HIV SUCCESS Pilot Program
HIV SUCCESS will support two pilot projects of up to $25,000 each. Proposals must either use data from two or more NIDA HIV and Substance Use Cohorts or propose a cross-cohort project that enhances the work of the cohorts.
All projects must focus on substance use and HIV-related topics and be feasible within 12 months using existing harmonized data or cross-cohort activities.
Application Deadline: Friday, December 18, 2026 (5:00 pm Pacific Time)
What will be funded
- Two awards of up to $25,000 each, inclusive of indirect (F&A) costs, over a 12-month period.
- Innovative reuse of cross-cohort data, or value-added cross-cohort activities that address knowledge gaps and support potential future, larger NIH-funded studies (e.g., R01 or R21).
- Awardees can also receive coordination, analytic, methodological, and training support from the Coordinating Center if desired.
Project focus
Every proposal must either use data from two or more NIDA HIV and Substance Use Cohorts, or propose a cross-cohort project that enhances the cohorts' work. Example topic areas include, but are not limited to:
- Substance use and HIV care continuum outcomes (linkage, retention, viral suppression)
- Implementation science
- Comorbidity and multimorbidity among people who use substances, in relation to HIV risk or living with HIV
- STI co-infection and syndemic processes
- Methodological work advancing cross-cohort harmonization, measurement, or analysis
Who can apply
- Investigators at academic or not-for-profit research institutions with a PhD or other professional degree (e.g., MD, DrPH, JD, ScD).
- Applicants must hold a postdoctoral or more senior appointment at the time of submission and be eligible to serve as PI on external funding under institutional rules.
- Students are not eligible. Only one application per lead investigator.
Key dates
- RFA release: September 17, 2026
- Full proposals due: December 18, 2026
- Review: January 2027
- Notification: January 2027
How to apply
Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF through the HIV SUCCESS application form linked at the top of this page. The full RFA lists the required documents and formatting in detail, but in brief the PDF includes a face page, budget and justification, a 3-page research plan, a one-page impact statement, and references.
We encourage you to contact the Coordinating Center to discuss your idea before submitting.
Learn more
- The full RFA — including funding, eligibility, timeline, application instructions, and award requirements — is available here.
- Cohort details can be found here.
- Information on available harmonized data can be found here.
Questions?
Please contact Tom Austin (austintr@uw.edu) or Lydia Drumright (lnd23@uw.edu).