Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 123
The grant opportunity titled "Advancing HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of the NIDCD (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-123) is a discretionary NIH grant designed to spark new, exploratory HIV/AIDS research that fits squarely within the mission of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD). In practical terms, it is looking for early-stage, high-impact ideas that could open up new directions in how HIV/AIDS affects communication and sensory systems, or how those systems can be leveraged to improve HIV-related prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or quality of life. The activity category is Health and it is listed under CFDA 93.173. The mechanism is an R21, which typically supports novel, developmental work where investigators may be testing a new concept, building preliminary evidence, piloting an approach, or generating data needed to compete for a larger grant later. The "Clinical Trial Optional" label means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials, but they are not required to do so; non-trial human research and non-human studies that align with the goals are also relevant.
The scientific focus is specifically HIV/AIDS research tied to NIDCD priority areas: hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. Proposals should also align with the high-priority HIV/AIDS research areas identified by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR), which sets NIH-wide strategic priorities for HIV research. That expectation matters because it frames the work as more than just "HIV-related" in a broad sense; applications should connect their aims to recognized HIV/AIDS research priorities while staying grounded in NIDCD-relevant systems and outcomes. This could include, for example, research on HIV-associated auditory or vestibular dysfunction; taste and smell changes related to HIV infection, co-infections, or antiretroviral therapy; voice, speech, and swallowing or language impacts in people living with HIV; communication barriers that affect access to HIV prevention and care; or mechanistic work on how HIV, inflammation, opportunistic infections, or treatments influence sensory and communication pathways. The FOA is essentially encouraging investigators to bring HIV/AIDS questions into NIDCD terrain and to do it in a way that is responsive to the broader NIH HIV/AIDS agenda.
Eligibility is broad and includes many typical NIH applicant types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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 that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories as well, including 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 agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities such as foreign organizations and regional organizations. This breadth is important because it signals NIH interest in reaching a wide range of research settings and community contexts, including institutions that serve populations disproportionately affected by HIV and organizations positioned to conduct culturally grounded or community-engaged research.
From an applicant standpoint, the core "ask" is to propose a well-justified, innovative project that advances HIV/AIDS research through the lens of NIDCD-relevant conditions, functions, or interventions. Because it uses the R21 mechanism, a competitive application usually emphasizes strong rationale, innovation, feasibility, and a clear path toward generating decisive preliminary findings rather than promising a fully mature, multi-year research program. If a clinical trial is proposed, it should be appropriately scoped for an exploratory award and tightly linked to outcomes in hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, or language, while also making a convincing case for its relevance to OAR HIV/AIDS priorities.
The notice lists an original closing date of 2023-01-07 and a creation date of 2020-03-05. No award ceiling or expected number of awards is provided in the source text, which typically means applicants should refer to the full FOA and NIH grants policy for budget guidance and standard R21 limits, as well as to confirm current submission dates and any updates or reissues of the announcement. Overall, this opportunity is aimed at catalyzing new HIV/AIDS research directions that may be underexplored, particularly where HIV intersects with sensory systems and human communication, and it is structured to support high-risk, high-reward concepts that can mature into larger studies if the early work is promising.Apply for PAR 20 123
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of the NIDCD (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-07. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Advancing HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of the NIDCD (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) is PAR-20-123.
What type of grant is this?
This is an NIH discretionary grant using the R21 mechanism. R21 awards are commonly used to support early-stage, exploratory, and developmental research intended to test new concepts, pilot approaches, or generate preliminary evidence that can support a future, larger application.
What does "R21" generally support in practice?
Based on the description provided, the R21 mechanism is meant for novel and developmental work such as testing a new idea, piloting a method or intervention, building preliminary evidence, or generating the kind of early data needed to compete for a larger grant later. The emphasis is typically on rationale, innovation, feasibility, and producing decisive early findings rather than proposing a fully mature long-term program.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for applicants?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means you may include a clinical trial in your proposed research, but you are not required to. Projects that do not include a clinical trial (including non-trial human studies and non-human studies) can also be responsive as long as they align with the FOA's scientific goals.
Which NIH institute is this opportunity associated with?
This opportunity is within the mission of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD).
What is the scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA is intended to spark new, exploratory HIV/AIDS research that fits within NIDCD mission areas. The scientific focus is HIV/AIDS research tied to NIDCD priority areas involving hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language, and research that connects to HIV/AIDS priorities identified by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR).
What does it mean to align with the NIDCD mission?
In the context provided, aligning with the NIDCD mission means the proposed HIV/AIDS research should be grounded in communication and sensory systems and outcomes, specifically hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, or language.
What does it mean to align with NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) priorities?
The FOA expects applications to connect their aims to recognized HIV/AIDS research priorities identified by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR), while still staying centered on NIDCD-relevant systems and outcomes. In other words, the application should be more than broadly "HIV-related" and should demonstrate relevance to established NIH-wide HIV/AIDS research priorities.
What are examples of research topics that may fit this opportunity?
Examples described include research on HIV-associated auditory or vestibular dysfunction; taste and smell changes related to HIV infection, co-infections, or antiretroviral therapy; impacts on voice, speech, swallowing, or language in people living with HIV; communication barriers that affect access to HIV prevention and care; and mechanistic work on how HIV, inflammation, opportunistic infections, or treatments influence sensory and communication pathways.
Is this opportunity only for clinical or human-subjects research?
No. The description indicates that clinical trials are optional, and that non-trial human research and non-human studies can also be relevant if they align with the FOA goals and fit within NIDCD mission areas.
What activity category is this opportunity listed under?
The activity category is Health.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.173.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many common NIH applicant types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry, as well as foreign and regional organizations (as stated in the provided information).
Which U.S. government entities are eligible applicants?
Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and eligible federal agencies.
Are higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories), according to the provided text.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible categories including 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among highlighted eligible applicant categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among the additional eligible applicant categories.
Can non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes non-U.S. entities such as foreign organizations and regional organizations as eligible applicant categories.
What is the overall purpose or intent of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is aimed at catalyzing new HIV/AIDS research directions that may be underexplored, especially where HIV intersects with sensory systems and human communication. It is designed to support innovative, high-impact, early-stage ideas that can open new directions and potentially mature into larger studies if the exploratory work is promising.
What kinds of outcomes or domains should the project connect to?
The project should connect to NIDCD-relevant domains (hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language) while also making a clear case for relevance to HIV/AIDS priorities identified by OAR.
If proposing a clinical trial, how should it be scoped?
If a clinical trial is proposed, the description indicates it should be appropriately scoped for an exploratory R21 award and tightly linked to outcomes in hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, or language, while also clearly tying the work to OAR HIV/AIDS priorities.
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The source text provided does not include an award ceiling or an expected number of awards.
Does the provided information include key dates?
Yes. It lists a creation date of 2020-03-05 and an original closing date of 2023-01-07.
If no budget limits are provided here, what should applicants do?
The description indicates applicants should refer to the full FOA and NIH grants policy for budget guidance and standard R21 limits, and to confirm current submission dates and any updates or reissues of the announcement.
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