Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program: Data Mining and Functional Validation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DA 26 001

FAQs: Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program: Data Mining and Functional Validation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

1) What is the SCORCH Program: Data Mining and Functional Validation funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant focused on research where HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and substance use disorder (SUD) intersect, with a strong emphasis on leveraging single-cell datasets. The program is titled "The Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program: Data Mining and Functional Validation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and CFDA number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-DA-26-001. The CFDA number is 93.279.

3) What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?

The mechanism is an R01.

4) Are clinical trials allowed under this R01?

No. This opportunity is explicitly "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning it is intended to support preclinical, mechanistic, and/or computationally driven research rather than interventional studies in humans.

5) What is the central goal of this program?

The central goal is to use modern single-cell analytic approaches to identify specific cell types and molecular features that shape biologically meaningful responses related to HIV/ART and SUD, and then test whether those features matter using rigorous functional validation methods.

6) What scientific areas does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes research at the intersection of HIV biology, ART exposure/response, and SUD (with a specific focus on opioid-associated biology), analyzed and interpreted through single-cell data.

7) What types of data are expected to be used in the data mining component?

Applicants are expected to analyze single-cell datasets, including examples such as single-cell transcriptomic or epigenomic readouts. The focus is on leveraging existing or available single-cell resources to derive actionable hypotheses.

8) What kinds of discoveries is the data mining component aiming for?

The data mining component aims to pinpoint candidate cell populations, transcripts, enhancers, and broader transcriptional networks that appear to influence HIV/ART biology and/or SUD-relevant molecular responses. The emphasis is on extracting actionable biological hypotheses rather than producing purely descriptive catalogs.

9) Can you give examples of what applicants might identify through single-cell analyses?

Examples described include identifying immune or neural cell subtypes with distinctive opioid-associated signatures in the context of HIV infection or ART exposure, finding regulatory elements (such as enhancers) that become activated or repressed, and mapping gene regulatory networks connecting opioid-related pathways with HIV/ART-associated cellular states.

10) Is generating new single-cell datasets required?

The opportunity emphasizes extracting hypotheses from existing or available single-cell resources. The provided description does not state that generating new single-cell datasets is required.

11) What is meant by "functional validation" in this program?

Functional validation refers to experimental approaches designed to confirm or refute a causal role for candidates identified through data mining (or candidates already supported by strong prior evidence). The goal is to move beyond correlation and determine whether specific transcripts, enhancers, cell types, or networks actually drive or modify HIV/ART and SUD molecular responses.

12) Does functional validation need to be included, or can an application focus only on data mining?

The program describes two major components: data mining and functional validation. Functional validation can either complement data mining or serve as a primary focus when strong candidates already exist. The description indicates functional validation is a key emphasis, but it does not state that data mining alone is sufficient.

13) What types of functional validation approaches are encouraged?

Encouraged approaches include epigenomic or transcriptomic manipulation (such as perturbing regulatory elements or gene expression programs) and high-throughput secondary screening strategies that can test many candidate genes, enhancers, or pathways efficiently.

14) What is the intended outcome of combining data mining with functional validation?

The intended outcome is mechanistic evidence that strengthens understanding of how opioid-related biology intersects with HIV infection and ART at the level of specific cells and regulatory programs, and helps prioritize targets for future research.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types capable of biomedical and behavioral research, including (as listed): state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

16) Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Additional eligible applicants highlighted include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and faith-based or community-based organizations.

17) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are explicitly listed among the additional eligible applicants.

18) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among the additional eligible applicants.

19) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed among the additional eligible applicants.

20) What is the application due date for the original submission?

The original application due date is 2026-03-19.

21) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is listed at $350,000.

22) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2024-08-14.

23) What kind of investigator or team is this NOFO aimed at?

It is geared toward investigators who can combine high-quality computational discovery from single-cell data with credible experimental follow-through, producing mechanistic evidence about how opioid-related biology intersects with HIV infection and ART at the level of specific cells and regulatory programs.

24) What is the program trying to avoid or move beyond in proposed research?

The program is designed to move beyond correlation and beyond simply generating descriptive single-cell catalogs, instead emphasizing actionable hypotheses and rigorous testing of causal roles for prioritized candidates.