Exploiting in Vivo or in Situ Imaging Approaches to Understand HIV-relevant Processes In The Context of Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trials Optional) | RFA DA 23 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 23 001

The grant opportunity titled "Exploiting in Vivo or in Situ Imaging Approaches to Understand HIV-relevant Processes In The Context of Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trials Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-23-001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to push forward imaging-driven research at the intersection of HIV and substance use disorders (SUD). Its central goal is to support projects that either further develop, refine, or actively apply modern in vivo (within a living organism) or in situ (within the original tissue context) imaging methods, along with related technologies, to answer important biological and clinical questions about HIV and SIV. The emphasis is on understanding how infection behaves in the body, where the virus persists, how it causes damage, and how treatments for HIV/SIV or for SUD change these processes over time.

A major scientific focus of the program is improving insight into HIV/SIV infection dynamics and persistence, especially latent reservoirs, which are the hard-to-eradicate pockets of virus that can remain even when standard antiretroviral therapy suppresses detectable virus in the blood. The opportunity encourages imaging-based approaches that can localize infection, characterize tissue-level events, and capture biological changes that would be difficult to observe through blood tests alone. This includes studying the pathogenic consequences of infection, such as inflammation, immune activation, tissue damage, and neurological impacts, and examining how these outcomes may be altered by substance use, addiction biology, or SUD treatment. In practical terms, the program is aiming to accelerate the ability to "see" HIV/SIV-relevant processes in real time or within intact tissue architecture, rather than relying only on indirect measures.

Applicants are allowed to propose studies in nonhuman primates or in humans, reflecting the program's interest in both mechanistic and clinically relevant work. The tissues of interest explicitly include blood, lymphoid tissues (which are key sites for viral persistence and immune activity), and brain tissues (important for neuroHIV, neuroinflammation, and the neurological consequences of both HIV and substance use). By highlighting these compartments, the program signals that it is looking for projects that can address known gaps in understanding virus-host interactions across the body, particularly in sites that are difficult to sample repeatedly or interpret without advanced imaging.

The funding mechanism is an R61/R33, which generally indicates a phased innovation-to-development structure: an initial stage supporting early, milestone-driven development or feasibility work (R61), followed by a second stage to expand, validate, or apply the approach once initial goals are met (R33). The notice also states that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants can propose clinical trial components if appropriate, but they are not required to do so. This creates room for a wide range of projects, from technology/method development and validation to translational studies that apply imaging to evaluate interventions, disease processes, or therapy effects in real-world settings.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations and institutions. Standard eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. In addition, the opportunity explicitly calls out a wide set of other eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and 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; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can also apply. That mix suggests an intent to encourage participation from diverse institutional settings and communities, including those disproportionately affected by HIV and SUD.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under Education and Health and is associated with CFDA number 93.279. The original closing date listed is 2022-08-11, and the funding opportunity record shows a creation date of 2021-07-08. While the source data does not provide an award ceiling, expected number of awards, or other budget specifics in the excerpt provided, it clearly communicates the programmatic aim: enabling imaging-centered research that can reveal where and how HIV/SIV persists and causes harm, particularly in the context of substance use disorders and related therapies, using primate and/or human studies with attention to blood, lymphoid, and brain compartments.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploiting in Vivo or in Situ Imaging Approaches to Understand HIV-relevant Processes In The Context of Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trials Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-07-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-08-11. (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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