NIH HIV Research Budget

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act of 1993 requires the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) to allocate appropriated AIDS research funds to the Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) based on their research mission and in accordance with the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research. The Plan provides the framework for the annual budget development and allocation process. OAR prepares two major budget documents annually.

Professional Judgment Budget

The NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 requires that every year OAR “estimate the amounts necessary for the agencies of the National Institutes of Health to carry out all AIDS activities determined by the Director of the Office to be appropriate, without regard to the probability that such amounts will be appropriated." This document estimates the funds needed to fully pursue scientific opportunities leading to an end to the HIV pandemic. It is based solely on current research opportunities and the NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities. It is referred to as the Professional Judgment (or Presidential Bypass) Budget because it represents the professional judgment of OAR as to the HIV research funding needs and it is presented directly to the President and Congress without modification through the standard federal budget process.

FY 2026 NIH HIV/AIDS
Professional Judgment Budget

To see past Professional Judgment Budgets, visit the Professional Judgment Budget Archive.

Congressional Budget Justification

The annual NIH HIV/AIDS research budget is developed by the OAR Director, in consultation with the NIH Director, and is explicitly tied to the NIH HIV Research Priorities and the strategic objectives identified in the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research.

OAR conducts an annual, multitiered review of all NIH grants, contracts, and intramural projects supported with funds designated for HIV/AIDS research to ensure that funding is based on current scientific opportunities and the priorities outlined in the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research.

OAR also uses this review to minimize duplication and encourage cross-Institute collaborations. The reviews help ensure that NIH HIV/AIDS research funds are allocated for maximal return on the public investment and are balanced with OAR’s comprehensive understanding of each ICO’s mission and research portfolio as it relates to HIV/AIDS.

The annual Congressional Budget Justification explains the NIH HIV/AIDS budget to Congress:

To find past Congressional Budget Justifications, go to the Congressional Budget Justification Archive.