HIV/AIDS Scholars Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models Program (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 22 248

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 248

The HIV/AIDS Scholars Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models Program is an NIH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) funding opportunity (PAR-22-248) that supports early-career investigators who are building a focused research trajectory in HIV/AIDS translational science using nonhuman primate models. The core aim is career development: it provides structured mentoring, protected time, and resources so promising researchers can deepen their expertise, produce impactful translational findings, and position themselves to compete successfully for independent funding such as an R01. The award is designed for investigators who are within ten years of completing a terminal professional degree or finishing residency training, reflecting NIHs intent to invest at a stage when intensive mentorship and dedicated research time can most strongly shape a long-term independent program.

The scientific emphasis is specifically on HIV/AIDS translational studies where NHPs serve as preclinical models. In practice, that means applicants are expected to propose a research plan that uses NHP systems to answer questions that can reasonably inform human HIV prevention, treatment, cure strategies, or the management of HIV-related conditions. Just as important as the research topic is the mentorship structure: the program expects an experienced mentorship team with demonstrated strengths in both (1) the preclinical use of NHP HIV/AIDS models and (2) translating insights from those models toward clinical application in humans. The intent is not simply to fund a project, but to fund a sustained, mentored training period that helps the scholar develop the technical skills, conceptual grounding, and professional independence needed to lead a future research program.

The support period is three years, described as an intensive research career development experience. During this time, the award is intended to cover salary and research costs in a way that enables concentrated effort on the proposed research and on the candidates development activities. NIH frames the outcome expectation clearly: awardees should emerge with stronger publication output, clearer scientific direction, and the preliminary data and credibility needed to move into independent grant funding and leadership roles in HIV/AIDS research that bridges preclinical and clinical domains.

Program priorities align with the FY 2021-2025 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research. The opportunity highlights broad, high-impact HIV goals, including reducing HIV incidence, developing next-generation HIV therapies, advancing research toward an HIV cure, and addressing HIV-associated comorbidities, coinfections, and complications. Applicants should therefore frame their proposed NHP-based research in a way that connects to one or more of these strategic priorities, showing how the planned studies can contribute to real-world improvements in prevention or patient outcomes, even if the work itself remains preclinical.

A key boundary condition is the clinical trial restriction captured in the title: Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed. This FOA is intended for candidates whose proposed work does not involve serving as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial. However, the announcement explicitly allows applicants to gain clinical trial experience as part of their training if the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. In other words, you can build trial exposure into the career development plan, but you cannot propose a trial that you personally direct under this particular FOA. Candidates who want to lead a clinical trial (or lead an ancillary clinical trial) are directed to apply to the companion FOA designed for that purpose.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types, reflecting NIHs typical K award flexibility in institutional settings. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, there are clear limits on non-U.S. participation: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health, listed under CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.855. The opportunity was created on 2022-10-28, and the original closing date shown is 2023-07-06. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, so applicants would typically confirm budget limits, allowable costs, and review considerations directly in the full FOA text and NIH policy guidance for K01 mechanisms.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HIV/AIDS Scholars Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models Program (K01 Independent 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): 93.242, 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-10-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-07-06. (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.

Apply for PAR 22 248

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