Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 15 290
The AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03), also known as A-START, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (FOA number PA 15 290) designed to help newly independent and early career investigators enter and build momentum in the field of drug abuse research related to HIV/AIDS. The central purpose is to support smaller, targeted projects that can be completed in a relatively short time and with limited resources, making it a practical stepping stone for researchers who are establishing independence, shifting into this research area, or generating preliminary data that can later support larger grant applications.
This opportunity uses the Small Research Grant (R03) mechanism, which typically emphasizes tightly focused studies with clear aims and a feasible scope. The FOA welcomes applications across the full range of HIV/AIDS research areas supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), with an explicit focus on the intersection of substance use, drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS. In other words, proposals can come from many disciplines and perspectives as long as they align with NIDA-supported priorities around HIV/AIDS and drug use, such as prevention, transmission risk, treatment engagement, behavioral and social drivers, implementation in real-world settings, and other relevant research angles that connect substance use and HIV outcomes.
The award ceiling listed for this FOA is $100,000, indicating a modest budget intended to match the small-grant scope. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument, with activity areas spanning education and health. It is associated with CFDA number 93.279. While the source listing notes an original closing date of January 24, 2018, the key takeaways for understanding the program are its intent (research transition support), its target audience (newly independent and early career investigators), and its project profile (short-term, limited-resource studies that can produce meaningful results and position investigators for subsequent, larger-scale work).
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicant organizations. Standard eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities. This broad eligibility is consistent with the FOA’s goal of expanding the investigator pipeline and encouraging participation across diverse institutions and community settings where HIV and substance use challenges are being addressed.
In practical terms, A-START (R03) is best understood as an entry and transition award: it supports early-stage investigators in launching a focused HIV/AIDS and drug abuse project that is achievable with limited time and funds, strengthens their trajectory in this research space, and helps them build a foundation for future independent funding and larger studies aligned with NIDA’s HIV/AIDS research priorities.Apply for PA 15 290
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FAQs: AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03) / A-START (NIH, NIDA)
What is the A-START (R03) grant opportunity?
The AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03), also known as A-START, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity designed to help newly independent and early career investigators enter and build momentum in drug abuse research related to HIV/AIDS. It supports smaller, targeted studies intended to be completed in a relatively short time with limited resources.
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number is PA 15 290.
Which NIH institute is most directly associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is aligned with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), particularly its HIV/AIDS research priorities at the intersection of substance use (including drug abuse) and HIV/AIDS.
What is the main purpose of A-START?
The central purpose is to support research transition and early independence by funding tightly focused projects that can generate meaningful results and/or preliminary data, helping position investigators to compete for larger grant applications in the future.
Who is the intended audience for A-START?
A-START is aimed at newly independent and early career investigators, including those establishing independence, shifting into HIV/AIDS-related drug abuse research, or building preliminary evidence for larger-scale studies.
What grant mechanism does A-START use?
A-START uses the NIH Small Research Grant (R03) mechanism, which typically emphasizes a clear, feasible, and tightly scoped project design.
What types of projects are a good fit for the R03 mechanism under A-START?
Projects that are smaller, targeted, and achievable with limited time and resources are a strong fit. The emphasis is on clearly defined aims and a practical scope that can be completed relatively quickly while producing useful findings and momentum for future work.
What research topics are supported under this FOA?
The FOA welcomes applications across the full range of HIV/AIDS research areas supported by NIDA, with an explicit focus on the intersection of substance use/drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. Topics may include prevention, transmission risk, treatment engagement, behavioral and social drivers, implementation in real-world settings, and other research angles that connect substance use with HIV outcomes.
Does the FOA restrict proposals to a single discipline or research approach?
No. Proposals may come from many disciplines and perspectives, as long as they align with NIDA-supported HIV/AIDS priorities that involve substance use or drug abuse.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for this FOA?
The award ceiling listed is $100,000, reflecting the modest budget typical of small-grant, tightly focused studies.
What funding instrument type is used?
The opportunity uses a grant funding instrument.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as discretionary.
What activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The activity areas span education and health.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 93.279.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations.
Are minority-serving and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are U.S. territories or regional organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations among the additional eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies eligible applicants?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed among the additional eligible applicants.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) entities apply?
Yes. The FOA notes that non-U.S. (foreign) entities are included among eligible applicants.
What is the practical role of A-START in an investigator's funding trajectory?
A-START is best understood as an entry and transition award. It helps early-stage investigators launch a focused project at the intersection of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, build a track record in the area, and develop results or preliminary data that can support subsequent, larger-scale, independent funding aligned with NIDA priorities.
What was the closing date listed in the source information?
The source listing notes an original closing date of January 24, 2018.
Even if the listed closing date is in the past, what are the key takeaways about the program?
The key takeaways are the program intent (research transition support), target audience (newly independent and early career investigators), and project profile (short-term, limited-resource studies tied to NIDA HIV/AIDS research priorities involving substance use and drug abuse).
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