The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is soliciting applications for the Developmental AIDS Research Center on Mental Health and HIV/AIDS (D-ARC) via the Center Core Grant (P30) funding mechanism. This initiative aims to provide financial support for developmental research centers focused on the intersection of mental health and HIV/AIDS, with an emphasis on developing infrastructure for high-impact, interdisciplinary research that aligns with the NIMH’s mission. The D-ARC funding opportunity supports centers that integrate expertise across multiple scientific domains, including neuro-HIV, behavioral sciences, clinical research, and implementation science, with the long-term goal of enabling these developmental centers to compete for full-scale NIMH AIDS Research Center (ARC) grants.

The D-ARC centers are encouraged to align their research priorities with national and NIH-specific strategies for HIV/AIDS. Key areas of research include the biological and behavioral factors influencing HIV infection, the impacts of mental health and trauma, and the structural determinants of health disparities among people with HIV/AIDS (PWH). D-ARCs are expected to address issues such as stigma, discrimination, and socio-economic challenges that disproportionately affect HIV care and treatment access for marginalized populations. Projects under this grant should focus on innovative interventions to enhance adherence to HIV treatment, improve mental health outcomes, and incorporate strategies for the prevention of HIV transmission. In addition, applicants are encouraged to adopt data-driven approaches, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and predictive analytics, to develop scalable interventions that can be effectively implemented across diverse populations and geographic areas.

The funding limits for D-ARC grants allow for up to $750,000 in total costs per year over a project period of up to four years. The NIH expects centers to demonstrate collaborative potential, drawing on partnerships with other scientific institutions, community organizations, local health departments, and agencies such as the CDC and HRSA. Applicants are required to collect and share data using NIMH’s Common Data Elements (CDEs) and submit this data to the NIMH Data Archive (NDA), ensuring standardization and accessibility for future research applications.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (both public and private), nonprofit organizations, and specific government entities such as state, local, and tribal governments. Institutions must show a foundation of research capacity, including active NIMH research project awards. Although foreign institutions are not eligible, partnerships within the U.S. are encouraged to leverage resources and enhance research capabilities. Applicants are advised to begin the registration process early due to the multi-step registration requirements for the System for Award Management (SAM), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov.

Applications must include a comprehensive plan detailing the center’s administrative structure, research strategy, and developmental objectives. Each D-ARC should demonstrate how its cores—administrative, developmental, and research—will support the overall aims, foster synergy, and address emerging needs in HIV/AIDS mental health research. Additionally, the development core should provide short-term pilot funding to support preliminary studies, while the research core is expected to offer shared resources that advance the center's thematic research goals. A strategic plan should outline specific, measurable milestones for each project year, with clear pathways for evaluation and potential adjustment based on progress.

Applications are subject to the NIH peer-review process and evaluated on criteria including significance, innovation, investigator expertise, and approach. Successful applications will also demonstrate commitment to addressing health disparities, including the impacts of racial, gender, and economic inequities in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. The NIH expects D-ARCs to foster a collaborative environment conducive to impactful research and the training of new investigators, particularly from underrepresented groups in health-related research fields.

Key submission dates include a Letter of Intent due 30 days before each application deadline, with applications for the current cycle due by August 26, 2024, and subsequent annual deadlines through August 2026. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to ensure that any technical issues in Grants.gov or eRA Commons are resolved before the deadline. Selected projects are anticipated to commence as early as April 2025.

This funding opportunity provides a significant avenue for advancing research on HIV/AIDS and mental health, with a focus on reducing systemic health inequities and enhancing evidence-based intervention models in line with national HIV prevention and treatment goals.