Prevention Innovation Program III (PIP) (R01) | Apply Online

Prevention Innovation Program III (PIP) (R01) - FAQs

1. What is the Prevention Innovation Program III (PIP) (R01)?

The Prevention Innovation Program III (PIP) (R01) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (HHS-NIH11) that supports research to advance non-vaccine biomedical prevention (nBP) approaches intended to reduce HIV acquisition and transmission.

2. What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The central purpose is to move forward high-risk, high-reward concepts that strengthen and refresh the pipeline of HIV prevention options beyond vaccines. The opportunity emphasizes inventive, early-stage research and development that could open new directions for HIV prevention science.

3. What types of prevention approaches does PIP III focus on?

PIP III focuses on non-vaccine biomedical prevention (nBP) research aimed at preventing HIV infection and reducing HIV transmission. The program is designed to support prevention options other than vaccines.

4. Does this opportunity fund vaccine research?

No. The opportunity is specifically focused on advancing non-vaccine biomedical prevention (nBP) research and building HIV prevention options beyond vaccines.

5. What does "high-risk, high-reward" mean in the context of PIP III?

Within this program, "high-risk, high-reward" refers to innovative concepts that may be early-stage or unconventional and could challenge prevailing approaches, but that also have the potential to produce major advances in HIV prevention if successful.

6. What is a major scientific theme of PIP III?

A major theme is the discovery and development of novel or under-explored prevention candidates and strategies, including identifying new molecular entities, modalities, or intervention concepts intended to prevent HIV infection.

7. What kinds of prevention candidates or strategies are encouraged?

The program encourages prevention candidates and strategies that are novel, under-studied, or that introduce new modalities or concepts. It is particularly interested in approaches that have not been widely studied or that challenge conventional approaches in the field.

8. Does PIP III support research on drug delivery systems (DDS)?

Yes. The opportunity places strong attention on drug delivery systems (DDS) for non-vaccine biomedical prevention products and recognizes that real-world effectiveness can depend heavily on how a prevention agent is delivered.

9. What aspects of drug delivery systems (DDS) are highlighted?

Projects may focus on creating or improving delivery platforms that enhance dosing convenience, adherence, local tissue exposure, stability, or user acceptability.

10. Why does the program emphasize delivery systems as much as prevention agents?

The program notes that real-world effectiveness often depends not only on the prevention agent itself, but also on how it is delivered. Delivery can affect convenience, adherence, tissue exposure, stability, and acceptability, all of which can influence outcomes.

11. What mucosal tissues are emphasized in PIP III research areas?

PIP III highlights the genital and gastrointestinal mucosa, because these mucosal tissues are primary sites of HIV exposure and early infection events.

12. What kinds of mucosal research does PIP III encourage?

The program encourages studies examining how nBP prevention products and their delivery systems affect mucosal function and health, including tissue integrity, inflammation, microbiome interactions, immune responses, and other biological changes that could influence safety and efficacy.

13. Why is mucosal safety and function important in this program?

The program reflects interest not only in whether a product can block HIV, but also whether it maintains healthy mucosal environments and avoids unintended biological effects that could increase susceptibility or reduce protection.

14. Does PIP III support development of enabling or emerging technologies?

Yes. PIP III supports the development of emerging technologies that can accelerate discovery and development of nBP products and drug delivery systems.

15. What are examples of "emerging technologies" mentioned in the opportunity description?

Examples listed include new screening tools, predictive models, formulation techniques, biomaterials, analytical methods, and other enabling platforms that help identify promising candidates, refine them, and generate data needed to move them forward.

16. What are age-appropriate formulation strategies (AFS), and are they included?

Age-appropriate formulation strategies (AFS) are highlighted as an area of interest. This signals support for prevention technologies that can be tailored to different age groups, including adolescents and other populations with distinct physiological needs, dosing considerations, and acceptability requirements.

17. Does the program encourage Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPT)?

Yes. PIP III explicitly encourages Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPT), meaning products designed to prevent HIV while also offering additional protective benefits, often related to sexual and reproductive health.

18. What is the rationale for supporting Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPT)?

The inclusion of MPT reflects a practical, user-centered prevention approach: products that meet more than one need can be more attractive to users and potentially more impactful at the population level.

19. What type of grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered as an NIH R01 research grant.

20. Which agency and program are associated with this grant opportunity?

The funding opportunity is associated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is identified as HHS-NIH11.

21. When was this opportunity posted and created?

It was posted and created on March 29, 2016.

22. What is the application closing date listed for this opportunity?

The application closing date is August 3, 2016.

23. What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is Health.

24. What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA numbers listed are 93.855 and 93.856.

25. What is the award ceiling for this grant opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $400,000.

26. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); and small businesses. The opportunity notes that additional eligibility clarification is referenced in the full announcement text.

27. Are for-profit entities and small businesses eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses) and small businesses are included in the listed eligible applicant types.

28. Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligibility list.

29. Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?

Yes. Nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) are included in the eligibility list.

30. What kinds of projects does PIP III aim to stimulate overall?

Overall, PIP III is structured to stimulate innovative, pipeline-building HIV prevention science beyond conventional vaccine approaches, with specific encouragement for novel candidates, improved delivery systems, mucosal safety and function studies, enabling technologies, age-appropriate formulations, and multipurpose prevention products.