Overview

The Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR) at New York University is seeking pilot project applications focused on proposing high-impact and innovative research in the fields of HIV, HCV, substance use, and the continuum of prevention and care in these topical areas. The Pilot Projects Award provides the opportunity for investigators to develop new research initiatives or test the feasibility of new research strategies with the long-term goal of securing subsequent external funding.

The mission of CDUHR is to end the HIV and HCV epidemics in drug using populations and their communities by conducting transdisciplinary research and disseminating its findings to inform programmatic, and grass roots initiatives at the local, state, national and global level.

Because the intent of the pilot program is also to lead to new NIH grants, it is strongly recommended that the pilot projects align with the NIH priorities for HIV research.

In addition, reviewing NIDA’s approved concept clearances can help plan for future grant applications since they outline potential funding opportunities that may be released in the future. Key HIV-related concepts include:

• NIDA Avant-Garde/Avenir Awards for high risk/high reward research on HIV and Substance use
• Clinical Research on HIV-Associated Pain in the Context of Substance Use Disorders
• Effects of HIV on Drug-Seeking and Impulsive Behavior
• Engaging Survivors of Sexual Violence and Trafficking in HIV and Substance Use Disorder Services
• Ending the HIV Epidemic: Focus on Justice Populations with SUD

NIDA’s Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research (the division that funds CDUHR) recently hosted a webinar outlining their research priorities. The slides are available here.

Some of the topics they emphasized included:

1. Using implementation science methods to improve the uptake of evidence-based interventions;
2. Monitoring and responding to changes in the drug supply that are creating new harms;
3. The role of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in drug user health and ways to address these;
4. The use of psychedelics as therapeutic agents with application to a variety of conditions;
5. Understanding the unique features of the aging drug user population that affect health and other outcomes;
6. The role of polysubstance use in risk behavior and other emerging harms; and
7. Using artificial intelligence to facilitate dissemination.

This summary is not meant to be prescriptive or to steer you toward any of these topics in your pilot project application, it is provided to inspire you to think broadly about new methods or questions and the likelihood of future NIH funding. We welcome applications that extend your existing research and fall within the broad guidelines of ending HIV and HCV among people who use drugs.

We are happy to discuss your ideas with you prior to submitting an application. We encourage applicants to attend an information session on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 1 pm.

Phase 1: December 2026 – August 2027

Phase 2: September 2027 – April 2028

Awards of up to $40,000 ($20,000 in each phase) will be distributed to support a pilot project. In order to be approved for Phase 2 funding, sufficient progress must be met during Phase 1.

Phase 1 Milestones and Continuation to Phase 2

Applicants must propose measurable Phase 1 milestones, with target dates and evidence of completion, in their project timeline. Milestones (similar to NIH go/no-go mechanisms) should reflect the proposed methods and demonstrate that the project can produce useful findings by the end of Phase 2. Specifically, they should address:

• Project readiness: Complete any required institutional, human subjects, data use or partner approvals before beginning the activities they govern.
• Implementation: Establish the study procedures, instruments, data sources and research team needed to carry out the project.
• Research progress: Meet project-specific targets for recruitment, data collection, intervention delivery, dataset development or analysis, as applicable to the proposed project.
• Phase 2 Plan: Document preliminary findings or feasibility lessons and identify the work needed to complete the project during Phase 2.

Awardees will submit a Phase 1 progress report by August 2, 2027 describing progress against each approved milestone, any barriers and proposed adjustments, use of funds and the plan and budget for Phase 2. Phase 2 funding is contingent on CDUHR’s review and approval of sufficient progress. Milestones may be revised with CDUHR’s approval when justified by the research.

As part of CDUHR’s mentorship program, pilot project awardees and other interested applicants are encouraged to receive mentoring and are matched with at least two senior investigators for mentorship, both within and outside of the grantee’s discipline to foster a broad transdisciplinary perspective to their research. New and early-stage investigators, and applicants currently collaborating with senior investigators are eligible to apply. Senior investigators seeking to develop new expertise or embark on research in areas related to CDUHR’s mission are also eligible to apply. Priority is given to early career and new investigators.

A letter of intent is recommended and it is requested by October 15, 2026 by 5:00 pm. The letter of intent is not required, and is not binding. We may contact the applicant with questions or suggestions for the Initial Statement of the Research Question. See Application Instructions for submitting the Letter of Intent.

A proposed title, initial statement and a completed Mentorship Form are due by October 22, 2026 by 12:00 noon.

These materials will be screened for alignment with CDUHR’s mission and NIH HIV/AIDS research priority areas. A full application is due by November 23, 2026 by 5:00 pm. See Application Instructions for submitting the full application.

The Pilot Projects Program is an open competition to investigators and potential investigators who have obtained a doctoral level degree.

While senior investigators and applicants not seeking mentoring are eligible to apply, applicants representative of the following groups are particularly encouraged and will be prioritized:

• Early-stage investigators
• Established investigators without prior experience in HIV, HCV and substance use research
• Established investigators who are pursuing a new area of inquiry within the fields of HIV, HCV and substance use research
• PI status at your home institution
• Pilot projects funds may not be used to supplement or prolong ongoing research, to support dissertation research or coursework, or to purchase equipment, and cannot be used as bridge funds when other research support is no longer available.

• Your primary mentor must be a CDUHR Core Member (https://cduhr.org/about/leadership).
• Carryover of funds from the Phase 1 to Phase 2 – To be announced.
• Funds may not be spent outside the United States.
• Before submitting your application, please confirm with your institution that they will accept a CDUHR pilot project grant award with no indirect costs (IDC)/F&A and that you have PI status.
• Pilot project recipients will be required to attend certain meetings throughout the award period.

Funding decisions will be based on the following criteria:

• Relation of proposed research to CDUHR’s thematic focus of overcoming barriers to ending HIV and HCV among PWUD.
• The extent to which the research falls within the high priority topics in the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research.
• Scientific quality of the proposed research.
• Innovativeness and significance of the research idea.
• Likelihood of research findings to translate into practice and/or result in meaningful public health impact.
• Use of multidisciplinary approach/methodology.
• Potential of the project to enhance the training of the investigator.
• Potential of research findings to lead to subsequent funding.
• Whether Phases 1 and Phase 2 milestones are achievable and clearly defined, and the scope of work for Phases 1 and 2 reflect realistic timelines and progress toward meeting the project aims.
• Additional consideration will also be given to applicants who are new and early-stage investigators, established investigators without prior experience in substance use and HIV or HCV research, or who are exploring a new area of inquiry in the field.

Note that NIDA requires CDUHR to provide a description and justification of all pilot projects before initiating them. Notification includes a description and rationale for the project, and addressing the question of how it falls within CDUHR’s mission and RFA priorities. In addition, CDUHR must state that the project will comply with NIH policies, including approval of human subject research. Clinical trials and projects that pose greater than minimal risk to participants require prior approval from the NIDA project officer. The request for approval must include protocols for human subjects protection and a Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (DSMP). See NIH PAR-20-267, Section VI, “Prior Approval of Pilot Projects” for original language.