Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 20 212

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 212

The NIH funding opportunity PAR-20-212, titled "Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," is designed to help early career scientists launch more independent HIV/AIDS research programs that rely on nonhuman primate models. It uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically meant for exploratory, early-stage projects that can generate key proof-of-concept data, establish feasibility, or open up a new line of inquiry. The central focus is preclinical and translational HIV/AIDS research where NHP models are essential to the scientific approach, with the broader intent of helping investigators build momentum toward larger, longer-term awards such as an R01.

A defining feature of this announcement is that it specifically targets Early Stage Investigators (ESIs). To fit the intended applicant profile, the principal investigator should be within 10 years of their terminal degree or completion of residency training, and they must have accumulated at least two years of postdoctoral experience. The program is meant to provide a meaningful stepping-stone between mentored training and full research independence. In practical terms, NIH is signaling that this award should help an ESI establish a distinct research direction, strengthen their publication and preliminary-data portfolio, and become more competitive for future independent funding.

The science scope centers on HIV/AIDS translational studies conducted in nonhuman primate systems as preclinical models. While the solicitation language is broad, it anchors the supported work to the NIH HIV research priorities described in the FY2019/2020 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research. That includes projects aimed at HIV prevention and cure strategies, next-generation therapeutics, and deeper understanding of HIV-associated comorbidities, coinfections, and complications. It also explicitly welcomes cross-cutting efforts that build capacity, which can include strengthening research resources, approaches, or pipelines that make NHP-enabled HIV research more robust and sustainable. The emphasis on NHP models implies the proposed work should be something that either cannot be done or would be far less informative in simpler systems, and that the NHP work is integral to answering the translational question rather than being incidental.

This opportunity is marked "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants cannot propose an NIH-defined clinical trial under this FOA. The work is expected to be preclinical, even if it is translational in intent (for example, evaluating prevention concepts, immune strategies, or therapeutic approaches in NHP models before human testing). Applicants need to structure aims, outcomes, and study design accordingly, keeping the project on the preclinical side of the translational pipeline.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include a range of government entities (state, county, city/township governments, special districts), educational institutions (public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education), independent school districts, tribal governments (federally recognized) and certain tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also highlights several institution types as eligible, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. U.S. territories or possessions are also included among eligible applicant categories.

At the same time, there are clear geographic and organizational restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In effect, the applicant organization and the supported components of the work must remain domestic under NIH policy for this program.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health under CFDA 93.847, categorized under health (and listed in the source data as "Food and Nutrition, Health"). The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity category is discretionary. The record shows a creation date of June 16, 2020, with an original closing date of September 7, 2022. The publicly provided fields in the source data do not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, so applicants would typically look to the full FOA text and NIH policy for the standard R21 budget structure and any institute- or program-specific guidance tied to this announcement.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted on-ramp for ESIs who are ready to lead a distinct, NHP-based HIV/AIDS preclinical research project that aligns with NIH HIV strategic priorities, produces impactful early results, and positions the investigator for the next stage of independent funding.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-06-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-07. (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.

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