Drug Abuse Aspects of HIV/AIDS (R21)

Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) using the Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) encourages drug abuse research that addresses the changing dynamics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S., such as the increasing over-representation of minorities and women among new AIDS cases and role of heterosexual sex as a transmission route. Studies are needed to develop novel preventive interventions that more effectively address the evolving epidemic. Internationally, studies are needed on how to translate and adapt interventions that have proved effective in the U.S. to other communities and international settings, and to learn from other conditions and cultures to inform our understanding of the causes, consequences, and differences in HIV-associated risks, morbidity, and mortality in diverse populations. The Exploratory/ Developmental Grant (R21) is intended for early and conceptual research development, for example to assess the feasibility of a novel area of investigation or a new experimental system that has the potential to enhance health-related research. Such studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of innovative techniques, agents, methodologies, models or applications that could have major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. Applications for R21 awards should be for projects distinct from those supported through the traditional R01 mechanism. Long-term projects, or projects designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area, will not be considered for R21 awards. Applications submitted under the R21 mechanism should be exploratory and novel, and seek to break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications.