Oral HIV Vaccination: Strategy Synergistic to Systemic Vaccination (R01) | RFA DE 18 008

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DE 18 008

The Oral HIV Vaccination: Strategy Synergistic to Systemic Vaccination (R01) funding opportunity (RFA-DE-18-008) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant solicitation that supports hypothesis-driven basic, translational, and pre-clinical studies aimed at preventing HIV infection. The central goal is to spur development of new prophylactic oral mucosal vaccine approaches that work in a complementary, synergistic way with systemic vaccination. In practical terms, this FOA is looking for research that strengthens protective immunity at oral mucosal surfaces (where exposure can occur) while also fitting into a broader vaccination strategy that generates systemic immune responses, with the expectation that combining mucosal and systemic approaches could provide stronger or more durable protection than either alone.

This announcement falls under the discretionary grant category and uses the R01 research project grant mechanism, which is typically designed for investigator-initiated projects with well-developed scientific aims and a clear experimental plan. The scientific scope emphasizes early-stage and preclinical development work rather than human efficacy trials, with a focus on understanding mechanisms, improving immunogen or platform design, optimizing delivery strategies, and generating the kind of preclinical evidence needed to justify future clinical translation. The topic focus is specifically oral mucosal vaccination in the context of HIV prevention, and the work is expected to be grounded in testable hypotheses rather than purely descriptive studies.

A wide range of organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include various levels of U.S. government entities (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) as well as other tribal organizations. The eligibility list also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. In addition, the FOA explicitly highlights other eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). It also allows applications from eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), signaling an intent to encourage broad participation and potentially international collaboration where scientifically appropriate.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is associated with the Health funding activity category and CFDA number 93.121. The posting indicates an original closing date of November 24, 2017, and a creation date of February 13, 2017. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source details, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text or NIH budget guidance for any constraints, expectations, or institute-specific funding considerations.

Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as NIH support for rigorous, hypothesis-driven vaccine research that specifically targets oral mucosal immunity as part of a combined mucosal-plus-systemic HIV vaccination strategy. Competitive applications would be expected to articulate why an oral mucosal approach is likely to add value beyond systemic vaccination alone, define clear mechanistic or developmental aims, and propose preclinical experiments that can meaningfully de-risk and advance the field toward an effective prophylactic HIV vaccine strategy.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Oral HIV Vaccination: Strategy Synergistic to Systemic Vaccination (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-02-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-11-24. (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 RFA DE 18 008

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