The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Division of AIDS Research invites applications for Center Core Grants (P30) under the reissued “AIDS Research Center on Mental Health and HIV/AIDS” program, aimed at establishing HIV/AIDS Research Centers (ARCs) that bolster interdisciplinary research. These Centers are designed to drive high-impact studies at the intersection of mental health and HIV/AIDS, focusing on areas such as behavioral science, neuro-HIV, biostatistics, and implementation science, and contributing toward broader HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention goals as outlined in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the NIH Office of AIDS Research strategic plan. Each ARC is expected to support a collaborative, multidisciplinary infrastructure that enhances the productivity of HIV/AIDS researchers and facilitates significant public health advances.

ARCs will prioritize reducing health disparities in HIV prevention and treatment by addressing systemic barriers like structural racism, socio-economic inequalities, and stigma. Centers are encouraged to employ an intersectional approach to research, focusing on issues across various domains including mental health, trauma, stigma, and mobility, which impact HIV treatment and prevention. Potential areas for targeted research include identifying risk factors for HIV acquisition, enhancing adherence to HIV treatment, optimizing patient-provider interactions, and developing scalable interventions for HIV care and prevention. Additionally, innovative data science tools, such as artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, are encouraged to improve service delivery and support data-driven decision-making within HIV/AIDS care networks.

This funding opportunity allows a maximum budget request of $1.5 million annually for project periods of up to five years. ARCs are expected to serve as central hubs for HIV/AIDS research, attracting competitive research projects from NIMH, NIH, and other sources. ARCs must provide mentoring programs to develop the next generation of HIV/AIDS researchers, with particular emphasis on supporting scientists from underrepresented groups. Collaboration with entities such as local health departments, community-based organizations, and other federal agencies, including the CDC and HRSA, is highly encouraged to optimize the reach and applicability of ARC research within diverse populations and settings.

ARCs will be structured around three required cores: an Administrative Core for central leadership and coordination, a Developmental Core to support preliminary research and capacity-building efforts, and multiple Research Cores dedicated to specific scientific activities. The Administrative Core will handle the Center’s strategic planning and financial management, supported by an external advisory committee for oversight and guidance. The Developmental Core is allocated up to 10% of the annual budget to support short-term pilot studies, fostering research capacity and innovation by new or early-career investigators. Each Research Core will deliver specialized resources, tools, or services that support and expand the productivity of affiliated HIV/AIDS research projects, ensuring the effective integration of ARC-wide resources.

Applicants are required to submit a Data Management and Sharing Plan, aligning with NIMH policies, which includes provisions for using Common Data Elements (CDEs) in HIV-related research. Centers must ensure data quality and share findings via the NIMH Data Archive to facilitate broader access to research outcomes. NIMH also emphasizes compliance with human research protection standards, data safety monitoring, and adherence to NIH policies on human subjects.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, local government entities, and tribal governments within the U.S. All applying institutions must demonstrate significant research capacity, including at least four active NIMH R-series awards and two additional NIH awards. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the NIH ASSIST system or an approved institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution by August 26, 2026. Applications will be evaluated on their adherence to NIH instructions and policies, with non-compliant submissions subject to delay or rejection.