NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

The funding opportunity titled Elucidating Immunometabolic Responses to HIV Infection that Increase TB or HBV Risk, issued by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, supports research to investigate how HIV-driven immunometabolic alterations impact the risk of tuberculosis and hepatitis B virus progression in individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy. The program seeks to advance understanding of how these changes affect immune regulation, cell-to-cell interactions, and treatment responses, with the ultimate goal of identifying biomarkers of disease progression and therapeutic targets for host-directed treatments. Research areas of interest include defining immunometabolic changes caused by HIV infection and their role in TB or HBV pathogenesis, studying the immunometabolic influences on immune cell interactions during co-infection, and analyzing multi-omic immune cell profiles to uncover correlates of disease progression. Projects may also focus on identifying biomarkers or therapeutic targets that improve clinical outcomes for people living with HIV who are at risk for TB or HBV. Applicants are encouraged to develop multidisciplinary research teams, incorporate machine learning or artificial intelligence techniques, and use existing clinical samples with translational approaches, including in vitro or in vivo models. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, government entities, and foreign institutions. Non-domestic entities and foreign components of U.S. organizations are eligible to participate. Applications must adhere to NIH submission guidelines, and budgets should reflect the project’s actual requirements. The maximum project period is five years, and applications must include preliminary data to support hypotheses and validate proposed research strategies. Applications will be reviewed based on their significance, innovation, scientific rigor, and feasibility, as well as the qualifications of the investigators and the resources available at their institutions. The evaluation criteria emphasize the relevance of the research to understanding immunometabolic mechanisms in HIV-infected individuals, the strength of the experimental approach, and the potential to deliver new insights into disease progression and therapeutic interventions. Successful applications will demonstrate a clear path to advancing fundamental knowledge and improving clinical outcomes for co-infected populations. Submissions follow the NIH standard due dates, with the first application deadline on May 7, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and eRA Commons, and applicants are required to complete all necessary registrations in advance to ensure timely submission. For additional support, program staff are available to assist with questions related to research alignment and program priorities. Final funding decisions will be based on scientific merit, alignment with programmatic goals, and the availability of funds.