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Professional Judgment Budget Archive

The NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) works to ensure that NIH HIV research funding is directed at the highest priority research areas. As part of its mandate from Congress, OAR prepares two budget documents annually:

  • Congressional Budget Justification (CJ)
  • Professional Judgment Budget (PJ)

The CJ describes to Congress the NIH HIV/AIDS research and activities supported by the President’s Budget Request. Learn more about the CJ here.

The PJ estimates the funds needed, beyond the President’s Budget, to fully pursue key areas of HIV research. The document highlights specific scientific opportunities that, in OAR’s professional judgment, may benefit from increased investment during a particular fiscal year. The research opportunities outlined in the PJ align with the NIH HIV research priorities, as defined in the FY 2021–2025 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research, and are informed by OAR’s work with all NIH institutes, centers, and offices (ICOs) that fund HIV research.

OAR is one of only three NIH ICOs given the opportunity to present this type of visionary document to Congress. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) also prepares a Professional Judgment Budget, and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) prepares the NIH Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Professional Judgment Budget.

The PJ is a key component of OAR’s mission to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic and improve the health of people with HIV.

FY 2026 NIH HIV/AIDS Professional Judgment Budget

The FY 2026 NIH HIV/AIDS Professional Judgment Budget supports the NIH strategy to advance HIV science in prevention, treatment, and cure across the research continuum, from basic foundational research to dissemination and implementation. OAR estimates a budget of $3.953 billion for NIH HIV research—an increase of $659 million, or 20 percent, over the FY 2024 enacted budget of $3.294 billion.

The FY 2026 NIH HIV/AIDS Professional Judgment Budget identifies key scientific investment opportunities to accelerate progress across four areas:

  • Fundamental research to promote discovery and advance HIV science
  • Development and assessment of novel interventions for the prevention and treatment of HIV and co-occurring conditions within the context of intersectional social and structural factors
  • Dissemination and implementation of HIV research discoveries to optimize public health impact
  • Workforce development and infrastructure to enhance capacity and increase diversity

To learn more, download the full FY 2026 NIH HIV/AIDS Professional Judgment Budget.

Professional Judgment Budget Archive

This page last reviewed on July 18, 2024