The Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) program, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and administered by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), aims to provide administrative and shared research support to enhance HIV/AIDS research. This funding opportunity, designated under the P30 Center Core Grants activity code, invites applications to establish CFARs that will facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and resource-sharing to advance HIV/AIDS research. The program includes contributions from several NIH institutes, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and more.

CFARs are expected to provide value beyond standard research grants by supporting activities that promote collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing in HIV/AIDS research. Key features of CFARs include an Administrative Core, Developmental Core, Advanced Technology Core(s), and Clinical Science Core(s). These cores offer institutional infrastructure, research funding for early-career investigators, advanced technological resources, and support for clinical and translational HIV/AIDS research. Additional cores may be proposed based on institutional needs, such as an Implementation Science Core or a Social/Behavioral Core.

The CFAR program encourages multi-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration, linking with state and local health departments, community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, and international institutions. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate institutional commitment, including financial and administrative support, to sustain the CFAR's activities. Additionally, CFARs must align their research efforts with NIH HIV/AIDS priorities, as outlined in Notice NOT-OD-20-018.

Applications must be submitted through the NIH ASSIST system or an approved institutional submission platform. A letter of intent is encouraged but not required and should be submitted 30 days before the application due date. The upcoming due dates for applications are August 2, 2024, and August 4, 2025. Review and award cycles include scientific merit reviews in November, advisory council reviews in January, and earliest start dates in March of the following year. The funding opportunity will expire on August 5, 2025.

The CFAR program offers a base funding amount of up to $3,250,000 per center annually, with awards contingent on the institution's NIH HIV/AIDS-funded research base. Institutions with a minimum HIV/AIDS research base of $10 million per year are eligible to apply. The maximum project period is five years, and only one CFAR application is allowed per institution. Applications are subject to NIH policies on resubmission, duplication, and overlap with existing projects.

Eligibility is open to higher education institutions (public and private), nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit businesses, local and state governments, federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribal governments, special district governments, and certain federal agencies. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, though foreign components of U.S. organizations may be included. All applicants must complete required registrations, including SAM, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, and UEI, before applying.

The CFAR program is intended to support HIV/AIDS research through strategic collaboration, resource-sharing, and mentorship. Interested applicants should review the full application and submission requirements, including formatting and page limitations, as outlined in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (PAR-23-116). For further inquiries, applicants can contact Dr. Kristina S. Wickham at kristina.wickham@nih.gov or 301-761-5390.