Mechanistic Studies of the Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Complex Morbidity Involving SUD, Psychiatric Disorders, and HIV (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) | RFA DA 24 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 24 005

The funding opportunity "Mechanistic Studies of the Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Complex Morbidity Involving SUD, Psychiatric Disorders, and HIV (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)" (RFA-DA-24-005) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant call focused on understanding how psychosocial stress biologically and cognitively shapes health outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH), particularly when substance use disorders (SUDs) and psychiatric conditions overlap. The central idea is to move beyond documenting that stress is linked to poorer outcomes and instead identify the specific neurocognitive and neurobiological mechanisms that explain how stress increases risk, worsens severity, or complicates the course of SUDs and co-occurring psychiatric disorders in the context of HIV. Because it is an R01 mechanism, it is aimed at well-developed, hypothesis-driven projects that can generate mechanistic insight rather than purely descriptive associations.

Research supported under this announcement is expected to concentrate on mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that connect psychosocial stress to complex morbidity. In practical terms, that can include neurocognitive pathways (for example, stress-related changes in executive function, attention, learning, memory, reward processing, or decision-making) as well as broader neurobiological systems that may be disrupted by chronic or acute stress. While the notice text does not list specific required methods, mechanistic work in this space commonly draws on neuroscience-informed approaches such as neuroimaging, psychophysiology, neuroendocrine and immune signaling, computational or behavioral tasks that probe cognition and reward, and other measures that help explain "how" stress translates into vulnerability or harm. A key emphasis is the intersection of three domains: HIV, SUD, and psychiatric disorders, with psychosocial stress positioned as a driver that may influence initiation, relapse, treatment response, symptom burden, or functional outcomes.

The opportunity uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism and is labeled "Clinical Trials Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that do or do not involve a clinical trial component, as long as the work aligns with the mechanistic aims described. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is listed under education and health. The CFDA number associated with the program is 93.279. The listed award ceiling is $500,000 (as provided in the source data), which sets an upper bound for the award amount under this announcement.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city/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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations as allowed by NIH policy. The notice also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; tribal governments other than federally recognized entities; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth signals an intent to encourage applications from diverse institutional settings, including those serving populations disproportionately affected by HIV, substance use, and stress-related psychiatric burden.

Key administrative details from the posting include an original closing date of February 15, 2024, and a creation date of September 26, 2023. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health. Overall, the opportunity is designed for research teams that can integrate HIV-related clinical or population context with rigorous mechanistic neuroscience and neurocognitive science to clarify how psychosocial stress contributes to intertwined substance use and mental health outcomes among PLWH, and to generate knowledge that could ultimately inform better prevention and intervention strategies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanistic Studies of the Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Complex Morbidity Involving SUD, Psychiatric Disorders, and HIV (R01 Clinical Trials 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 2023-09-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• 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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