Research Priorities

The Office of AIDS Research (OAR) establishes HIV/AIDS research priorities for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These research priorities are based on current data about the pandemic and the science to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure HIV. OAR partners with stakeholders such as the scientific community, people with HIV, and nongovernmental groups focused on HIV to develop the priorities.

These research priorities outline the NIH’s broad HIV/AIDS research agenda, guide decision-making processes related to HIV funding, and inform the development of the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research:

Reduce the Incidence of HIV, including supporting the development of safe and effective vaccines, microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Develop Next-Generation HIV Therapies with improved safety and ease of use.
Conduct Research Toward HIV Cure.
Address HIV-Associated Comorbidities, Coinfections, and Complications through research designed to decrease and/or manage these conditions.
Advance Cross-Cutting Areas of research in the basic sciences, behavioral and social sciences, epidemiology, implementation science, information dissemination, and research training.

The following graphic provides additional detail about each priority area and illustrates how the research priorities are interrelated and how they overlap.

NIH Priorities for HIV and HIV-Related Research

Cross-Cutting Areas Basic Virology and Immunology Behavioral and Social Sciences Epidemiology Health Disparities Information Dissemination Implementation Science Research Training, Infrastructure, and Capacity Building
Reduce the Incidence of HIV Vaccines Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Microbicides and MPTs HIV Testing Treatment as Prevention Monoclonal Antibodies	Develop Next-Generation HIV Therapies Less Toxic and Longer Lasting ART Novel HIV Targets & Inhibitors Novel Immune-Based Therapies Engagement, Adherence, and Retention in Care
Address HIV-Associated Comorbidities, Coinfections, & Complications Coinfections Neurologic Complications Malignancies Cardiovascular Complications Mental Illness and Substance Use Metabolic Disorders Across the Lifespan	Research Toward HIV Cure Sustained ART-free Viral Remission Viral Eradication Viral Latency and Sanctuaries Cure Ethics and Acceptability

Print Version

NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining AIDS Funding

This page last reviewed on July 8, 2024

Research Priorities

NIH Priorities for HIV and HIV-Related Research

Cross-Cutting Areas

Reduce the Incidence of HIV

Develop Next-Generation HIV Therapies

Address HIV-Associated Comorbidities, Coinfections, & Complications

Research Toward HIV Cure