High Priority HIV and Substance Use Research (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is offering funding through the High Priority HIV and Substance Use Research program. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), identified as RFA-DA-25-060, invites applications from interdisciplinary research teams aiming to address critical challenges at the intersection of HIV and substance use. The RM1 grant mechanism supports ambitious, integrative research efforts that require the collaboration of three to six principal investigators (PD/PIs). The intention is to catalyze groundbreaking studies that push the boundaries of traditional approaches and yield transformative outcomes within a five-year timeframe. NIDA prioritizes research projects that address the prevention of new HIV infections among people with substance use disorders (SUDs), improve understanding of HIV pathogenesis and comorbidities in this population, and inform strategies for care, treatment, and potential cures. This funding opportunity is tailored for teams proposing complex, interdisciplinary projects that challenge existing paradigms, integrate diverse methodologies, and cannot be executed by single or parallel investigator models. The RM1 structure is intended to support a singular, well-defined goal that can only be accomplished through a unified, multi-expert collaboration, rather than independent research components. Eligible applicants include a wide array of U.S.-based organizations such as higher education institutions, non-profits, local and state governments, tribal organizations, and some for-profit entities. Foreign organizations and non-domestic components are not eligible to apply, though foreign components supporting domestic U.S.-based research may be included. Each team must include 3–6 PD/PIs, each contributing distinctly and significantly. Proposals must be supported by preliminary data and demonstrate a clear nexus between HIV and substance use. Applications lacking this clarity or proposing solely to develop new technologies or therapeutic devices, or those focused solely on observational or foreign studies, will be considered non-responsive. The funding supports up to $1.5 million in direct costs per fiscal year, over a maximum project period of five years. NIDA anticipates making 1–2 awards annually, with a committed budget of $3 million per year through FY2027. A letter of intent is due 30 days before the application deadline. For the current cycle, applications for AIDS-related projects are due August 15, 2025, and February 11, 2026. Applications must be submitted through NIH’s ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. Applicants are strongly advised to consult with NIDA staff at least eight weeks prior to submission to discuss project fit and scope. The application requires several mandatory attachments, including a Team Management Plan, Timeline and Benchmarks for Success, Organizational Chart, and a table of Infrastructure, Partnerships, and Collaborations. Projects must demonstrate synergy across disciplines and be managed to ensure fairness, shared credit, and effective communication. NIDA recommends including a project manager and possibly data science personnel to support coordination and data sharing. Additional application components include a Research Strategy (limited to 15 pages), Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan, Budget Justification, and Data Management and Sharing Plan. Scientific review will evaluate the proposed project’s innovation, significance, team composition, feasibility, and integration. Applications must comply with NIH policies on rigor, transparency, and data sharing. The review process includes initial peer evaluation followed by an advisory council review. Final funding decisions will be based on scientific merit, relevance to NIDA priorities, and available funds. Applicants may direct programmatic inquiries to NIDA contacts listed in the NOFO, including Drs. Vasundhara Varthakavi, Richard Jenkins, Kathleen Borgmann, and Raul Mandler. The NOFO will remain active until March 6, 2027, with recurring submission dates approximately every six months.

Ensure strong interdisciplinary integration, clear alignment with NIH HIV priorities, and a focused, single program goal; consult NIDA staff 8 weeks before submission.