Pre Application for the 2010 NIDA Avant Garde Award Program for HIV/AIDS Research (X02) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the Pre-Application for the 2010 NIDA Avant Garde Award Program for HIV/AIDS Research (X02), Funding Opportunity Number PAR 10 068. It is an NIH/NIDA solicitation intended to identify unusually creative, high-impact HIV/AIDS research ideas focused on drug-abusing populations.

2) What is the main purpose of the NIDA Avant Garde program described here?

The central purpose is to complement NIDA's standard investigator-initiated grant mechanisms by creating space for bold, unconventional concepts that could meaningfully change the direction of HIV/AIDS prevention or treatment research in the context of substance use.

3) What does "avant garde" mean in this announcement?

"Avant garde" is used in the literal sense: proposals are expected to be highly innovative, potentially transformative, and capable of opening new research areas or leading to new approaches for preventing or treating HIV/AIDS among people who use drugs.

4) What kinds of research ideas is NIDA trying to identify through this pre-application?

NIDA is looking for unusually creative, high-impact HIV/AIDS research ideas that focus on drug-abusing populations and are not a good fit for traditional grant mechanisms.

5) How is this program different from standard NIH/NIDA investigator-initiated grants?

This program is intended to complement standard investigator-initiated grants by providing a pathway specifically designed for bold, unconventional, high-risk/high-reward concepts that may not align well with traditional mechanisms.

6) Does the proposed work need to be different from an investigator's existing research?

Yes. A key expectation is that the proposed work is substantially different from what the investigator (or the broader field) is already pursuing.

7) Does the proposed research need to align with any specific federal research plan?

Yes. Proposals are expected to align with areas identified in the Trans-NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research.

8) Is this announcement a full grant application?

No. This announcement covers only the first phase of a two-phase competition. Applicants submit an X02 pre-application as a screening step rather than a request for funding.

9) Is the X02 pre-application itself a request for funding?

No. The X02 pre-application functions as a screening step and is not a funding request.

10) Are any awards made under PAR 10 068 (X02)?

No. No awards are made under the X02 pre-application announcement. It functions purely as the gateway to the full competition.

11) What happens after submitting the X02 pre-application?

Pre-applications are reviewed by external experts to identify the most outstanding submissions. Only investigators whose pre-applications rise to the top are invited to proceed to the second phase.

12) Who reviews the pre-applications?

The X02 pre-applications are reviewed by external experts.

13) What is the second phase of the competition?

The second phase is submission of a full application under the related funding opportunity announcement, RFA DA 10 012, and only selected/invited investigators may submit that full application.

14) Is an invitation required to submit the full application under RFA DA 10 012?

Yes. Only investigators whose pre-applications are selected are invited to move forward and submit a full application under RFA DA 10 012.

15) What is the relationship between PAR 10 068 and RFA DA 10 012?

PAR 10 068 is the required entry-point pre-application phase (X02). RFA DA 10 012 is the related announcement used for the invited full applications and where awards are made.

16) What level of funding is associated with the overall Avant Garde program (even though X02 itself is not funded)?

While the X02 stage does not provide funding, the associated program description indicates NIDA anticipated committing about $2 million per year for five years to support roughly 2 to 3 Avant Garde awards through RFA DA 10 012.

17) How many awards did NIDA expect to make under the associated full application announcement?

Under the associated RFA DA 10 012, NIDA anticipated supporting roughly 2 to 3 Avant Garde awards.

18) Over what time period was NIDA expecting to support the Avant Garde awards?

The associated program description indicates an anticipated commitment of about $2 million per year for five years (through RFA DA 10 012).

19) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified), small businesses, for-profit organizations, state governments, and additional categories such as U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and a range of minority-serving and community-rooted institutions.

20) Are minority-serving institutions and community-rooted institutions eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other listed minority-serving and community-rooted institutions.

21) Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligibility includes tribal governments and tribal organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other categories described in the eligible applicant list).

22) Are small businesses and for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligible applicant categories include small businesses and for-profit organizations.

23) Are state governments eligible applicants?

Yes. State governments are included among the eligible applicant types.

24) Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligibility?

Yes. The eligible applicant list includes U.S. territories or possessions.

25) What is the CFDA number associated with this activity?

The funding activity aligns with CFDA 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs).

26) Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?

No. The announcement specifies no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

27) What are the key dates for this pre-application announcement?

The posted and creation date is December 18, 2009. The original and current closing date is March 1, 2010. The archive date is April 1, 2010.

28) Where can applicants find additional guidance about the Avant Garde program?

Additional guidance was made available through NIDA's Avant Garde program FAQs.

29) Who should applicants contact for access or technical issues?

For access or technical issues, the notice directs applicants to NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts.

30) What kinds of projects are most appropriate for this pre-application mechanism?

This pre-application mechanism is intended for highly innovative, potentially transformative HIV/AIDS research ideas focused on drug-abusing populations, especially those that are substantially different from typical ongoing work and that may not be a good fit for traditional grant mechanisms.