Avant Garde/Avenir award for Investigators conducting high risk/high reward research on HIV and Substance Use (or Substance Use Disorders)
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers and investigators at U.S. institutions conducting high-risk, high-reward research on HIV and substance use/substance use disorders. Applicants must be independent or early-career investigators with appropriate institutional affiliations (universities, research institutes, medical centers, etc.). The award supports innovative, exploratory research that has the potential to make significant breakthroughs but carries scientific uncertainty. Research institutions must have appropriate infrastructure and compliance with federal regulations (IRB, animal care, safety protocols). Both public and private institutions are eligible. Funding typically targets individual investigators or small teams rather than large established programs, emphasizing novel approaches to HIV and substance use research that conventional funding mechanisms may not support.
Key dates
- May 28, 2025 Applications open
- Aug 15, 2026 Application deadline in 75 days
- Apr 1, 2027 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2027 Project start
This grant is for researchers and investigators at U.S. institutions conducting high-risk, high-reward research on HIV and substance use/substance use disorders. Applicants must be independent or early-career investigators with appropriate institutional affiliations (universities, research institutes, medical centers, etc.). The award supports innovative, exploratory research that has the potential to make significant breakthroughs but carries scientific uncertainty. Research institutions must have appropriate infrastructure and compliance with federal regulations (IRB, animal care, safety protocols). Both public and private institutions are eligible. Funding typically targets individual investigators or small teams rather than large established programs, emphasizing novel approaches to HIV and substance use research that conventional funding mechanisms may not support.
Program description
The National Institue on Drug Abuse (NIDA) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research on pioneering research in HIV and Substance use/substance use disorder (SUD) research. The Avant-Garde Award Program is designed to support exceptionally creative scientists who propose cutting edge high risk and high reward and possibly transformative approaches to major challenges in biomedical and behavioral research on HIV in the context of substance use and/or SUDs. This Program includes supporting early stage investigators (ESI). Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the DP1 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of substance use and HIV are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- County Government
- Hospital
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for researchers and investigators at U.S. institutions conducting high-risk, high-reward research on HIV and substance use/substance use disorders. Applicants must be independent or early-career investigators with appropriate institutional affiliations (universities, research institutes, medical centers, etc.). The award supports innovative, exploratory research that has the potential to make significant breakthroughs but carries scientific uncertainty. Research institutions must have appropriate infrastructure and compliance with federal regulations (IRB, animal care, safety protocols). Both public and private institutions are eligible. Funding typically targets individual investigators or small teams rather than large established programs, emphasizing novel approaches to HIV and substance use research that conventional funding mechanisms may not support.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 R&R (Research & Related) form
- Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Biographical Sketch in NIH format)
- Research Narrative/Project Narrative (with separate sections on research design, innovation, and significance)
- Budget Justification and Detailed Budget (SF-424 R&R budget form)
- Institutional Commitment and Support Letter
- Letters of collaboration or institutional resources documentation
- IRB/Animal Care approval status or plans for obtaining approval
- Facilities and Equipment documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Vasundhara Varthakavi, DVM, Ph.D. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- 📧 vasundhara.varthakavi@nih.gov
- 📞 301-443-2146
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.279 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$128,078,833
-
$126,585,435
-
$79,333,238
-
$78,351,755
-
$74,806,844
-
$71,588,047
-
$61,578,651
-
$50,344,757
-
$41,820,011
-
$39,479,041
Top States by Funding
- NY 4 awards $260.8M
- CT 2 awards $155.8M
- CA 3 awards $90.2M
- KY 1 awards $79.3M
- MA 1 awards $78.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.279). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,245,503,136 | |
| 2025 | $1,343,517,098 | |
| 2026 est. | $20,194,375 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this award?
Researchers and investigators at U.S. institutions, including universities, research institutes, and medical centers. Applicants typically must be at the independent or early-career level and demonstrate expertise in HIV and/or substance use research.
What types of research does this grant support?
High-risk, high-reward research exploring novel scientific questions and approaches in HIV and substance use/substance use disorders. The emphasis is on innovative, exploratory science with the potential for significant breakthroughs.
What is the application deadline?
The application opens May 28, 2025. Specific deadline date(s) should be confirmed on the NIH grants.gov portal or the grant announcement, as NIH typically has multiple submission windows.
How competitive is this funding?
These awards are highly competitive. NIH prioritizes groundbreaking, innovative approaches with high potential impact. Applications must clearly articulate the scientific innovation and rationale for the high-risk/high-reward approach.
What is the typical funding range?
NIDA and NIAID awards vary, but exploratory/high-risk awards typically range from $150,000 to $500,000 annually, depending on the research scope. Check the specific announcement for funding information.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate the scientific innovation and gap your research addresses. Reviewers must understand why conventional approaches are insufficient and what makes your approach novel and high-risk.
- Develop a compelling and detailed research plan that acknowledges scientific uncertainties while demonstrating feasibility. Balance ambition with realistic timelines and preliminary data to support your approach.
- Build strong institutional support. Include letters from your institution confirming access to necessary resources, facilities, and administrative support for conducting HIV and substance use research.
- Align your research with current NIH/NIDA priorities and scientific workforce needs. Review recent funding announcements and strategic plans to ensure your research addresses identified gaps in the field.
- Address all required sections of the SF-424 R&R and research narrative, and carefully follow page limits and formatting. Incomplete or poorly organized applications are disadvantaged in a highly competitive funding environment.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail when investigators oversell the innovation without adequately addressing feasibility, or conversely, propose incremental research that doesn't demonstrate sufficient novelty or breakthrough potential. Another common pitfall is insufficient preliminary data or justification for the high-risk approach, leaving reviewers uncertain about the likelihood of success. Finally, applicants sometimes misalign their research with current NIDA/NIAID priorities or fail to demonstrate genuine institutional commitment to the work.
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