Strategies for Eliminating HIV Proteins (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AI 24 057

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary research grant opportunity titled "Strategies for Eliminating HIV Proteins (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-24-057 (CFDA 93.855). The program uses the R01 mechanism, which is NIH's standard research project grant, and it is specifically restricted to non-clinical-trial applications. In practical terms, the work is expected to focus on preclinical or mechanistic research rather than enrolling human participants to test an intervention.

The central goal of this NOFO is to spur the development of new kinds of molecules designed to eliminate HIV proteins that have been difficult to address through traditional drug discovery. Instead of only trying to block a viral protein's function with a conventional inhibitor, the emphasis is on approaches that either (1) directly target HIV proteins or HIV RNA for degradation, or (2) disrupt the translation process so HIV RNA is not converted into viral proteins in the first place. By preventing production of these proteins or actively clearing them, the strategy aims to reduce or eliminate viral components that can persist even when replication is otherwise controlled, potentially opening doors to new therapeutic concepts and toolsets.

The scientific scope is framed around overcoming long-standing challenges in HIV therapeutics, especially proteins that are hard to drug due to limited binding pockets, high variability, or other biochemical constraints that make standard small-molecule inhibition less feasible. The NOFO highlights targeted degradation and translation interference as a way to broaden the universe of "druggable" HIV targets. Applications would typically be expected to propose clear design and development plans for candidate molecules, alongside rigorous validation assays showing that the approach can specifically affect HIV RNA or proteins, with attention to selectivity, mechanism of action, and feasibility for eventual therapeutic development, while staying within the non-clinical-trial boundary.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic applicants such as state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The opportunity is also open to Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as are for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. NIH also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant categories, including 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, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects an intent to attract diverse research teams and institutional capacities, including global expertise relevant to HIV science.

Key administrative details include an original closing date of 2024-12-04, with the funding instrument listed as a grant and the activity category as health. The public listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided source data, so prospective applicants would typically look to the full NOFO text and NIH guidance for budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute- or program-specific constraints. Overall, this funding opportunity is positioned to accelerate innovative, mechanism-driven approaches that go beyond classic inhibition and instead aim to remove HIV proteins or prevent their production by targeting HIV RNA and translation pathways, all within a research framework that does not involve clinical trials.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategies for Eliminating HIV Proteins (R01 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): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-04. (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.

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