Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 25 165

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 165

The NIH funding opportunity PAR-25-165, titled "Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," is designed to help early career scientists build independence through preclinical HIV/AIDS research that relies on nonhuman primate models. It uses the R21 grant mechanism, which is commonly intended for exploratory or developmental projects that can generate key preliminary data and open up new research directions. A central requirement is that the proposed work must use NHPs as preclinical models for HIV/AIDS research, and the FOA explicitly does not allow clinical trials, meaning the research should remain in the preclinical domain rather than testing interventions in human participants.

The program specifically targets Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) who are within 10 years of completing their terminal degree or finishing residency training, while also having at least two years of postdoctoral experience. In practical terms, NIH is aiming this at researchers who have moved beyond initial postdoctoral training and are ready to lead their own projects, but who may still need dedicated support to establish a distinct scientific niche. The broader intent is to provide enough runway for these investigators to develop independent research trajectories, strengthen their track records in NHP-based HIV research, and become more competitive for future, larger-scale awards such as an R01.

Research topics supported under this FOA are broadly aligned with the NIH FY 2021-2025 Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research. That includes projects aimed at reducing HIV incidence (for example, prevention concepts that can be evaluated in NHP models), developing next-generation HIV therapies, advancing research toward an HIV cure, addressing HIV-associated comorbidities and coinfections and their complications, and strengthening cross-cutting areas of HIV research. The announcement is intentionally wide in scope within those strategic priorities, as long as the work is grounded in NHP preclinical modeling and fits the non-clinical trial boundary.

Eligibility is expansive across many U.S.-based organization types. Applicants may include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public housing authorities; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses, among others. The FOA also highlights certain categories of institutions and organizations as eligible, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, and regional organizations.

At the same time, the FOA is clear about restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. In effect, the applicant organization and the supported work must be fully domestic under NIH rules, without foreign components embedded in the project structure.

Administratively, this is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity within the health funding activity category, associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.351. The opportunity was created on November 15, 2024, and the listed original closing date is September 7, 2025. The announcement information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text and any linked NIH Institute or Center guidance for budgeting expectations, review considerations, and programmatic priorities that might shape competitiveness.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (R21 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): 93.242, 93.351.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-07. (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.

Apply for PAR 25 165

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