Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 125
The NIH Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Use Disorders and HIV (PAR-23-125) is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to invest in the "future" of HIV and substance use research by backing early stage investigators who want to pursue bold, highly innovative ideas. The program is aimed at projects that clearly sit at the intersection (the "nexus") of substance use or drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. Applicants are expected to make that connection explicit rather than treating substance use as a side topic. The overall emphasis is on creative, potentially high-impact research that aligns with NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities (as referenced in NOT-OD-15-137), with the longer-term goal of generating advances that matter for people who use substances and are living with or at risk for HIV.
The science scope is intentionally broad and can include both basic and clinical research, with clinical trials listed as optional under this DP2 mechanism. Competitive applications will typically propose unconventional or cutting-edge approaches that could change how the field understands, prevents, or treats HIV in substance-using populations. Examples of the kinds of impact the program is looking for include reducing HIV incidence, improving HIV therapies and outcomes, decreasing the burden of comorbid conditions that commonly accompany HIV and substance use (medical, psychiatric, and social), and contributing to the ultimate objective of ending the HIV epidemic. The opportunity is also framed around supporting investigators as individuals with transformative ideas, which is consistent with the Avenir concept of enabling promising researchers to establish a distinctive, innovative line of work early in their careers.
Eligibility spans a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant types 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 (AANAPISISs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, the program draws clear boundaries around foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which means a U.S. applicant may be able to include certain international elements in the research plan if they meet NIH requirements and are appropriately justified.
Administratively, this opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health and falls under CFDA 93.279, within the health and education funding activity space. The funding instrument is a grant, and the listed original closing date is 2025-08-15. While the source data does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the defining features of the program are its focus on early stage investigators, its requirement for a well-justified substance use and HIV nexus, and its preference for highly innovative, potentially field-shaping research that can improve prevention, treatment, and long-term outcomes for substance-using populations affected by HIV.Apply for PAR 23 125
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Use Disorders and HIV (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2023-03-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-15. (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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FAQs: NIH Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Use Disorders and HIV (PAR-23-125)
What is the NIH Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Use Disorders and HIV (PAR-23-125)?
It is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity designed to invest in the future of HIV and substance use research by supporting early stage investigators proposing bold, highly innovative ideas. The program emphasizes transformative research at the intersection of substance use (or drug abuse) and HIV/AIDS.
What kind of research does this program support?
The science scope is intentionally broad and may include basic research and clinical research. Clinical trials are described as optional under the DP2 mechanism, meaning an application may include a clinical trial if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
What does it mean that projects must be at the "nexus" of substance use and HIV?
Applicants are expected to make a clear, explicit connection between substance use (or drug abuse) and HIV/AIDS within the project. Substance use should not be treated as a side topic; the proposed aims should genuinely sit at the intersection of the two areas.
Who is the target applicant for this opportunity?
The opportunity is specifically aimed at early stage investigators who want to pursue creative, potentially high-impact research ideas and establish a distinctive, innovative line of work early in their careers.
What level of innovation is NIH looking for in applications?
Competitive applications will typically propose unconventional or cutting-edge approaches that could change how the field understands, prevents, or treats HIV in substance-using populations. The emphasis is on potentially field-shaping, high-impact ideas.
What outcomes or impacts does the program aim to support?
Examples of the types of impact described include reducing HIV incidence, improving HIV therapies and outcomes, decreasing the burden of comorbid conditions associated with HIV and substance use (including medical, psychiatric, and social comorbidities), and contributing to the broader objective of ending the HIV epidemic.
Does the opportunity need to align with NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities?
Yes. The program emphasizes research that aligns with NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities (as referenced in NOT-OD-15-137), with a long-term goal of producing advances that matter for people who use substances and are living with or at risk for HIV.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are institutions like HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions eligible?
Yes. The notice highlights additional eligible applicant types 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 (AANAPISISs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are listed among the eligible applicant types.
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant types include eligible federal agencies, along with regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions allowed to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are any international elements allowed in a project?
Yes, potentially. While foreign institutions and non-domestic entities cannot apply, the opportunity states that foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. In practice, this means a U.S. applicant may be able to include certain international elements if they meet NIH requirements and are appropriately justified.
Which agency administers this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.279.
What is the funding instrument?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the application deadline listed in the provided information?
The original closing date listed is 2025-08-15.
Is there an award ceiling or an expected number of awards?
That information is not provided in the source details included here. The description emphasizes the program features (early stage investigator focus, the substance use and HIV nexus requirement, and a preference for highly innovative research), but does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What are the defining features NIH emphasizes for this opportunity?
The defining features described include: (1) a focus on early stage investigators, (2) a requirement for an explicit and well-justified substance use and HIV nexus, and (3) a preference for highly innovative, potentially field-shaping research that can improve prevention, treatment, and long-term outcomes for substance-using populations affected by HIV.
Is this opportunity limited to a particular type of research setting (basic vs. clinical)?
No. The science scope is described as broad, and it can include basic and/or clinical research. Clinical trials are optional under the DP2 mechanism.
What does the "Avenir" concept imply in this program?
The description frames the program as supporting investigators as individuals with transformative ideas, enabling promising researchers to establish a distinctive and innovative research line early in their careers.
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Apply for PAR 23 125
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