Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery (R01) | PAR 17 263

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 263

Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery (R01) (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-17-263) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity focused on pushing forward early-stage, high risk, high impact research aimed at developing new vaccine approaches to prevent HIV acquisition or to prevent or control ongoing HIV infection. The emphasis is on innovative discovery work rather than incremental advances, meaning applicants are expected to propose bold ideas, novel concepts, or unconventional strategies that could significantly change the direction of HIV vaccine research if they work, even if the outcome is uncertain.

A defining feature of this R01 is its Go/No-Go funding structure, which is different from a typical R01 where support generally continues as long as the project remains scientifically productive. Under this FOA, investigators and NIH program staff negotiate clear milestones and decision points, and continued funding beyond the early phase depends on meeting those agreed-upon criteria. Specifically, by the end of Year 2 the project must achieve the negotiated Go/No-Go benchmarks for the award to continue for the remainder of the project period. This structure is designed to make it easier to fund genuinely risky vaccine discovery ideas while still maintaining accountability, since projects that do not meet key early objectives may be stopped or redirected rather than continuing for the full award term.

The opportunity falls under the NIH health research umbrella and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.855 and 93.856. While the posted data list an award ceiling of $350,000, the FOA is fundamentally described as an R01 mechanism, so applicants typically need to pay close attention to the specific budget instructions and any NIH Institute or Center guidance tied to this announcement when preparing an application.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations as well as certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, along with public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and also Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows applications from public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, the announcement explicitly highlights other eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) organizations (foreign organizations).

Key administrative details in the source information include an original closing date of 2019-08-01 and a creation date of 2017-04-25. The core takeaway is that this FOA is meant for applicants who can justify a genuinely innovative HIV vaccine discovery concept and are willing to structure their project around concrete, early milestones that determine whether the work merits continued investment after the first two years.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855, 93.856.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-04-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-08-01. (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 $350,000.00 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 PAR 17 263

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