Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 281
The In Vitro and Animal Model Studies on HBV/HIV Co-Infection (R21) funding opportunity (PA 17 281) is a discretionary National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant designed to push the field forward in two tightly connected areas: building better experimental models of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, and using those models to clarify how the two viruses interact in ways that shape disease. The central idea is that progress in HBV/HIV co-infection has been limited by a lack of robust laboratory systems that realistically mimic what happens in people, which in turn slows down both basic discovery and practical drug development. This FOA is meant to stimulate new approaches that can shorten the path from laboratory insight to therapies that are safer and more effective for co-infected individuals.
A major emphasis of the FOA is the development of novel in vitro systems and small animal models that can reproduce key features of HBV/HIV co-infection. In vitro systems can include advanced cell culture approaches that better reflect human liver biology and immune interactions, while small animal models are intended to provide a living system where viral replication, immune responses, and tissue damage can be studied over time. The purpose of investing in these platforms is not model-building for its own sake, but rather enabling faster and more reliable screening, evaluation, and optimization of candidate drugs and therapeutic strategies specifically in the context of co-infection. This is important because drug behavior, toxicity, viral dynamics, and immune effects can differ meaningfully when both viruses are present, and findings from single-infection studies do not always translate cleanly.
The second major goal is to improve understanding of immunopathogenic interactions between HBV and HIV, meaning how the immune system responds to each virus and how those responses influence disease severity, persistence, and progression when the infections occur together. Co-infection can alter immune function, inflammation, and liver injury pathways, and the FOA encourages research that can tease apart these mechanisms in ways that are experimentally tractable and clinically relevant. By supporting studies that connect model development with mechanistic immunology, the program aims to generate insights that can inform not only drug discovery, but also broader therapeutic strategies, such as immune-based interventions and approaches to reduce liver-related complications.
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which generally supports exploratory and developmental research intended to test novel concepts, generate preliminary data, and open up new directions that may be too early-stage for larger awards. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, reflecting a focus on proof-of-concept work, early validation of platforms, and targeted mechanistic questions that can establish feasibility and justify future expansion. The original closing date provided for this specific listing was January 7, 2019, and the FOA was created on May 12, 2017, indicating it was issued to catalyze near-term innovation in this niche but high-impact research area.
Eligibility is broad, reflecting an intent to draw in diverse institutional strengths, including academic labs, nonprofits, government entities, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; 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 and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic entities (foreign organizations). That breadth suggests NIH was seeking to encourage participation from a wide range of communities and research environments, including groups that may offer unique patient populations, specialized model-building expertise, or innovative translational capabilities.
In terms of classification, the FOA is a grant under the broader activity areas of education and health, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.273, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.855, 93.856), reflecting how NIH initiatives can span several institutes and program lines related to infectious diseases, immunology, and associated biomedical research priorities. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted push to overcome technical bottlenecks in HBV/HIV co-infection research by funding early-stage, high-value model systems and the mechanistic studies those systems make possible, with the downstream goal of accelerating therapeutic discovery and improving outcomes for people living with both infections.Apply for PA 17 281
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "In Vitro and Animal Model Studies on HBV/HIV Co-Infection (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.855, 93.856.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-05-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- 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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FAQs: In Vitro and Animal Model Studies on HBV/HIV Co-Infection (R21) - PA 17 281
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding opportunity titled "In Vitro and Animal Model Studies on HBV/HIV Co-Infection (R21)" (PA 17 281). It is intended to advance research on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection by supporting the development of improved experimental models and studies that use those models to understand how the two viruses interact.
What are the main goals of the FOA?
The FOA has two tightly connected goals: (1) build better experimental platforms (novel in vitro systems and small animal models) that reproduce key features of HBV/HIV co-infection, and (2) use those platforms to clarify immunopathogenic interactions between HBV and HIV, including how immune responses and inflammation shape disease severity and progression in co-infected settings.
Why is NIH emphasizing model development for HBV/HIV co-infection?
Progress in HBV/HIV co-infection research has been limited by a lack of robust laboratory systems that realistically mimic what happens in people. Without better models, basic discovery and practical drug development move more slowly, and findings from single-infection studies may not translate cleanly to co-infection.
What kinds of in vitro systems are in scope?
The FOA emphasizes novel in vitro systems, including advanced cell culture approaches designed to better reflect human liver biology and immune interactions in the context of HBV/HIV co-infection.
What kinds of animal models are in scope?
The FOA places major emphasis on small animal models that can reproduce key features of HBV/HIV co-infection. These models are meant to enable study over time of viral replication, immune responses, and tissue damage in a living system.
Is the FOA funding model-building only, or also studies that use the models?
It supports both. The FOA is not focused on model-building for its own sake; it prioritizes model development that enables faster and more reliable screening, evaluation, and optimization of candidate drugs and therapeutic strategies, and it encourages mechanistic studies that use these models to understand HBV/HIV interactions and immune-driven disease processes.
What is meant by "immunopathogenic interactions" in this FOA?
In this context, "immunopathogenic interactions" refers to how the immune system responds to HBV and HIV and how those immune responses influence disease severity, persistence, and progression when both infections occur together. The FOA highlights that co-infection can alter immune function, inflammation, and liver injury pathways.
How does this FOA relate to therapeutic discovery and drug development?
A key purpose is to create platforms that shorten the path from laboratory insight to therapies that are safer and more effective for co-infected individuals. The FOA highlights that drug behavior, toxicity, viral dynamics, and immune effects can differ when both viruses are present, making co-infection-specific screening and evaluation important.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which generally supports exploratory and developmental research aimed at testing novel concepts, generating preliminary data, and opening new directions that may be too early-stage for larger awards.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000. The FOA describes this as supporting proof-of-concept work, early validation of platforms, and targeted mechanistic questions that establish feasibility and justify future expansion.
When was this FOA created, and what closing date is listed?
The FOA was created on May 12, 2017. The original closing date provided for this specific listing was January 7, 2019.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes academic labs, nonprofits, government entities, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; 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 and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations.
Are non-domestic (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly lists non-domestic entities (foreign organizations) among the eligible applicant types.
Does the FOA highlight any specific institution types or communities?
Yes. It explicitly highlights Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
What are the activity areas or classifications associated with this opportunity?
The FOA is classified as a grant under broader activity areas of education and health.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.273, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.855, and 93.856.
What problem is NIH trying to solve with this FOA?
The FOA is positioned as a targeted push to overcome technical bottlenecks in HBV/HIV co-infection research by funding early-stage, high-value model systems and the mechanistic studies those systems enable, with the downstream goal of accelerating therapeutic discovery and improving outcomes for people living with both infections.
How do the two major goals connect to each other?
The FOA frames the goals as tightly connected: better in vitro and animal models are needed to make co-infection research more realistic and experimentally tractable, and those improved models, in turn, enable clearer mechanistic work on HBV/HIV immune interactions and disease processes that can inform therapy development.
Why might findings from single-infection studies be insufficient?
The FOA notes that drug behavior, toxicity, viral dynamics, and immune effects can differ meaningfully when both viruses are present. Because of that, results from studies focused on HBV alone or HIV alone may not translate reliably to co-infection contexts.
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