Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 18 004
The Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS (DP2), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-18-004, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant designed to invest in the next generation of research leaders working at the intersection of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. "Avenir" means "future" in French, and that framing is central to the program: it is meant to back early stage investigators (ESIs) who are proposing bold, highly innovative ideas rather than incremental extensions of existing work. Projects are expected to align with the broader NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities (referenced in NOT-OD-15-137), and to push the field toward meaningful advances for people who use substances and are living with or at risk for HIV.
A key requirement of the opportunity is that applicants clearly explain the nexus between drug abuse and HIV/AIDS in the proposed research. In other words, it is not enough to study HIV in isolation or substance use in isolation; the application needs to make a convincing case that the core scientific question, method, or intervention meaningfully sits at the overlap of the two areas. The program is open to both basic and clinical research approaches, as long as the work has real potential to benefit substance-using populations affected by HIV. The intended downstream impact includes reducing HIV incidence (for example, preventing new infections among people who use drugs), improving HIV therapies (including optimizing treatment outcomes in substance-using populations), reducing the burden of comorbid conditions that often accompany substance use and HIV (such as mental health disorders, hepatitis, cardiovascular issues, or other complications), and contributing to longer-term goals that support the eventual eradication of HIV.
The funding activity category is listed under education and health, and the CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 93.279. While the source text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the mechanism is a grant (DP2), which is commonly associated with high-impact, investigator-driven work where creativity and potential for transformative advances are emphasized. The original closing date shown is 2019-11-13, and the listing creation date is 2017-03-31, which helps place the opportunity in time for anyone trying to understand whether it is currently active versus a historical reference.
Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types. Eligible applicants include state, county, and 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, since universities are already covered in separate categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also highlights specific institution types and community-facing organizations as eligible or welcomed applicants, including 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). It also explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, there are important limits related to non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may be able to include certain project elements conducted abroad if they meet NIH policy requirements and are appropriately justified. Overall, the program is best understood as a U.S.-applicant-focused, future-oriented award aimed at empowering early career investigators to pursue unusually innovative research that could shift the trajectory of HIV outcomes among people affected by substance use.Apply for RFA DA 18 004
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS (DP2)" 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 2017-03-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-13. (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS (DP2)?
The Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS (DP2) is an NIH discretionary grant designed to invest in the next generation of research leaders working at the intersection of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. It emphasizes bold, highly innovative ideas rather than incremental extensions of existing work.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-DA-18-004.
What does "Avenir" mean and why does it matter for this program?
"Avenir" means "future" in French. That framing reflects the program's focus on backing early stage investigators proposing forward-looking, high-impact research that could meaningfully advance the field.
Which research areas must this program connect?
Applications must clearly explain the nexus between drug abuse (substance abuse) and HIV/AIDS. The research cannot treat HIV alone or substance use alone; the core scientific question, methods, and/or intervention must meaningfully sit at the overlap of the two areas.
What is the key scientific requirement for the application?
A key requirement is to clearly explain and justify the substance abuse and HIV/AIDS nexus in the proposed research, showing that the overlap is central to the project rather than incidental.
Does the program support basic research, clinical research, or both?
The program is open to both basic and clinical research approaches, as long as the work has real potential to benefit substance-using populations affected by HIV.
What kinds of outcomes or impacts is NIH looking for?
Intended downstream impacts include reducing HIV incidence (such as preventing new infections among people who use drugs), improving HIV therapies and treatment outcomes in substance-using populations, reducing the burden of comorbid conditions (for example mental health disorders, hepatitis, cardiovascular issues, or other complications), and contributing to longer-term goals that support eventual HIV eradication.
Do projects need to align with NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities?
Yes. Projects are expected to align with the broader NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities referenced in NOT-OD-15-137.
What is the activity category listed for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed under education and health.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 93.279.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The mechanism is a grant using the DP2 activity code.
Is this opportunity focused on early stage investigators (ESIs)?
Yes. The program is meant to back early stage investigators who are proposing bold, highly innovative ideas.
Is an award ceiling or number of awards stated in the provided information?
No. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What is the closing date shown for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown is 2019-11-13.
What is the listing creation date?
The listing creation date shown is 2017-03-31.
How should someone interpret the dates in terms of whether the opportunity is active?
Based on the information provided, the dates help place the opportunity in time and may indicate it is a historical reference rather than a currently open opportunity.
What types of U.S. government entities are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments.
Are educational institutions eligible applicants?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts and public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, as well as private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and the opportunity also mentions tribal governments that are not federally recognized as eligible or included among applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included as eligible entities.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status are eligible, as long as they are not institutions of higher education (since universities are covered under separate categories).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly included as eligible.
Are federal government agencies eligible?
Yes. Eligible federal government agencies are included among eligible applicants.
Are regional organizations eligible?
Yes. Regional organizations are included among eligible entities.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible or welcomed?
Yes. The opportunity highlights eligibility or welcomes applications from institutions such as 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).
Can a foreign organization apply as the primary applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.
Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are any foreign activities allowed at all?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may be able to include certain project elements conducted abroad if they meet NIH policy requirements and are appropriately justified.
What population focus is emphasized by the opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes research with real potential to benefit substance-using populations who are living with HIV and/or at risk for HIV.
What is the overall purpose of this program in plain terms?
Overall, the program is a U.S.-applicant-focused, future-oriented award intended to empower early career investigators to pursue unusually innovative research that could shift HIV outcomes among people affected by substance use.
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