Collaborative Consortia for the Study of HIV Associated Cancers: U.S. and Low-and Middle-Income Country Partnerships (U54) | RFA CA 16 018

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 16 018

The Collaborative Consortia for the Study of HIV Associated Cancers: U.S. and Low-and Middle-Income Country Partnerships (U54) opportunity (RFA-CA-16-018) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to support team-based research focused on cancers that occur in the context of HIV infection, with the work taking place in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The central idea is to build durable, productive partnerships between researchers and institutions in the United States and those in LMIC settings where the burden of HIV-associated malignancies can be high and where key scientific and implementation questions are often best answered. Alongside producing new scientific knowledge, the program explicitly aims to strengthen research capacity at LMIC institutions so that local teams can lead and sustain high-quality research over time.

This mechanism uses the U54 Specialized Center Cooperative Agreement structure, which generally supports multi-component, collaborative centers rather than single-project grants. Under this FOA, each consortium application must include two to three distinct research projects. Those projects are expected to address high-priority questions that matter both locally (for the participating LMIC country or region) and to the broader NIH HIV/AIDS research agenda. The scope is intentionally broad: projects may span basic biology, translational research that moves discoveries toward practical tools, as well as population-based, health services, and implementation research that examines how to deliver effective approaches in real-world settings. A key restriction is that clinical trials are not supported under this announcement, so applications need to be structured around non-trial research activities such as observational studies, laboratory investigations, methods development, epidemiology, and implementation evaluations that do not meet the definition of a clinical trial.

Because the program is built around coordinated, multi-project teams, the FOA requires a core structure that supports collaboration and capacity building. Two cores are mandatory. The Administrative Core is intended to manage the consortium, coordinate across the U.S. and LMIC partners, oversee communication and governance, handle regulatory and operational needs, and ensure that the different projects function as an integrated program rather than isolated studies. The Career Enhancement Core is required to develop and strengthen the research workforce, particularly within LMIC partner institutions, through activities such as mentoring, training, and professional development tied to HIV-associated cancer research. Applicants may also propose additional cores when they are justified by the projects, such as Shared Resource cores that provide centralized services, expertise, or infrastructure (for example, biostatistics, data management, pathology support, laboratory platforms, or specimen handling resources) that multiple projects will use.

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status) as well as other eligible entities described in the FOA. The announcement also highlights categories of institutions that may apply, including 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 non-U.S. (foreign) organizations, reflecting an emphasis on inclusive participation and strong international collaboration.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity and the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning NIH is expected to have substantial involvement in the supported activities compared with a standard research project grant. The opportunity was created on October 3, 2016, with an original closing date of December 20, 2016. The listed award ceiling is $600,000. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.989), indicating it draws on NIH funding authorities tied to cancer and related research programs.

Overall, the FOA is structured to produce coordinated, multi-disciplinary research programs that answer pressing questions about HIV-associated cancers in LMIC contexts while simultaneously leaving behind strengthened local capacity, including trained investigators, improved research systems, and shared resources that can support future studies beyond the life of the award.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Consortia for the Study of HIV Associated Cancers: U.S. and Low-and Middle-Income Country Partnerships (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.989.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-10-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-12-20. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Others.

Apply for RFA CA 16 018

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