NIAID issued a pair of notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs)—Strategies for Eliminating HIV Proteins (R01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) and Strategies for Eliminating HIV Proteins (R21, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)—to seek research that supports development of novel therapeutics directed to intracellular HIV targets and elimination of viral proteins by various mechanisms.
Research Objectives and Scope
These NOFOs invite applications for projects proposing to discover and develop novel therapeutics directed at intracellular HIV targets and eliminate viral proteins by mechanisms like protein degradation, targeting of viral RNA through inhibiting RNA processing (splicing, translation, etc.), and degradation.
Projects may include proof-of-concept studies in HIV-infected primary cells and small animal models. Studies may also extend to the optimization of existing technologies or the development of new technologies.
For an R01 application, preliminary data is required to demonstrate that candidate molecules are capable of binding to HIV intracellular proteins or RNA.
Types of research responsive to these NOFOs include:
- The design, optimization, and testing of strategies for targeting HIV proteins (or the RNA that encodes them) for degradation.
- Small molecule strategies that interfere with processes involved in the transcription or translation of HIV RNA into protein.
- Strategies that target host proteins that have been shown to be essential for HIV replication.
- Development of new methods or technologies which can be used to eliminate HIV proteins.
Ultimately, the goal is to identify lead molecules that target HIV RNA and proteins that have the potential to advance as preclinical candidates.
Do not propose the following research topics or NIAID will consider your application to be nonresponsive and not review it:
- Discovery of new small molecule inhibitors of HIV enzyme activity.
- Molecules that target latency reversal.
- Animal model studies using nonhuman primates.
The R21 NOFO will support developmental or exploratory research activities for a limited project period. The R01 NOFO will support more defined projects for longer periods.
Application Information
NIAID aims to fund four or five awards across both NOFOs in fiscal year 2025. Application budgets for the R01 are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. For the R21, your budget request is capped at $275,000 in direct costs over the 2-year period.
Similarly, the scope of a proposed R01 project should determine the project period, the maximum of which is 5 years. For the R21, the maximum project period is 2 years.
For both NOFOs, applications are due on December 4, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. local time of the applicant organization.
Contact Information
Direct any scientific inquiries to Dr. Gerard M. Lacourciere, NIAID's research contact, at gerard.lacourciere@nih.gov or 301-761-7477. For any peer review related questions, contact Dr. Vishakha Sharma at vishakha.sharma@nih.gov or 301-761-7036.