Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 18 008
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement RFA-DA-18-008, titled "Exploring Novel RNA Modifications in HIV/AIDS and Substance Use Disorders (R01)," supports research grants aimed at understanding how covalent RNA modifications influence HIV biology in the context of substance use disorders (SUDs). The central idea is that chemical changes to RNA (often referred to as the "epitranscriptome") can affect how RNAs are processed, stabilized, translated, and recognized by cellular machinery, and that these same processes may be altered by chronic exposure to drugs of abuse. By focusing on RNA modifications that shape HIV replication, persistence, latency, immune evasion, or other aspects of viral function, the FOA seeks to build a clearer mechanistic picture of how HIV disease progresses in people who also have SUDs, and to identify scientifically grounded leads for new therapeutic strategies tailored to this dual-burden population.
A key emphasis of the opportunity is the intersection between HIV-related RNA modification biology and the biological consequences of chronic drug exposure. The FOA encourages projects that can identify which RNA modifications are involved in HIV function, determine how those modifications are installed, removed, or interpreted by cellular and viral factors, and clarify how substance use changes these pathways. In practice, this can include mapping and characterizing RNA modifications on viral RNAs and/or host RNAs relevant to infection, identifying the enzymes and binding proteins that regulate or "read" these modifications, and testing how exposure to substances alters modification patterns and downstream outcomes. The longer-term rationale is translational: if specific RNA modification pathways are shown to be important for HIV replication or persistence, and if those same pathways are perturbed by drugs of abuse, then modulating them could become a route to future therapeutics that are particularly relevant for patients living with HIV who also experience SUDs.
This is an R01 research project grant, which generally supports hypothesis-driven, investigator-initiated research with sufficient scope to pursue substantial mechanistic questions. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and is associated with the Health and Education funding activity area. The CFDA number listed for the program is 93.279. The original posting indicates an original closing date of August 17, 2017, and a creation date of May 12, 2017. The source excerpt does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types for NIH research grants. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education where specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In addition, the FOA explicitly highlights other eligible applicants such as 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); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations may apply.
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at pushing the science of RNA modifications into a clinically important and understudied intersection: how HIV interacts with host RNA modification machinery under the physiological and molecular stresses introduced by substance use. The NIH is signaling that projects which can connect RNA chemical modifications to HIV outcomes, explain the underlying mechanisms, and account for the modifying effects of chronic drug exposure may provide a foundation for future therapeutic concepts designed for real-world patient populations where HIV and SUDs frequently co-occur.Apply for RFA DA 18 008
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploring Novel RNA Modifications in HIV/AIDS and Substance Use Disorders (R01)" 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 2017-05-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-08-17. (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)
1. What is the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number and title?
The FOA is NIH RFA-DA-18-008, titled "Exploring Novel RNA Modifications in HIV/AIDS and Substance Use Disorders (R01)."
2. What type of grant mechanism is this?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism (Research Project Grant), which generally supports hypothesis-driven, investigator-initiated projects with enough scope to pursue substantial mechanistic research questions.
3. What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA supports research to understand how covalent RNA modifications (the "epitranscriptome") influence HIV biology in the context of substance use disorders (SUDs), including how these RNA chemical changes affect processes such as RNA processing, stability, translation, and recognition by cellular machinery.
4. What is meant by "covalent RNA modifications" and the "epitranscriptome" in this FOA?
In this FOA, covalent RNA modifications refer to chemical changes added directly onto RNA molecules. The term "epitranscriptome" is used to describe the collection of these RNA modifications and their functional consequences, such as altering how RNAs are processed, stabilized, translated, or recognized by host or viral factors.
5. How does substance use disorder (SUD) fit into the research goals?
A key emphasis is the intersection between HIV-related RNA modification biology and the biological consequences of chronic drug exposure. The FOA encourages projects that clarify how chronic exposure to drugs of abuse may change RNA modification pathways and how that, in turn, affects HIV replication, persistence, latency, immune evasion, or other viral functions.
6. What HIV-related outcomes or viral processes are of interest?
The FOA highlights RNA modifications that shape HIV replication, persistence, latency, immune evasion, and other aspects of viral function, with the goal of building a clearer mechanistic picture of HIV disease progression in people who also have SUDs.
7. What kinds of research activities does the FOA encourage?
Examples described include: mapping and characterizing RNA modifications on viral RNAs and/or host RNAs relevant to infection; identifying enzymes and binding proteins that regulate, install, remove, or "read" RNA modifications; and testing how exposure to substances alters modification patterns and downstream biological outcomes.
8. Does the FOA focus on viral RNA, host RNA, or both?
Based on the description provided, the FOA can include mapping and characterizing RNA modifications on viral RNAs and/or host RNAs that are relevant to HIV infection and related mechanisms.
9. What is meant by enzymes or proteins that "install, remove, or read" RNA modifications?
The FOA emphasizes identifying the factors that regulate RNA modification pathways. "Install" refers to adding a modification, "remove" refers to reversing it, and "read" refers to proteins that recognize the modification and influence downstream RNA fate or function.
10. Is the FOA aimed at basic science, translational science, or both?
The FOA is strongly mechanistic (basic science) while also stating a longer-term translational rationale: if specific RNA modification pathways are important for HIV replication or persistence and are perturbed by drugs of abuse, then modulating these pathways could inform future therapeutic strategies for people living with both HIV and SUDs.
11. What population or real-world clinical context is motivating this research?
The FOA is motivated by the dual-burden population where HIV and substance use disorders frequently co-occur, and it aims to support research that accounts for the modifying effects of chronic drug exposure on HIV-relevant RNA modification biology.
12. Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
13. What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 93.279.
14. What is the funding activity area and funding type?
The opportunity is described as discretionary funding and is associated with the Health and Education funding activity area.
15. When was the opportunity created and what is the original closing date?
The creation date is May 12, 2017, and the original closing date is August 17, 2017.
16. Is the award ceiling provided in the information excerpt?
No. The source excerpt does not provide an award ceiling.
17. Does the excerpt state the expected number of awards?
No. The source excerpt does not provide the expected number of awards.
18. What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, city or township 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education where specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
19. Are minority-serving institutions and similar entities explicitly highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; AANAPISIs; Hispanic-serving Institutions; HBCUs; and TCCUs.
20. Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants explicitly include eligible federal agencies.
21. Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicants.
22. Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.
23. Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA notes that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are eligible, meaning foreign organizations may apply.
24. Are Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized as eligible applicants.
25. What is the overarching goal of the FOA in terms of impact?
The overarching goal is to push RNA modification science into an important intersection: how HIV interacts with host RNA modification machinery under stresses introduced by substance use, building mechanistic understanding that may provide scientifically grounded leads for future therapeutic strategies tailored to people living with both HIV and SUDs.
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