U.S.-Russia Bilateral Collaborative Research Partnerships (CRP) on the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS and HIV-Associated Comorbidities

Deadline: 13 September 2016

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking applications from United States institutions with a Russian institution partner in collaboration with the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) to establish Collaborative Research Partnerships (CRP) in the field of HIV/AIDS research.

The research will be directed toward increasing the knowledge and understanding in biomedical and bio-behavioral topics that aim to impact HIV/AIDS and HIV-associated co-infections, comorbidities, and complications.

The U.S.-Russia Bilateral CRP is designed to develop collaborations between scientists and institutions in the U.S. and Russia to conduct high quality HIV/AIDS research of mutual interest and benefit to both countries.  The research will also help to develop and build the basis for future institutional and individual scientific collaborations.  It is expected as part of the U.S.-Russia collaboration that awardees will foster collaborative efforts, including but not limited to joint publications in peer reviewed scientific journals, as well as poster and oral presentations at national and international meetings.

Areas of Interest

• Research toward a cure for HIV/AIDS including studies on: HIV reservoirs, latency, and persistence; screening and testing of novel compounds; developing and testing novel approaches to combining virologic-, immunologic-, and cell-based therapies, as well as strategies to activate latent virus;
• HIV treatment research, including the utility of biomarkers to assess use, adherence to treatment, and other HIV outcomes;
• HIV prevention in high-risk groups, including assessment of the acceptability, use, and adherence to prevention technologies.
• Multidisciplinary biomedical and behavioral research to enhance HIV testing, entry and retention in care, and treatment adherence with a focus on viral suppression in vulnerable and high-risk populations (“care cascade/continuum”);
• Basic research on inflammatory processes related to HIV infection;
• Molecular biology and immunology studies on HIV disease and HIV-related co-morbidities, including microbiome studies;
• Genomic studies to identify or characterize genomic factors that improve the understanding of HIV pathogenesis, and that may affect or predict the effectiveness of prevention and/or intervention strategies for HIV and HIV-associated comorbidities;
• Research on HIV-associated co-infections, comorbidities and other complications related to HIV and/or consequences of ARV therapy, including pathophysiology of single and multiple comorbidities and the bio-behavioral intersection of these multi-morbidities; and
• Integration of epidemiological, social, and psychological aspects of HIV/AIDS in Russia and the United States as they pertain to the above priorities.

Focus Topics

• HIV Prevention
• Improving HIV Treatment Outcomes and HIV/AIDS Care Continuum
• Research Toward a Cure for HIV/AIDS
• Prevention and Treatment of HIV-associated Comorbidities, Co-infections, and Related Complications
• Basic Research and Cross-Cutting Areas

Eligibility Criteria

• Higher Education Institutions
  • Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
  • Private Institutions of Higher Education
  • The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
    • Hispanic-serving Institutions
    • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
    • Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
    • Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
    • Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
  • Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
    • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
    • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
  • For-Profit Organizations
    • Small Businesses
    • For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)
  • Governments
    • State Governments
    • County Governments
    • City or Township Governments
    • Special District Governments
    • Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
    • Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
    • Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
    • U.S. Territory or Possession
  • Other
    • Independent School Districts
    • Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
    • Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
    • Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
    • Regional Organizations
• Foreign Institutions
  • Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.
  • Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
  • Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply electronically by obtaining the application package provided on the website.

For more information, please visit grants.gov.