The NIH has issued NOT-AI-21-057 to communicate special interest in epidemiology investigations to quantify the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, incidence, transmission, and outcomes. This NOSI encourages research on the impact and strategies needed to adapt the HIV/AIDS response through agile and innovative support of prevention and care and the maintenance of sustained HIV viral suppression during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Applications for R01 and R21 awards (clinical trial not allowed) will be accepted on AIDS deadlines through May 7, 2024.

NIAID Areas of Interest:

This NOSI seeks to promote research in epidemiology; social and behavioral sciences; and HIV prevention and clinical care. Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Improve our understanding of HIV risk, health seeking behaviors, and the complex contextual environment during an acute respiratory pandemic.
  • Document and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 infection risk and disruption of HIV treatment on HIV transmission and HIV outbreaks.
  • Evaluate how long-term systematic disparities and determinants of health associated with poor HIV health outcomes are exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Determine the contribution of HIV immunosuppression on COVID-19 co-morbidities and response to preventive vaccines.
  • Investigate the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in immunocompromised persons with HIV who may or may not have received COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • Employ novel modeling and prediction methods to evaluate the intersection of HIV and COVID-19 pandemics.
  • Assemble social, structural, behavioral data to model social and epidemic transmission networks for intersection and overlap of the two pandemics.
  • Determine the impact of COVID-19 on HIV prevention and care during public health mitigation and isolation strategies.
  • Capture, model, and create visualizations of geospatial disruptions in HIV care, treatment, and access to antiretroviral medications in the context of COVID-19 infection.
  • Determine rates of changes in HIV viral suppression and hospitalizations due to COVID-19.

NIDA Areas of Interest:

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is interested in research at the intersection of substance use and HIV/AIDS in the Era of COVID-19, particularly the impact of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the public health response. Research may include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • The impact of COVID-19 and pandemic-related policies as they may affect substance use patterns (e.g., changes in substances of common use, overdose, drug markets) and the consequences of these changes for HIV prevention and care.
  • The impact of COVID-19 on services for HIV care, harm reduction, substance use treatment, and co-morbid conditions (e.g., HCV), including changes to service delivery methods and the ability of these services to provide adequate coverage.
  • Assess COVID-19 vaccination coverage among people who use drugs, with attention to pattens of substance use, HIV status and HIV/substance use-related comorbidities, with consideration of individual and social factors that may mediate moderate coverage.
  • Population-based research that considers impacts of COVID-19 on HIV acquisition and across the continua of HIV prevention and care among different populations of people who use drugs, with particular attention to considerations such as changes in insurance status, housing, income, and material insecurities.

NIMH Areas of Interest:

  • Use of data science and epidemic modeling approaches such as forecasting with machine learning, analysis of electronic health records and other data sources, and modeling the complications of interruptions and disruptions in prevention and care.
  • Use of data science approaches to examine the impact of mental health and mental health comorbidities, stigma, and other social behavioral determinants of health on HIV-related outcomes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research areas below will NOT be supported through this NOSI:

  • Clinical trials requiring an Investigational New Drug (IND) or Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application or assessing the safety of the intervention.
  • Clinical trial planning activities for protocol development.
  • Studies of mental health and mental health comorbidities, stigma, and other social behavioral determinants of health not linked to HIV-related outcomes (e.g., viral suppression, PrEP retention)