HIV Vaccine Research and Design (HIVRAD) Program – Briefing

STATUS: This funding opportunity has expired (March 14, 2026). NIH may accept applications on a case-by-case basis for a short period after expiration under late/continuous submission policies. Contact the eRA Service Desk for submission issues.

Research Focus

The HIVRAD Program supports multi-component, multi-disciplinary research addressing scientific questions critical to AIDS prophylactic vaccine discovery. The program targets the urgent public health need for a safe and effective HIV preventive vaccine, especially for neonates, infants, pre-adolescents, and young adults. Research should advance beyond exploratory stages with preliminary immunogenicity data justifying vaccine candidate development.

Funded research may include preclinical evaluation in nonhuman primate models and transgenic humanized mice; structural studies of HIV immunogens; identification of correlates of vaccine-induced immune protection against HIV, SHIV, or SIV; novel adjuvants and delivery systems; vaccine vector development; approaches to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and durable adaptive immunity; investigations of innate immunity; and strategies to mobilize immune cells to mucosal sites. The program builds on recent advances including isolation of potent bNAbs, native-like envelope protein generation, and clinical proof-of-concept from the AMP and IAVI-G001 trials demonstrating bNAb VRC01 efficacy.

Non-responsive applications: Clinical trials are not allowed (though existing clinical samples may be used); therapeutic vaccines; studies repeating failed vaccine approaches (VaxGen, STEP, HVTN 505/702/705/706); applications lacking immunogenicity data.

At-a-Glance

• Who can apply: Higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, state/local/federal governments, foreign institutions, and tribal governments. Any individual with requisite skills and resources may serve as PD/PI.
• Funding & project length: Up to $2.5M direct costs per year; maximum 5-year project period. Estimated 1–2 awards totaling $5.0M for fiscal year 2025.
• Award mechanism: P01 Research Program Projects grant (multi-component structure: Administrative Core, minimum 2 Research Projects, optional Scientific Core(s)).
• Key dates: Letter of Intent due 30 days before application deadline. Application deadlines: March 13, July, October, December (2024–2026). Scientific Merit Review and Advisory Council Review follow; earliest start dates align with review cycles.
• Best fit for: Vaccine immunology, structural biology, and preclinical animal model research teams pursuing HIV/SIV vaccine design with hypothesis-driven, integrated multi-project approaches.