The Mechanistic Evaluation of Therapeutic Targets derived from Treatable Traits to Improve CNS Outcomes in People with HIV (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding call is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
This call supports mechanistic studies that identify modifiable mechanisms and therapeutic targets for central nervous system (CNS) complications in people with HIV. Projects start from patient-informed phenotypes and treatable traits and use in vitro and in vivo models, such as patient-derived organoids and primary CNS cell cultures, to discover and validate targets.
Applications are open to organizations based in the United States. Applications must propose mechanistic studies grounded in patient-informed phenotypes, with transition milestones between the R21 and R33 phases, and clinical trials are not allowed.
The funding provides up to 275,000 USD for the two-year R21 phase (no more than 200,000 USD in any year) and 650,000 USD per year in the R33 phase of up to 3 years. The total project period may not exceed 5 years.
Opportunity number: RFA-MH-27-125
Applications close on November 9, 2026, with an additional cycle closing on October 28, 2027.