NIH Highlighted Topic: Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research proposals focused on understanding the complex intersection of HIV/AIDS and aging, with the goal of improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment, long-term care, and quality of life for older adults living with HIV. This highlighted topic supports multidisciplinary research examining the biological, clinical, behavioral, social, and healthcare system factors influencing aging in people with HIV (PWH).
More than half of adults living with HIV in the United States are now over the age of 50, largely due to the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, evidence suggests that HIV and long-term treatment exposure may accelerate aging processes and contribute to increased risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurocognitive disorders, osteoporosis, metabolic disease, frailty, substance use disorders, and mental health conditions. NIH is particularly interested in projects that improve understanding of these interactions and develop evidence-based interventions to address aging-related HIV comorbidities.
Companies developing digital health platforms, remote patient monitoring systems, AI-enabled healthcare analytics, biomarker technologies, behavioral health interventions, care coordination systems, diagnostics, community-based care models, or precision medicine platforms may be strong candidates for funding.
Areas of interest include HIV-associated aging biomarkers, neurocognitive health, cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, substance use disorders, alcohol misuse, women’s health, social isolation, polypharmacy management, health disparities, implementation science, and community-centered interventions for aging populations living with HIV.
Funding is available through the NIH SBIR/STTR Program, which currently provides up to approximately $323,090 for Phase I projects and up to $2,153,927 for Phase II projects, with opportunities for follow-on funding and commercialization support depending on project scope and translational impact.
This highlighted topic is supported by numerous NIH Institutes and Offices including NIA, NIAID, NCI, NHLBI, NIDA, NIMH, NIDDK, NINR, ORWH, OAR, and others, all of which are seeking scalable innovations that improve health outcomes, healthcare delivery, prevention, and quality of life for older adults aging with HIV.
How much funding would I receive?
Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.
What could I use the funding for?
Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of healthcare technologies, diagnostics, digital health platforms, behavioral health tools, biomarkers, and intervention systems related to HIV/AIDS and aging.
Eligible activities may include:
AI and machine learning platforms for HIV-related aging risk prediction
Digital health and remote monitoring systems for older adults with HIV
Biomarker discovery and aging-related diagnostic technologies
Neurocognitive assessment and mental health intervention platforms
Cardiovascular, metabolic, and frailty monitoring technologies
Substance use disorder and alcohol misuse intervention systems
Community-based and home-based HIV care coordination platforms
Precision medicine and personalized treatment management tools
Polypharmacy management and medication adherence technologies
HIV survivorship and quality-of-life monitoring systems
Women’s health technologies related to HIV and menopause
Behavioral health and social isolation intervention platforms
Healthcare implementation science and integrated care delivery tools
Predictive analytics for comorbidities and chronic disease management
Wearable sensors and longitudinal patient monitoring systems
HIV-associated cancer risk and survivorship technologies
Prototype development, translational studies, and clinical validation research
Commercialization planning, regulatory preparation, and scale-up activities
Funding may also support personnel, software engineering, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, clinical data analysis, implementation research, wearable integration, biomarker testing, community engagement, intellectual property protection, regulatory strategy, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable healthcare or biotechnology solution aligned with NIH priorities.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:
Government Validation and Credibility:
Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.
Where does this funding come from?
Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:
Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.
Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.
Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Projects that demonstrate:
A clear unmet medical or public-health need,
Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,
High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and
Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).
Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.
Foreign entities are not eligible.
Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.
How can BW&CO help?
Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:
Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development
Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations
Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.
