Strategies for Controlled Release of HIV Vaccines (SCORE-H) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AI 24 008

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Strategies for Controlled Release of HIV Vaccines (SCORE-H) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding opportunity (RFA-AI-24-008) that supports product-focused research aimed at improving how HIV vaccines are delivered over time. The central idea is to advance controlled-release vaccination strategies that can strengthen or better shape immune responses relevant to HIV prevention, HIV treatment, and cure-oriented approaches. A key practical goal is to move the field toward simplified dosing, including formulations that could reduce the number of injections needed or potentially enable single-shot vaccination by releasing vaccine components in a programmed way after administration. This NOFO uses the R01 research project grant mechanism and explicitly does not allow clinical trials under this solicitation.

The research emphasis is on approaches that treat controlled release as a deliverable, translatable product feature rather than a purely exploratory concept. Projects are expected to push beyond basic proof-of-principle and instead generate data and development progress that makes a controlled-release HIV vaccine strategy more feasible for real-world use. In practice, that typically implies attention to formulation design, reproducible manufacturing considerations, stability, dosing regimens, and clear evaluation plans that connect the controlled-release profile to immune outcomes. The NOFO also makes clear that applications must include timelines with measurable milestones, meaning applicants should propose concrete, trackable development targets (for example, formulation performance benchmarks, predefined immunogenicity readouts, stability thresholds, or decision gates that determine whether the project advances to the next phase). The intent is to ensure that funded projects follow a structured, goal-driven development plan.

Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of U.S. governmental entities and organizations. Applicants may include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Academic applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. Tribal eligibility includes Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized, plus Native American tribal organizations and tribal governments that are not federally recognized. The opportunity is also open to nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status (when they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, NIH explicitly highlights a range of other eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). Collectively, this eligibility scope is meant to accommodate multidisciplinary teams spanning immunology, virology, biomaterials, drug delivery, formulation science, and translational vaccine development, including global partnerships where appropriate.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the health funding activity category. The CFDA/Assistance Listing numbers associated with the announcement are 93.242 and 93.855. The posting was created on 2024-03-27, and the original application closing date is 2024-07-30. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not listed in the provided source data, so applicants would need to consult the full announcement for any budget or programmatic constraints not captured in the summary information.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategies for Controlled Release of HIV Vaccines (SCORE-H) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242, 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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