Cross-posted from HHS Viral Hepatitis Blog

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has released a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that will support clinical and epidemiological research focused on the prevention and treatment of HIV and HCV infection among persons with substance use disorders (SUDs). Among the impacts of the nation’s current opioid epidemic has been a 300% increase in new hepatitis C infections reported to CDC between 2010 and 2015, a significant proportion of which were transmitted through injection drug use occurring as individuals transition from oral prescription opiate abuse to opiate injection. And the 2015 HIV outbreak in Scott County, Indiana, was a concrete example of the infectious disease consequences of the opioid epidemic. In Scott County, 9 of 10 people who were newly diagnosed with HIV also had HCV.

NIDA, part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), is among the federal partners engaged in implementing the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan. The new program announcement will support 3-5 grant awards, for a total of $3 million for fiscal year 2018. Future year amounts will depend on annual appropriations. The R01 Research Project Grant opportunity will accept applications on September 7, 2017 and January 7, 2018.

The purpose of this FOA is to fill gaps in our understanding of:

• the impact of substance abuse on HIV, HIV/HCV co-infection associated disease progression,
• the pathogenic interactions between HIV and hepatitis C virus,
• hepatic and non-hepatic co-morbidities associated with HIV/HCV-co-infections in people with SUDs, and
• the effectiveness of interferon-free direct acting antiviral (DAAs) drug regimens to treat HIV/HCV co-infections in people with SUDs.

This FOA is informed by priority area in the NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining AIDS Funding and the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan.

Access the full FOA and instructions on applying at grants.gov.

Read more about NIDA’s work here.