Centers for AIDS Research (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 116

FAQs: Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - PAR-23-116

What is the CFAR (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity (PAR-23-116)?

PAR-23-116 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity for Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR). It is designed to strengthen and accelerate HIV/AIDS research by funding centralized, shared infrastructure at an institution or consortium, rather than funding stand-alone research projects.

What is the main purpose of a CFAR award?

The main purpose is to provide administrative leadership and shared research support that multiple investigators can use to conduct high-quality HIV-related science more efficiently. CFARs function as institutional hubs that coordinate interdisciplinary collaboration and make specialized resources available across research teams.

Does this opportunity fund individual research projects?

No. The CFAR mechanism is described as supporting centralized, shared infrastructure and coordination. It is meant to enable and accelerate research across investigators, not serve as a direct funding source for stand-alone investigator-driven research projects.

What does it mean that CFARs support "centralized, shared infrastructure"?

It means the award supports resources that many investigators can access, such as shared facilities, expertise, and services (often organized into cores). The goal is to reduce duplication across labs and teams, improve methods and efficiency, and create a coordinated research environment.

What kinds of shared "core" resources are typically supported by CFARs?

The information provided indicates CFAR cores commonly include shared support such as clinical and translational support (short of running clinical trials under this FOA), behavioral and social science support, biostatistics and data management, immunology/virology laboratories, specimen and biorepository services, community engagement resources, implementation science expertise, and administrative support for regulatory navigation, data sharing, and collaboration.

What areas of HIV/AIDS research can a CFAR help support?

CFARs are described as enabling collaboration across the full spectrum of HIV/AIDS research, including HIV prevention, treatment, cure research, co-infections, comorbidities, and health disparities.

What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for this FOA?

"Clinical Trial Not Allowed" means the CFAR award itself cannot be used to support a clinical trial as defined by NIH. Applicants should treat the award as an infrastructure and coordination mechanism, not as a way to run interventional clinical studies using CFAR funds.

Can CFAR infrastructure still support research activities related to clinical trials?

Yes, with limits. The provided information states that CFAR infrastructure may help investigators prepare for trials or support related activities consistent with NIH policy. The key point is that the CFAR award is not the direct funding source to conduct a clinical trial under this FOA.

Who is eligible to apply for PAR-23-116?

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities. The list provided includes: 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities.

Are minority-serving institutions and community organizations eligible applicants?

Yes. The opportunity highlights additional eligible applicant types including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, faith-based or community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions (among others listed in the opportunity description).

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The provided information lists eligible federal agencies among the additional eligible applicant types.

Can a foreign (non-U.S.) organization apply as the main applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, based on the information provided.

Can a U.S. organization with a non-U.S. component apply?

Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, according to the information provided.

Are any types of international collaboration allowed under this opportunity?

Yes. While foreign organizations cannot be the applicant, "foreign components" (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This means a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or performance sites when they meet NIH criteria and are properly justified and structured under NIH rules.

What agency administers this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What does it mean that the opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers?

It indicates CFAR-related funding can align with several NIH institutes and program areas connected to HIV/AIDS and related biomedical, behavioral, and public health research, as reflected by multiple Assistance Listing numbers.

When is the closing date for this opportunity?

The posted original closing date provided is 2025-08-04.

Is there an award ceiling listed for this opportunity?

No. The provided information states that the award ceiling is not specified in the source data, which is common for NIH funding opportunities where budgets depend on proposed scope, institutional needs, program guidelines, and available funds.

Is the expected number of awards specified?

No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source data.

How should applicants think about the CFAR model when designing a proposal?

Based on the description provided, applicants should approach CFAR as an institution-wide (or consortium-based) enabling center that funds shared platforms, coordination, and specialized resources used by many investigators. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary collaboration, broad institutional impact, and improved research productivity and quality, rather than funding individual projects or clinical trials under this mechanism.

What is the practical value of a CFAR to investigators at an institution?

CFARs are intended to make HIV research more efficient and higher quality by providing shared services and expertise that can be difficult to obtain through typical individual investigator grants, while also fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and reducing duplicated effort across research teams.