Priority HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) is sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Stimulates HIV/AIDS research within the scientific mission areas of NIDDK, addressing high priority HIV/AIDS research outlined by the NIH Office of AIDS Research in areas of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.

PAS-25-073: Priority HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission. Department of Health and Human Services Part 1.

Overview Information Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) Components of Participating Organizations National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases ( NIDDK ) Funding Opportunity Title Priority HIV/AIDS Research within the Mission of NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) R01 Research Project Grant Notices of Special Interest associated with this funding opportunity January 28, 2026 - NIH Removing AIDS Application Due Dates from NOFOs.

See Notice NOT-OD-26-029 . March 31, 2025 - This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission.

April 4, 2024 - Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025. See Notice NOT-OD-24-084 . August 31, 2022 - Implementation Changes for Genomic Data Sharing Plans Included with Applications Due on or after January 25, 2023.

See Notice NOT-OD-22-198 . August 5, 2022 - Implementation Details for the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. See Notice NOT-OD-22-189 .

Funding Opportunity Number (FON) Companion Funding Opportunity See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Assistance Listing Number(s) Funding Opportunity Purpose This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeks to stimulate HIV/AIDS research within the mission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) that aligns with the HIV/AIDS research priorities outlined by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR).

These priorities were most recently described in NOT-OD-20-018 UPDATE: NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining HIV/AIDS Funding . Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) The following table includes NIH standard due dates marked with an asterisk.

Renewal / Resubmission / Revision (as allowed) AIDS - New/Renewal/Resubmission/Revision, as allowed All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date. New Date November 06, 2027 per issuance of NOT-OD-26-029 .

(Original Expiration Date: January 08, 2027) Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide , except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced.

Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

There are several options available to submit your application through Grants. gov to NIH and Department of Health and Human Services partners. You must use one of these submission options to access the application forms for this opportunity.

Use the NIH ASSIST system to prepare, submit and track your application online. Use an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution to prepare and submit your application to Grants. gov and eRA Commons to track your application.

Check with your institutional officials regarding availability. Workspace to prepare and submit your application and eRA Commons to track your application. Part 1.

Overview Information Part 2. Full Text of Announcement Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description Section II.

Award Information Section III. Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Information Section V.

Application Review Information Section VI. Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII.

Other Information Part 2. Full Text of Announcement Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites HIV/AIDS research projects within the mission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) that align with NIH’s HIV/AIDS research priorities.

These priorities were most recently described in NOT-OD-20-018, UPDATE: NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining HIV/AIDS Funding. Systemic complications of HIV directly affect many of the organ systems and processes within the research mission of the NIDDK.

Diseases and conditions within NIDDK's mission include diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic diseases, nutritional disorders, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. NIDDK has many research areas within its mission, but all research related to relevant diseases may not be appropriate for NIDDK.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIDDK staff as soon as possible in the development of the application, so that NIDDK staff can help the applicant understand whether the proposed project is within the goals and mission of the Institute. In addition, NIDDK-relevant organs and tissues play central roles in HIV establishment, spread, persistence, and transmission.

Several HIV-related comorbidities, co-infections, and complications (CCCs) within NIDDK's mission are prevalent in people with HIV (PWH). Important problems include enteropathy and loss of gastrointestinal homeostasis; noncommunicable liver diseases and viral hepatitis co-infections; kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases; and obesity, diabetes, and associated complications.

Moreover, NIDDK-relevant pathogenic processes may contribute to HIV pathogenesis in other tissues and organ systems. For example, loss of intestinal epithelial barrier function in HIV-associated enteropathy may result in systemic inflammation that contributes to the development of chronic diseases and conditions, including obesity or liver disease. Likewise, obesity can contribute to the development of diabetes or kidney disease.

Mechanistic interrogation of the processes whereby HIV or its treatment contributes to these CCCs is needed to identify and develop strategies for both prevention and treatment. Several tissues within NIDDK’s mission represent important HIV reservoirs. These include the gastrointestinal mucosa, the male genital tract, the kidney, and adipose tissue.

Mechanistic interrogation of HIV reservoirs in different tissues is the pivotal step toward achieving HIV cure. The dynamics of different reservoirs often have unique aspects. Therefore, basic and translational research into the specific mechanisms impacting reservoirs within NIDDK’s mission is central to development of strategies toward achieving sustained antiretroviral therapy-free viral remission or eradication from the body.

Topics within the scope of NIDDK's mission often cut across priority HIV/AIDS research areas. These include fundamental studies of the gastrointestinal and penile microbiomes or gastrointestinal and penile mucosal immunology that may be important to our understanding of CCCs, viral reservoirs, or other priority NIH HIV/AIDS research.

Health-impeding social determinants of health (SDoH) play a significant role in the development of HIV-related CCCs within the scope of the NIDDK’s mission. Examples include food insecurity, poor nutrition and its sequelae, discrimination, financial resource strain, stigma associated with both HIV and with the co-occuring chronic condition, inadequate housing, and lack of access to health care and resources, among others.

The downstream effects of these SDoH impede patient engagement related to health-promoting and self-managing behavior and act as barriers to completing necessary tests, procedures and treatments. Moreover, there may be biological consequences.

For example, nutritional inadequacies resulting from food insecurity and heightened stress/allostatic load may impact physiological or pathophysiological processes leading to the development of obesity, liver disease, or kidney disease. Given that CCCs might impact viral reservoirs, health-impeding SDoH could also have consequences on reservoir dynamics and cure strategies.

Furthering our understanding of how SDoH contribute to HIV-related CCCs is essential to implementing effective and comprehensive prevention programs. This funding opportunity is intended to stimulate basic, translational, and clinical research within the mission of the NIDDK that addresses HIV/AIDS research topics identified as priorities by NIH.

The Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition seeks projects related to HIV or its treatment within its research mission. These include studies on gastrointestinal immunity and inflammation, the gastrointestinal microbiome, viral reservoirs within the gastrointestinal tract, enteropathy, noncommunicable liver and biliary diseases, viral hepatitis, pancreatic diseases, nutrition, and obesity.

Basic, translational, and clinical research on biological, physiological, environmental, psychological, behavioral, and social processes is encouraged.

The Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases seeks projects within its research mission, including studies examining the effects of HIV, including relevant host conditions, anti-retroviral therapy (ART), or other HIV-related therapies on metabolic/endocrine function and metabolic/endocrine-related outcomes (such as HIV- and ART-associated adipose tissue/lipodystrophic changes, as well as disorders of glucose metabolism and other HIV-associated metabolic and endocrine perturbations).

The Division is also interested in studies of HIV reservoirs in adipose tissue. Basic, translational, and clinical research on biological, physiological, environmental, psychological, behavioral, and social processes is encouraged.

The Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases seeks projects related to kidney, benign genitourinary, and hematologic diseases or disorders related to HIV or its treatment as well as kidney and male genital tract viral reservoirs. Basic, Translational, and clinical research on biological, physiological, environmental, psychological, behavioral, and social processes is encouraged.

The scope of this NOFO includes, but is not limited to: Elucidation of pathophysiological pathways whereby HIV or its treatment contributes to comorbidities within NIDDK's mission. Interaction of HIV or its treatment with physiological processes within NIDDK's mission, such as metabolism, normal blood development, or gastrointestinal mucosal immune homeostasis.

The impact of HIV or its treatment on the gastrointestinal or penile microbiome, pathogenic enteric microbes, male genital tract infections, or co-infection with hepatitis viruses. Response of the numerous tissues within NIDDK's mission to HIV and HIV-associated inflammation.

Cellular and molecular characterization of the HIV reservoirs in NIDDK-relevant tissues such as the male genital tract, the gastrointestinal mucosa, the kidney, or adipose tissue. The impact of health-impeding SDoH on the development of HIV-related CCCs within the NIDDK's mission. The impact of health-impeding SDoH on viral reservoirs in tissues within NIDDK’s mission.

Effectiveness research on programs aiming to alleviate health impeding social determinants of health, in order to reduce HIV-related CCCs within the NIDDK's mission or to improve viral suppression in NIDDK-relevant tissues. Applications NOT responsive to this NOFO: Projects with a primary focus on interrogating HIV reservoirs in tissues outside of the mission of NIDDK.

Projects primarily focused on CCCs affecting organs, tissues, or processes outside of the mission of NIDDK. Projects studying viral hepatitis co-infection where the primary focus is on the virus rather than pathogenic consequences. Projects examining the effects of SDoH on CCCs that primarily affect organs, tissues, or processes outside of the mission of the NIDDK.

Projects that are not aligned with NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities. These guidelines were most recently published in NOT-OD-20-018, UPDATE: NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining HIV/AIDS Funding . Non-responsive applications will be administratively withdrawn without review and not considered for this NOFO.

See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations. Investigators proposing NIH-defined clinical trials may refer to the Research Methods Resources website for information about developing statistical methods and study designs.

Section II. Award Information Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. Application Types Allowed The OER Glossary and the How to Apply Application Guide provide details on these application types.

Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO. Optional: Accepting applications that either propose or do not propose clinical trial(s). Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards NIDDK intends to fund an estimate of 3 to 5 awards, corresponding to a total of $2,000,000, for fiscal year 2026. Future year amounts will depend on annual appropriations. Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years. NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.

Section III.

Eligibility Information Higher Education Institutions Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education Private Institutions of Higher Education Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education) Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education) For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses) City or Township Governments Special District Governments Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized).

Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government U.S. Territory or Possession Independent School Districts Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Faith-based or Community-based Organizations Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement , are allowed. Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply- Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award.

All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.

3. 9. 2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information.

System for Award Management (SAM) – Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually . The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.

NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code – Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) - A UEI is issued as part of the SAM. gov registration process.

The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application. eRA Commons - Once the unique organization identifier is established, organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their Grants. gov registrations; all registrations must be in place by time of submission.

eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application. Grants. gov – Applicants must have an active SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.

gov registration. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons.

If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator) Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the How to Apply-Application Guide. This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 1. 2 Definition of Terms .

3. Additional Information on Eligibility Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct. The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time, per NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.

3. 7. 4 Submission of Resubmission Application .

This means that the NIH will not accept: A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application. A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.

An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NIH Grants Policy Statement 2. 3. 9.

4 Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications ). Section IV. Application and Submission Information 1.

Requesting an Application Package The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants. gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.

gov Workspace are available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution. 2.

Content and Form of Application Submission It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced.

Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review. All page limitations described in the How to Apply- Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed. Instructions for Application Submission The following section supplements the instructions found in the How to Apply- Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this NOFO.

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed. SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed. SF424(R&R) Other Project Information All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.

SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed. All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed. All instructions in the How to Apply-Application Guide must be followed.

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed. All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: Resource Sharing Plan : Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the How to Apply- Application Guide.

All instructions in the How to Apply-Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: All applicants planning research (funded or conducted in whole or in part by NIH) that results in the generation of scientific data are required to comply with the instructions for the Data Management and Sharing Plan.

All applications, regardless of the amount of direct costs requested for any one year, must address a Data Management and Sharing Plan. Appendix: Only limited Appendix materials are allowed. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the How to Apply- Application Guide.

No publications or other material, with the exception of blank questionnaires or blank surveys, may be included in the Appendix.

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials (and when applicable, clinical trials research experience) follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the How to Apply- Application Guide, with the following additional instructions: If you answered “Yes” to the question “Are Human Subjects Involved?

” on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or Delayed Onset Study record. Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.

Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed. PHS Assignment Request Form All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.

Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement , and procedures for foreign organizations described throughout the How to Apply- Application Guide. 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) See Part 2.

Section III. 1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants. gov 4.

Submission Dates and Times Part I. contains information about Key Dates and times. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday , the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day. Organizations must submit applications to Grants. gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies).

Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons , NIH’s electronic system for grants administration. NIH and Grants. gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission.

Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants. gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late.

Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2. 3. 9.

2 Electronically Submitted Applications . Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission. Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the How to Apply-Application Guide.

5. Intergovernmental Review (E. O.

12372) This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review. Use of Common Data Elements in NIH-funded Research Many NIH ICs encourage the use of common data elements (CDEs) in basic, clinical, and applied research, patient registries, and other human subject research to facilitate broader and more effective use of data and advance research across studies.

CDEs are data elements that have been identified and defined for use in multiple data sets across different studies. Use of CDEs can facilitate data sharing and standardization to improve data quality and enable data integration from multiple studies and sources, including electronic health records.

NIH ICs have identified CDEs for many clinical domains (e.g., neurological disease), types of studies (e.g. genome-wide association studies (GWAS)), types of outcomes (e.g., patient-reported outcomes), and patient registries (e.g., the Global Rare Diseases Patient Registry and Data Repository). NIH has established a “Common Data Element (CDE) Resource Portal" ( http://cde. nih.

gov/ ) to assist investigators in identifying NIH-supported CDEs when developing protocols, case report forms, and other instruments for data collection. The Portal provides guidance about and access to NIH-supported CDE initiatives and other tools and resources for the appropriate use of CDEs and data standards in NIH-funded research.

Investigators are encouraged to consult the Portal and describe in their applications any use they will make of NIH-supported CDEs in their projects All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement . Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 7. 9.

1 Selected Items of Cost. 7. Other Submission Requirements and Information Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the How to Apply Application Guide.

Paper applications will not be accepted. Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III.

Eligibility Information contains information about registration. For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit How to Apply – Application Guide . If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance.

For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII. All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile form . Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

See Section III of this NOFO for information on registration requirements. The applicant organization must ensure that the unique entity identifier provided on the application is the same identifier used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be found in the How to Apply Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors. Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review and responsiveness by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH. Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

Requests of $500,000 or more for direct costs in any year Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year (excluding consortium F&A) must contact a Scientific/ Research Contact at least 6 weeks before submitting the application and follow the Policy on the Acceptance for Review of Unsolicited Applications that Request $500,000 or More in Direct Costs as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Recipients or subrecipients must submit any information related to violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award. See Mandatory Disclosures, 2 CFR 200. 113 and NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 4.

1. 35 . Send written disclosures to the NIH Chief Grants Management Officer listed on the Notice of Award for the IC that funded the award and to the HHS Office of Inspector Grant Self Disclosure Program at [email protected] .

Post Submission Materials Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy Section V. Application Review Information Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. Applications submitted to the NIH in support of the NIH mission are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Note: Effective for due dates on or after January 25, 2023, the Data Sharing Plan and Genomic Data Sharing Plan (GDS) as part of the Resource Sharing Plan will not be evaluated at time of review In addition, for applications involving clinical trials: A proposed Clinical Trial application may include study design, methods, and intervention that are not by themselves innovative but address important questions or unmet needs.

Additionally, the results of the clinical trial may indicate that further clinical development of the intervention is unwarranted or lead to new avenues of scientific investigation.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following scored review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed). An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have a major scientific impact.

Reviewers will evaluate Factors 1, 2 and 3 in the determination of scientific merit, and in providing an overall impact score. In addition, Factors 1 and 2 will each receive a separate criterion score. Factor 1.

Importance of the Research (Significance and Innovation) Evaluate the importance of the proposed research in the context of current scientific challenges and opportunities, either for advancing knowledge within the field, or more broadly. Assess whether the application addresses an important gap in knowledge in the field, would solve a critical problem, or create a valuable conceptual or technical advance.

Evaluate the rationale for undertaking the study, the rigor of the scientific background for the work (e.g., prior literature and/or preliminary data) and whether the scientific background justifies the proposed study. Evaluate the extent to which innovation influences the importance of undertaking the proposed research.

Note that while technical or conceptual innovation can influence the importance of the proposed research, a project that is not applying novel concepts or approaches may be of critical importance for the field. Evaluate whether the proposed work applies novel concepts, methods or technologies or uses existing concepts, methods, technologies in novel ways, to enhance the overall impact of the project. Factor 2.

Rigor and Feasibility (Approach) Evaluate the scientific quality of the proposed work. Evaluate the likelihood that compelling, reproducible findings will result (rigor) and assess whether the proposed studies can be done well and within the timeframes proposed (feasibility). Evaluate the potential to produce unbiased, reproducible, robust data.

Evaluate the rigor of experimental design and whether appropriate controls are in place. Evaluate whether the sample size is sufficient and well-justified. Assess the quality of the plans for analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results.

Evaluate whether the investigators presented adequate plans to address relevant biological variables, such as sex or age, in the design, analysis, and reporting. For applications involving human subjects or vertebrate animals, also evaluate: the rigor of the intervention or study manipulation (if applicable to the study design). whether outcome variables are justified.

whether the results will be generalizable or, in the case of a rare disease/special group, relevant to the particular subgroup. whether the sample is appropriate and sufficiently diverse to address the proposed question(s). For applications involving human subjects, including clinical trials, assess the adequacy of inclusion plans as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research.

Considerations of appropriateness may include disease/condition/behavior incidence, prevalence, or population burden, population representation, and/or current state of the science. Evaluate whether the proposed approach is sound and achievable, including plans to address problems or new challenges that emerge in the work.

For proposed studies in which feasibility may be less certain, evaluate whether the uncertainty is balanced by the potential for major advances. For applications involving human subjects, including clinical trials, evaluate the adequacy and feasibility of the plan to recruit and retain an appropriately diverse population of participants.

Additionally, evaluate the likelihood of successfully achieving the proposed enrollment based on age, race, ethnicity, and sex. For clinical