations were included as eligible applicants.
Could non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The announcement allowed participation by non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, and foreign components of U.S. organizations. This reflects NIH interest in leveraging global cohorts and international expertise, which can be important for well-characterized HESN populations and exposure histories.
Which federal agency issued this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity was issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
When was PA-11-217 created and posted?
The opportunity was posted and created on May 25, 2011.
What were the closing dates for applications under this announcement?
The original and final closing date was May 7, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The announcement was archived on June 7, 2014.
Where could applicants find the full announcement?
The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide at the link provided in the opportunity materials.
Who was listed as a support contact for access or linking issues?
NIH provided support contacts through the Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking issues.
What kind of study design emphasis did NIH communicate in this program?
NIH set a clear expectation for rigorous designs capable of testing causality. This included encouraging mechanistic experiments, well-controlled comparisons, and approaches that can demonstrate that a proposed immune, genetic, or mucosal factor contributes to resistance rather than simply being associated with it.
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