Over the past year and a half, many of you followed the HIV.gov blog post series Future Directions for NIAID HIV Research by Dr. Carl Dieffenbach, Director of the Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at NIH. Last week, NIAID advanced those efforts by issuing several requests for applications (RFAs) to establish leadership groups for clinical research networks focused on distinct areas of HIV/AIDS research.

NIAID is looking to expand upon the success of its six current HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks to create an infrastructure capable of performing both HIV/AIDS research and research involving non-HIV/AIDS infectious diseases.

The leadership groups to be funded will have overall responsibility for developing, implementing and adapting clinical research agendas to address NIAID's HIV/AIDS scientific priorities in the following areas:• Therapeutics for HIV/AIDS and HIV-associated infections in adults• HIV/AIDS and HIV-associated infections in pediatric and maternal populations• Integrated strategies to prevent HIV infection• Vaccines to prevent HIV infection• Microbicides to prevent HIV infection

The new RFAs are part of NIAID's larger effort to revamp its existing HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks. Applications for each of the five RFAs are due Sept. 28, 2012. Awards are expected to be made in 2013. Read full details at NIAID.Next: Funding Announcements for Clinical Trials Units and TA for ApplicantsIn connection with its larger clinical trials network restructuring effort, NIAID plans to publish this spring a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) designed to solicit applications for the Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) that will populate the revamped clinical research networks. To assist potential CTUs applicants, NIAID will host three workshops focused on the grant application and review process. The first of these workshops will be held July 28-29, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The two remaining workshops, which will be held later in 2012, will be conducted in South America and Africa. Stay tuned to the NIAID clinical trial restructuring Web site for registration and additional information about these upcoming workshops.