Request for Applications: HIV Cure-Related Research Program in Africa (up to $150,000 per applicant)

January 23, 2024 oppor4u 0 Comments

The Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) Global is currently accepting applications from research institutions located in Africa for the Competition titled ‘HIV Cure-Related Research in Africa’. This Competition is organized and administered by CRDF Global, on behalf of the National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Goals and Objectives

Through the implementation of grants under this Request for Applications, the following goals and objectives will be pursued:
– Provide support for HIV cure-related research in areas of Africa with a high prevalence of HIV.
– Expand the understanding of the persistence of non-subtype B HIV in individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the mechanisms of post-treatment control of viremia after stopping ART.

Areas

Applicants are encouraged to propose projects in the following areas, among others:
– Development and optimization of assays to measure the levels of full-length, intact HIV proviral DNA in individuals living with non-subtype B HIV, and to determine the proportion of intact, rebound-competent, and defective proviruses.
– Investigation of the virology of the rebound-competent persistent proviral HIV reservoir, including its establishment, tissue and cell type distribution, dynamics, and clonal proliferation of cells harboring HIV provirus.
– Studies on the innate and adaptive immune responses to HIV in individuals living with non-subtype B HIV on ART, and their relation to the rebound-competent viral reservoir. This includes examining the sensitivity of the intact reservoir to circulating autologous antibodies and existing T cell responses.
– Frequency and mechanism of post-treatment control in individuals living with non-subtype B HIV.

Funding Information
This funding opportunity will provide awards of up to $150,000 per applicant for direct costs over a period of one year.

Duration
September 3, 2024 – September 3, 2025

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants and proposals must meet the following eligibility criteria:
– Applicants must be affiliated with a research institution based in Africa, and awards will only be granted to African institutions.
– Proposals must include at least one Principal Investigator from an African institution.
– Collaborative projects involving investigators and institutions from other African sites are encouraged.
– Collaborative projects involving investigators and institutions from U.S. sites are also eligible, but a U.S. partner is not mandatory. U.S. institutions can request up to $25,000 USD of the total proposal budget.
– Proposals may involve up to three sites from different institutions as collaborative teams.
– Each applicant must submit one proposal.

Application