Target Grants

The Target Grants program by amfAR is focused on the development of an eradicative cure for HIV, prioritizing it over ART-free control of persistent virus. This approach aims to completely remove HIV proviruses or the cells harboring them, and ideally, a cure that also protects against reinfection. The program encourages applicants to propose laboratory, animal, or clinical research that demonstrates a clear path toward clinical testing of a cure concept. This includes describing the intervention, its development stage, and the necessary steps to reach clinical trials. The funding principles highlight the importance of research that uncovers knowledge directly applicable to curing HIV. Proposals are evaluated based on their potential to answer fundamental questions that advance the cure-focused research field, the feasibility of the approach to cure HIV, and the appropriateness of the budget. Funding is offered in two types: Type 1, offering up to $100,000 in direct costs with a one-year duration, and Type 2, offering up to $400,000 in direct costs for up to two years.