Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 147
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR-20-147 is an R01 research grant focused on extracellular RNA (exRNA) carrier subclasses and how they influence biological processes tied to substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or HIV infection, including HIV latency and disease mechanisms in the central nervous system (CNS). The core idea is to push the field beyond studying exRNA in general and instead dig into specific carrier types (for example, extracellular vesicle subtypes and other particles that transport RNA outside cells) to understand what they do, how they do it, and why they matter for brain-related outcomes in SUD and HIV.
This opportunity invites projects that either (1) investigate biological mechanisms where particular exRNA carrier subclasses play a meaningful role in SUD- or HIV-relevant pathways, or (2) develop and improve technologies needed to better study extracellular vesicles and other exRNA carriers. On the biology side, that can include work aimed at clarifying how different carriers contribute to HIV infection, persistence/latency, neuroinflammation, neuropathogenesis, or other CNS processes, as well as how substances of abuse might alter exRNA signaling, cargo selection, trafficking, or uptake in ways that affect brain function and disease. On the technology side, the FOA supports efforts that make it easier to isolate, classify, measure, or functionally test specific carrier subclasses, which is often a bottleneck in exRNA research because carriers can be heterogeneous and difficult to distinguish with standard methods.
The award mechanism is an NIH R01, meaning it is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs or major technology development efforts rather than small pilot studies. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so the proposed research must not include a clinical trial as defined by NIH; in practice, that generally means applicants should avoid interventional studies where participants are prospectively assigned to an intervention to evaluate effects on health-related outcomes. The work can still involve human-derived specimens or observational human research depending on NIH definitions and the specific study design, but the application cannot propose a clinical trial.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city/township, and 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
From the source details provided, the program is categorized as a discretionary grant under the NIH, with an activity category spanning education and health and a CFDA listing of 93.279. The opportunity was created on March 25, 2020, and the original closing date shown is May 7, 2023. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided excerpt, which is common in NIH FOAs where budgets are often guided by project needs, reasonableness, and NIH policy rather than a single fixed cap.
In practical terms, the FOA is aimed at researchers working at the intersection of exRNA biology, extracellular vesicle science, addiction research, and HIV neuroscience. Competitive applications would typically be expected to clearly define which exRNA carrier subclasses are being studied, explain why those subclasses are relevant to SUD and/or HIV-related CNS outcomes, and lay out rigorous plans for identifying, characterizing, and testing function. For technology-development proposals, a strong fit would include methods that improve specificity (distinguishing carrier subclasses), sensitivity (detecting low-abundance signals), reproducibility, and functional readouts, since these are persistent challenges in the exRNA field.Apply for PAR 20 147
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Extracellular RNA carrier subclasses in processes relevant to Substance Use Disorders or HIV infection (R01- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2020-03-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-07. (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) - NIH PAR-20-147 (R01)
What is NIH PAR-20-147 focused on?
PAR-20-147 is an NIH R01 research grant opportunity focused on extracellular RNA (exRNA) carrier subclasses and how those specific carrier types influence biological processes relevant to substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or HIV infection. A major emphasis is on central nervous system (CNS) outcomes, including HIV latency/persistence and disease mechanisms in the brain.
What does the FOA mean by "exRNA carrier subclasses"?
In this opportunity, "exRNA carrier subclasses" refers to specific types of particles that transport RNA outside cells. The description highlights extracellular vesicle (EV) subtypes as an example, as well as other non-vesicular particles that can carry RNA. The intent is to move beyond studying exRNA as a single broad category and instead study what distinct carrier types do, how they function, and why they matter biologically.
What is the overall goal of this funding opportunity?
The goal is to push the field toward mechanistic and/or technology-driven advances that clarify how particular exRNA carrier subclasses contribute to SUD- and/or HIV-relevant pathways, especially those tied to CNS biology. This includes understanding roles in infection, latency, neuroinflammation, neuropathogenesis, and other brain-related processes, and also reducing technical bottlenecks that make carrier subclasses hard to isolate and study.
What types of projects are invited under this FOA?
The FOA invites two broad categories of projects:
- Biology/mechanism projects: Studies investigating biological mechanisms where particular exRNA carrier subclasses play meaningful roles in pathways relevant to SUD and/or HIV, including CNS-focused mechanisms.
- Technology development projects: Efforts to develop or improve technologies needed to better study extracellular vesicles and other exRNA carriers, especially methods that enable clearer isolation, classification, measurement, and functional testing of specific carrier subclasses.
What are examples of biology questions that fit this FOA (based on the description provided)?
Based on the provided summary, projects may fit if they aim to clarify how different exRNA carriers contribute to:
- HIV infection mechanisms
- HIV persistence and latency
- Neuroinflammation in the CNS
- Neuropathogenesis and other HIV-related CNS disease mechanisms
- How substances of abuse alter exRNA signaling, cargo selection, trafficking, or uptake in ways that impact brain function and disease
What are examples of technology goals that fit this FOA?
Technology development is supported when it addresses common bottlenecks in exRNA research described in the opportunity, including heterogeneity and difficulty distinguishing carrier subclasses. The description specifically emphasizes improvements that increase:
- Specificity: better discrimination among carrier subclasses
- Sensitivity: improved detection of low-abundance signals
- Reproducibility: more consistent results across experiments/labs
- Functional readouts: stronger ability to test what a specific carrier subclass does biologically
What grant mechanism is used for PAR-20-147?
The mechanism is an NIH R01 research project grant. In the description provided, this is positioned as supporting substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs or major technology development efforts, rather than small pilot studies.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." The proposed research cannot include a clinical trial as defined by NIH.
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" imply for study design?
As summarized in the opportunity description, applicants should avoid interventional studies where participants are prospectively assigned to an intervention to evaluate effects on health-related outcomes. The description notes that work may still involve human-derived specimens or observational human research depending on NIH definitions and the specific design, but the application itself cannot propose a clinical trial.
Can projects involve human samples or human data?
The provided summary indicates that research can still involve human-derived specimens or observational human research (depending on NIH definitions and how the study is designed), as long as the proposed work does not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and certain non-U.S. entities. The listed 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
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Tribal organizations (not federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Other organizations
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The description explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) among the highlighted eligible applicant categories.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible categories that include:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The description includes U.S. territories or possessions among highlighted eligible applicant categories.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The description lists eligible federal agencies among the additional highlighted eligible applicant categories.
What scientific areas does this FOA sit at the intersection of?
Based on the description, the FOA is aimed at researchers working where these areas overlap:
- Extracellular RNA (exRNA) biology
- Extracellular vesicle science
- Addiction and substance use disorders research
- HIV research, particularly HIV-related neuroscience and CNS mechanisms
What would a competitive application likely need to emphasize?
Based on the practical guidance in the summary, competitive applications would typically be expected to:
- Clearly define which exRNA carrier subclasses are being studied
- Explain why those subclasses are relevant to SUD and/or HIV-related CNS outcomes
- Include rigorous plans to identify, characterize, and test carrier function
For technology-development proposals, the summary suggests strong alignment when the approach improves specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and functional testing capabilities for distinct carrier subclasses.
Does the FOA specify an award ceiling (maximum budget)?
No award ceiling is specified in the excerpt provided. The summary notes this can be common in NIH FOAs, where budgets are typically guided by project needs, reasonableness, and NIH policy rather than a single fixed cap.
Does the FOA specify the expected number of awards?
No. The provided excerpt does not specify an expected number of awards.
When was this opportunity created, and what closing date is shown in the provided details?
The source details provided state the opportunity was created on March 25, 2020, and the original closing date shown is May 7, 2023.
What is the CFDA listing mentioned for this opportunity?
The provided details include a CFDA listing of 93.279.
How is this grant categorized in the source details provided?
The source details categorize it as a discretionary grant under NIH, with an activity category spanning education and health.
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