Using Archived Data and Specimen Collections to Advance Maternal and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA HD 21 030

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 21 030

The grant opportunity "Using Archived Data and Specimen Collections to Advance Maternal and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (RFA-HD-21-030) is a discretionary NIH funding announcement designed to push maternal, pediatric, and adolescent HIV/AIDS research forward by making better use of resources that already exist. Instead of funding new participant enrollment or new clinical trials, the emphasis is on secondary research: investigators are expected to analyze previously collected (archived) HIV/AIDS datasets and/or stored biospecimens to produce new findings, refine current understanding, or generate new, testable research questions. The central idea is data translation and sharing for the maternal and pediatric HIV scientific community, meaning projects should leverage existing information in ways that improve how knowledge is extracted, interpreted, and applied across the field.

Scientifically, the announcement targets research questions aligned with the mission and priorities of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), specifically its Maternal and Pediatric Infectious Disease Branch (MPIDB), and also reflects priorities of the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR). The FOA encourages investigators to use archived HIV/AIDS data and specimen collections to address high-impact questions in areas such as epidemiology (patterns and determinants of HIV in maternal and pediatric populations), pathogenesis (biological mechanisms of infection and disease progression), treatment-related issues (including outcomes and responses observed in existing cohorts), clinical manifestations across pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and HIV-associated co-infections that complicate disease course or care. In practical terms, the NIH is signaling that there is still substantial scientific value locked inside cohort datasets, clinical repositories, and specimen banks, and that well-designed secondary analyses can yield meaningful insights without launching new trials.

The activity mechanism is an R21, which is typically used for exploratory or developmental research. That aligns with the FOA's goal of spurring innovative analyses, hypothesis generation, and potentially higher-risk ideas that can be tested quickly using existing materials. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation is important: applicants should not propose prospective interventional studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial. The work must remain within the boundaries of secondary analysis and research uses of archived specimens and data, generally relying on previously collected samples and information.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, 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 that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights a wide range of additional eligible applicants and institutional categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility scope suggests NIH is trying to encourage participation from diverse institutions and communities, including those that may have unique access to relevant archives, repositories, and population-based data.

Administratively, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the funding activity category is listed under Health, Income Security and Social Services (CFDA 93.865). The original closing date shown is December 10, 2020, and the FOA creation date is October 1, 2020. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided excerpt, which means applicants would normally need to consult the full announcement for budget limits, anticipated award counts, project period, and other standard NIH requirements.

Overall, this opportunity is aimed at researchers who can extract new knowledge from existing maternal and pediatric HIV/AIDS resources, especially by applying modern analytic approaches, asking sharper questions of established cohorts, combining datasets where appropriate, or using banked specimens to explore mechanisms and correlates of disease and outcomes. The NIH focus is clearly on maximizing the return on prior investments in data and specimen collection, while accelerating discoveries that matter for pregnant people, infants, children, and adolescents affected by HIV and related co-infections.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Using Archived Data and Specimen Collections to Advance Maternal and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Research (R21 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): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-10-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-12-10. (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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