Toward ElucidAting MechanismS of HIV Pathogenesis within the Mission of the NIDDK (Pathogenesis TEAMS) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DK 25 024

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 25 024

The NIH, through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), is offering an R01 grant opportunity called "Toward ElucidAting MechanismS of HIV Pathogenesis within the Mission of the NIDDK (Pathogenesis TEAMS) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" under funding opportunity number RFA-DK-25-024 (CFDA 93.847). The overall goal is to fund multidisciplinary research teams that bring together complementary expertise in HIV research and in the biology and disease processes most relevant to NIDDK. In practice, this means projects should focus on organs, tissues, and biological systems tied to NIDDKs mission areas, such as metabolism, endocrine function, digestive diseases, liver and gastrointestinal biology, nutrition-related pathways, and kidney/urologic systems, while directly addressing how HIV contributes to related health problems.

The NOFO is centered on mechanism-focused science. NIDDK is looking for teams that will comprehensively interrogate fundamental biological mechanisms driving HIV-associated comorbidities, co-infections, and complications that fall within NIDDK priorities. Rather than mainly supporting descriptive or purely epidemiologic work, the emphasis is on understanding pathobiology and pathophysiology: how HIV infection (and potentially its treatment, chronic inflammation, immune activation, viral reservoirs, or metabolic changes) leads to downstream dysfunction in specific tissues and systems. The intent is that this mechanistic understanding will help move the field toward strategies that prevent, mitigate, or relieve HIV-associated complications that intersect with diabetes, digestive diseases, kidney disease, and related metabolic or physiological disorders.

The "TEAMS" framing signals that applications are expected to be genuinely collaborative and multidisciplinary, not just a single-lab project with minor outside input. Competitive proposals will typically feature investigators with distinct but integrated expertise, for example combining HIV virology or immunology with renal physiology, hepatology, gut mucosal biology, endocrinology, metabolism, nutrition science, or systems biology. The expectation is that the team approach will allow deeper, more complete interrogation of mechanisms than a single-discipline effort, and that the project plan will show clear integration across disciplines with a coherent strategy for generating actionable biological insight.

This is an R01 mechanism, and clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose either non-clinical trial research or a study that includes a clinical trial component, as long as it is justified by the mechanistic aims and aligns with NIDDK mission interests. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary grant funding within the broad activity category of food and nutrition and health, reflecting NIDDKs program scope and the NIH context of the announcement.

A wide range of applicants are eligible. Standard domestic governmental and academic entities may apply, including state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; and private institutions of higher education. Also eligible are federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The NOFO also welcomes nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. In addition, NIDDK explicitly identifies other eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based and community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations, which underscores an interest in broad participation and in assembling the best possible teams for the scientific questions being targeted.

Key administrative details included in the listing are an original closing date of November 21, 2024, and an award ceiling of $500,000. The source entry also notes the posting/creation date as August 7, 2024. While the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided text, the ceiling provides a sense of the scale NIDDK anticipates for individual projects.

In short, this NOFO funds team-based, mechanistic HIV pathogenesis research that squarely targets HIV-related complications in NIDDK-relevant organs and systems, with the explicit aim of generating biological insight that can ultimately inform prevention or alleviation of HIV-associated comorbidities, co-infections, and complications tied to metabolism, digestive health, and kidney-related disease areas.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Toward ElucidAting MechanismS of HIV Pathogenesis within the Mission of the NIDDK (Pathogenesis TEAMS) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2024-08-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• 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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