Multidisciplinary Research to Accelerate Hepatitis B Cure in Persons Living with HIV and HBV (MRA-HBV)

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is announcing a forecasted funding opportunity titled "Multidisciplinary Research to Accelerate Hepatitis B Cure in Persons Living with HIV and HBV (MRA-HBV)." This grant initiative is designed to support advanced scientific research that addresses the dual challenge of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) coinfection, particularly in populations living with both conditions. NIAID's mission includes supporting basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and ultimately cure infectious diseases, making this opportunity consistent with their long-standing public health goals. The MRA-HBV program focuses on supporting observational cohort studies paired with multidisciplinary research teams. These teams will leverage existing clinical data and biospecimen repositories from previous cohort studies to generate new knowledge. The primary objectives of this initiative are to elucidate mechanisms of HBV persistence and pathogenesis in individuals also living with HIV, discover and validate biomarkers that are clinically relevant, identify novel drug targets (host or viral), and develop non-invasive diagnostic tools. The collaborative nature of this research model underscores the necessity of integrating multiple scientific disciplines to address complex disease interactions and progression. The funding will be provided through cooperative agreements, emphasizing the collaborative relationship between awardees and the NIH program staff throughout the life of the project. The total estimated program funding is $8,000,000. Up to two awards are expected to be granted under this opportunity. Although the precise ceiling and floor amounts for individual awards are not specified, applicants can anticipate a highly competitive selection process given the limited number of awards. No cost sharing or matching is required from applicants, which may lower financial barriers to entry for smaller or less resourced institutions. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, covering a wide range of institutional types. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state and county governments, federally and non-federally recognized tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (both small businesses and others), independent school districts, and public housing authorities. This comprehensive eligibility framework is designed to encourage participation from diverse stakeholders across the public, private, and academic sectors. The forecasted application schedule begins with an estimated post date of May 21, 2026, and an estimated application due date of August 19, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced by March 1, 2027, with funded projects beginning on the same date. As this is a forecasted opportunity, applicants are encouraged to prepare early by engaging with institutional leadership, potential collaborators, and grants management teams. The opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis but is expected to recur, implying future funding rounds may be available. Based on the August 2026 application due date, the next cycle would likely occur in August 2027, with internal planning best scheduled for a check-in around June 30, 2026. For additional details, interested applicants are advised to contact Dr. Josh Radke at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He can be reached via phone at 301-761-6525 or by email at josh.radke@nih.gov. Given the scientific complexity and multidisciplinary focus of the opportunity, applicants should consider assembling research teams with expertise in virology, immunology, bioinformatics, and clinical cohort analysis to ensure alignment with NIAID’s goals and increase the likelihood of funding success.