Advancing HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of the NIDCD (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Advancing HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of the NIDCD (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, this initiative is led by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, which supports biomedical and behavioral research related to hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. Through this program, NIH aims to align HIV/AIDS research priorities with its broader mission areas, encouraging interdisciplinary studies that explore how HIV/AIDS intersects with communication disorders and sensory systems. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to stimulate innovative research that advances understanding of HIV/AIDS in relation to auditory, vestibular, olfactory, gustatory, vocal, and speech-language systems. Applicants are expected to address high-priority research areas identified by the NIH Office of AIDS Research. Projects may include basic, translational, or clinical research approaches, provided they align with the mission of NIDCD. For applications proposing clinical trials, only low-risk clinical trials are permitted, indicating a focus on safety and feasibility within human subject research. Funding is provided through the R01 grant mechanism, which typically supports discrete, specified, and circumscribed research projects. While exact funding amounts, award ceilings, and total program funding are not specified in the summary, R01 grants generally provide multi-year support depending on the scope and merit of the proposed research. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, allowing applicants to focus on scientific merit without additional financial burden. Allowable uses of funds typically include personnel, equipment, supplies, and other direct research costs, consistent with NIH guidelines. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing a wide range of domestic and international applicants. Eligible entities include institutions of higher education (public and private), nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations, small businesses, state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and special district governments. Additional eligible applicants include minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges, as well as foreign organizations and regional entities. The application process requires submission through standard NIH and Grants.gov mechanisms, including registration with appropriate federal systems. Applicants must prepare a full research proposal that includes scientific aims, research strategy, budget justification, and compliance documentation related to human subjects if applicable. While the summary does not specify pre-application requirements such as letters of intent, applicants are expected to follow NIH submission guidelines and formatting requirements. Evaluation criteria are based on NIH peer review standards, including significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and research environment. The opportunity was originally posted on January 8, 2025, and has undergone updates, with the most recent update on June 9, 2026. The current application closing date is July 5, 2026, with an archive date of August 4, 2026. Although an original closing date of January 7, 2028 was listed, the current cycle reflects a nearer-term deadline. The program does not explicitly state whether it is recurring, but NIH program announcements of this type are often reissued periodically. Applicants seeking additional details or clarification are directed to contact NIH Grants Information via email at grantsinfo@nih.gov.