Elucidating Mechanisms Associated with HIV Related Co-Morbidities in Populations Experiencing Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA MD 24 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 24 005

Elucidating Mechanisms Associated with HIV Related Co-Morbidities in Populations Experiencing Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (RFA-MD-24-005) designed to support research that digs into the biological, behavioral, social, and structural mechanisms driving unequal health outcomes among people living with HIV, particularly as they age and accumulate multiple co-morbidities. The core aim is not simply to document that disparities exist, but to clarify why they occur by identifying underlying pathways that connect HIV, aging, and co-occurring conditions to downstream outcomes like overall health status, disease progression, functioning, and quality of life in populations that experience health disparities.

A central emphasis of this opportunity is the interaction between HIV and aging in the context of multimorbidity. Applicants are expected to focus on how having multiple co-morbidities at once (for example, cardiometabolic disease, liver or kidney disease, neurocognitive changes, mental health conditions, or other chronic disorders common in aging) influences health trajectories for people with HIV, and how these patterns differ in groups facing persistent inequities. The funding call highlights mechanism-focused research, meaning projects should be structured to explain processes and pathways (such as inflammation and immune activation, treatment-related effects, stress biology, care access dynamics, or other plausible causal chains) that contribute to disparity-linked differences in outcomes, rather than primarily testing an intervention in a clinical trial setting.

The award mechanism is an NIH R01 research project grant, and clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement. In practical terms, that generally steers applicants toward observational studies, analyses of existing cohorts or datasets, mechanistic laboratory or translational studies tied to human populations, or other designs that can credibly illuminate causal or explanatory mechanisms without conducting a clinical trial. The opportunity sits within NIH activity categories related to health (CFDA numbers 93.307 and 93.847), and it is listed as a discretionary grant program.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Despite that wide net, non-U.S. entities are not eligible: non-domestic (non-U.S.) organizations cannot 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.

Key administrative details included in the source information are that the program is run by NIH, the original closing date is January 7, 2026, and the listed award ceiling is $500,000. The opportunity record shows a creation date of March 1, 2024. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Elucidating Mechanisms Associated with HIV Related Co-Morbidities in Populations Experiencing Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307, 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-07. (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.

Apply for RFA MD 24 005

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