Promoting Viral Suppression among Individuals from Health Disparity Populations Engaged in HIV Care (R01 Clinical Trial Required) | RFA MD 21 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 21 002

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity RFA-MD-21-002, titled "Promoting Viral Suppression among Individuals from Health Disparity Populations Engaged in HIV Care (R01 Clinical Trial Required)," is a discretionary grant program designed to fund intervention research projects that can measurably improve HIV outcomes among people living with HIV (PLWH) who come from health disparity populations and who are already engaged in HIV care. The core purpose is to support R01-level clinical trial interventions that increase antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, strengthen ART adherence over time, and ultimately raise the proportion of participants who reach and maintain a suppressed viral load. In practice, this means the program is looking for well-designed, real-world intervention strategies that can be implemented in clinical care settings (or closely linked service settings) and that directly address persistent gaps in treatment uptake and sustained viral suppression for populations that experience disproportionate HIV burden and worse outcomes.

This announcement is specifically for an R01 mechanism and explicitly requires a clinical trial, signaling that applicants are expected to test an intervention prospectively with a rigorous design, clear outcomes, and appropriate analytic methods. The focus on individuals already engaged in HIV care implies that the interventions should target points where people may still fall out of optimal treatment success even after being connected to care, such as delays in starting ART, inconsistent medication adherence, barriers related to stigma or discrimination, unmet mental health or substance use needs, unstable housing, transportation challenges, or structural issues that affect continuity and quality of care. The central outcome of interest is viral suppression, which is the key clinical indicator that ART is working effectively and is also critical for preventing HIV transmission.

A wide range of organizations can apply. Eligible applicant types include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other applicants as allowed under NIH rules. The opportunity also highlights additional eligible applicants that NIH particularly calls out for inclusion, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth reflects an intention to encourage applications from institutions and community-linked organizations that are often closely connected to the populations experiencing disparities.

At the same time, there are important limits related to foreign eligibility. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed under the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain defined foreign activities or collaborations as part of the project if they meet NIH requirements and are appropriately justified, even though the primary applicant must be eligible and domestic.

The funding instrument is a grant under the health funding activity category, associated with CFDA (now Assistance Listing) number 93.307. The award ceiling is listed as $500,000, which typically indicates an upper limit on annual direct costs or total costs depending on the specific NIH announcement terms (applicants usually confirm the exact interpretation in the full solicitation and NIH budget policy). The opportunity record shows an original closing date of January 15, 2021, and a creation date of November 5, 2020, which places it in a defined application window; organizations interested in similar work would generally look for reissued or related NIH funding announcements if applying now.

Overall, this grant opportunity is aimed at producing practical, evidence-based interventions that can be tested through clinical trials and that demonstrably improve ART initiation, adherence, and viral suppression among PLWH from health disparity populations who are already connected to HIV care but still face barriers to achieving and sustaining optimal treatment outcomes. It encourages participation from a broad array of academic, clinical, governmental, tribal, and community organizations, particularly those positioned to design culturally responsive and structurally informed interventions that can close persistent disparity gaps in HIV viral suppression.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting Viral Suppression among Individuals from Health Disparity Populations Engaged in HIV Care (R01 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA MD 21 002

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