Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 12 071
Apply for RFA MH 12 071
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pathophysiology of HIV Associated Neurodegeneration in Aging Populations on Long Term Anti Retroviral Therapy (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 6, 2011 and posted on Apr 6, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 9, 2011. (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: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Special district governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) 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 Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Private institutions of higher education Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts State governments.
- 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 grant opportunity titled "Pathophysiology of HIV Associated Neurodegeneration in Aging Populations on Long Term Anti Retroviral Therapy (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-12-071) is a discretionary research grant announcement led by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in partnership with the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). It calls for research that clarifies how and why HIV-related brain and nervous system injury continues or emerges in people who are aging with chronic HIV infection and who have spent long periods on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). The central concern is that the biology driving HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) in older adults may not mirror what is seen in younger populations, because aging-related changes in the brain and immune system can interact with HIV-driven neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative processes, and with long-term medication exposure in ways that alter risk, progression, and clinical presentation.
A major theme of the announcement is the need to tease apart overlapping and potentially synergistic contributors to neurocognitive decline in HIV-positive adults over age 50. Applicants are encouraged to investigate mechanisms of HIV-associated neuropathogenesis specifically in this older group, including how chronic infection, persistent immune activation, and long-term ART exposure may combine with typical aging biology and with age-associated comorbidities. The opportunity highlights that HAND in older adults may reflect distinct pathophysiological pathways, and it explicitly points to the importance of studying potential interactions among HAART effects (including long-term exposure), HIV-associated neurodegenerative processes, and other neurodegenerative diseases and conditions that become more common with age. In practical terms, the NIH is signaling interest in research that can distinguish what is primarily HIV-driven from what is aging-driven, what is medication-related, and what arises from common co-occurring conditions in later life.
The scope is intentionally broad, spanning basic through clinical research. Projects can range from fundamental mechanistic studies (for example, cellular and molecular pathways of neuroinflammation, neuronal injury, synaptic dysfunction, or blood-brain barrier changes in aging people with HIV) to translational work that improves clinical diagnosis, identifies biomarkers, refines phenotyping of HAND in older adults, or tests strategies relevant to treatment and management. The announcement also makes clear that studies can be conducted in domestic or international settings, reflecting the global reality of HIV and the growing number of older individuals living long-term with infection due to effective ART. While multidisciplinary teams and collaborative alliances are encouraged, they are not a requirement, meaning single-investigator or smaller-team proposals can still be responsive as long as the scientific aims squarely address the stated mechanistic and aging-related questions.
Administratively, this is an NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically used to support exploratory or developmental research that can generate foundational data, test novel ideas, or open new directions, particularly in complex or emerging problem areas. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, and the opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The funding announcement was posted and created on April 6, 2011, with an original and current closing date of September 9, 2011, and an archive date of October 10, 2011. The activity falls under the health category and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), 93.853 (Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders), and 93.866 (Aging Research), which reflects the cross-institute and cross-disciplinary nature of the topic.
Eligibility is expansive and includes a wide range of public and private entities. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), small businesses and other for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), and various government entities such as state governments, county governments, city or township governments, independent school districts, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Tribal eligibility is also broad, covering federally recognized tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations, and the announcement explicitly includes institutions serving specific populations, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions. Faith-based and community-based organizations are named as eligible, and importantly, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign components of U.S. organizations are allowed, which aligns with the announcement's openness to international research settings.
Overall, the grant opportunity is aimed at pushing the field toward a clearer, mechanism-based understanding of why neurocognitive impairment and neurodegeneration persist in the ART era, particularly among people aging with HIV. By centering the older-than-50 population and explicitly emphasizing the interplay among aging biology, chronic HIV infection, long-term HAART exposure, neurodegenerative disease processes, and aging-related comorbidities, the announcement prioritizes work that can explain heterogeneity in HAND presentations and identify actionable targets for better detection, prevention, and treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Pathophysiology of HIV Associated Neurodegeneration in Aging Populations on Long Term Anti Retroviral Therapy (R21)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-MH-12-071.
Which NIH Institute is leading this announcement?
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is leading the announcement.
Are other NIH Institutes involved?
Yes. The announcement is in partnership with the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
This opportunity calls for research to clarify how and why HIV-related brain and nervous system injury continues or emerges in people who are aging with chronic HIV infection and who have spent long periods on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).
What population is the FOA especially focused on?
It emphasizes HIV-positive adults over age 50 who are aging with chronic HIV infection and long-term exposure to antiretroviral therapy.
Why does the FOA focus on older adults with HIV?
The FOA highlights that the biology driving HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) in older adults may not mirror what is seen in younger populations, because aging-related changes in the brain and immune system can interact with HIV-driven neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative processes, and long-term medication exposure.
What key scientific problem is the FOA trying to address?
A central concern is teasing apart overlapping and potentially synergistic contributors to neurocognitive decline in older adults with HIV, including chronic infection, persistent immune activation, long-term ART exposure, typical aging biology, and age-associated comorbidities.
What does the FOA suggest about HAND in older adults?
It suggests HAND in older adults may reflect distinct pathophysiological pathways and that clinical presentation, progression, and risk may differ due to interactions between HIV-related processes and aging biology.
Is the FOA interested in separating HIV-driven effects from aging-driven effects?
Yes. The announcement signals interest in research that can distinguish what is primarily HIV-driven from what is aging-driven, what is medication-related, and what arises from common co-occurring conditions in later life.
What kinds of research approaches are within scope?
The scope is broad and spans basic through clinical research, including fundamental mechanistic studies and translational work relevant to diagnosis, biomarkers, phenotyping, and strategies related to treatment and management.
What are examples of mechanistic topics that could fit this FOA?
Examples mentioned include cellular and molecular pathways of neuroinflammation, neuronal injury, synaptic dysfunction, or blood-brain barrier changes in aging people with HIV.
Does the FOA encourage biomarker or diagnostic research?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes translational work that improves clinical diagnosis, identifies biomarkers, and refines phenotyping of HAND in older adults.
Does the FOA allow studies on interactions with other neurodegenerative diseases?
Yes. It points to the importance of studying potential interactions among HAART effects (including long-term exposure), HIV-associated neurodegenerative processes, and other neurodegenerative diseases and conditions that become more common with age.
Are international studies allowed?
Yes. The announcement states studies can be conducted in domestic or international settings and eligibility includes non-U.S. entities and foreign components of U.S. organizations.
What grant mechanism is being used?
This is an NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically used to support exploratory or developmental research that can generate foundational data, test novel ideas, or open new directions.
What is the award ceiling listed in the opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
When was this funding announcement posted and created?
It was posted and created on April 6, 2011.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original and current closing date listed is September 9, 2011.
When was the archive date?
The archive date is October 10, 2011.
What category is this opportunity associated with?
The activity falls under the health category.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), 93.853 (Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders), and 93.866 (Aging Research).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is expansive and includes public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education); small businesses; other for-profit organizations; and a range of government entities.
What types of government entities are eligible?
Eligible government entities include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, independent school districts, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes federally recognized tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations.
Are institutions serving specific populations explicitly included?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are named as eligible.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign components of U.S. organizations are allowed.
Does the FOA require multidisciplinary teams or collaborations?
No. While multidisciplinary teams and collaborative alliances are encouraged, they are not required as long as the proposed science addresses the mechanistic and aging-related questions described in the announcement.
What overall impact is this opportunity trying to achieve?
It aims to push the field toward a clearer, mechanism-based understanding of why neurocognitive impairment and neurodegeneration persist in the ART era among people aging with HIV, and to help explain heterogeneity in HAND presentations while identifying actionable targets for better detection, prevention, and treatment.
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