The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has announced a funding opportunity titled Ex Vivo Models for Studies at the Intersection of HIV and Addictive Substance Use under funding opportunity number RFA-DA-25-074. This grant aims to support research focused on understanding neuroimmune and neuronal-glial mechanisms underlying the interaction between addictive substances and HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND) using ex vivo culturing platforms derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). This initiative aligns with NIDA’s mission to develop new knowledge and approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders, drug overdose, and associated health outcomes, including HIV/AIDS.

The research focus is on elucidating how HIV and addictive substances, such as opioids, cannabinoids, methamphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine, impact neuroimmune responses, HIV latency, host-virus interactions, and neuropathogenesis. Specific research areas include investigating HIV-infected microglial alterations, host gene regulation, neurotoxicity, synaptic changes, and viral latency within the context of substance exposure. Projects must incorporate ex vivo models and involve human cells or tissues, with a focus on the interaction between HIV and addictive substances. Applications that solely focus on alcohol exposure or do not use human-derived models will be deemed non-responsive.

NIDA plans to allocate approximately $2,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 to fund three to four awards. While there is no budget limit for individual applications, the budget must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The maximum project period is five years. Applicants are encouraged to carefully design their proposals to ensure alignment with the funding priorities and scientific focus areas specified in the funding announcement.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, local governments, tribal governments, and foreign organizations. Non-U.S. entities and foreign components of U.S. organizations are eligible to apply. All applicant organizations must complete registrations with the System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (for foreign entities), Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) must have active eRA Commons accounts.

Applications will be evaluated based on scientific merit, innovation, rigor, feasibility, and the expertise and resources of the research team. Special consideration will be given to the utilization of advanced ex vivo platforms and the relevance of findings to HAND and substance use disorders. Reviewers will also assess compliance with data sharing and management plans, protections for human subjects, and alignment with NIDA's strategic objectives.

The earliest submission date is July 13, 2025, with the application due date set for August 13, 2025. Scientific merit review will occur in November 2025, with funding decisions expected by April 2026. For further guidance, applicants are encouraged to contact the scientific, peer review, and grants management contacts listed in the funding announcement.