Implementing the Most Successful Interventions to Improve HIV/AIDS Outcomes in U.S. Communities (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 17 490

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 490

The NIH grant opportunity "Implementing the Most Successful Interventions to Improve HIV/AIDS Outcomes in U.S. Communities (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-17-490) supports early-stage, time-limited research projects that take proven HIV service delivery approaches from global settings and translate, adapt, and test them for use with marginalized populations in the United States who face substantial risk of HIV infection and AIDS-related outcomes. The central idea is not to reinvent interventions from scratch, but to identify strategies with strong evidence of success elsewhere, then rigorously tailor them to fit U.S. community contexts where gaps in prevention, diagnosis, treatment initiation, and long-term care remain persistent. Because this is an R21 mechanism, the emphasis is typically on feasibility, adaptation, pilot testing, and generating the data needed to justify larger-scale effectiveness trials or implementation studies later on. Clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that involve clinical trial elements, but they are not required to do so.

The program is explicitly outcomes-focused and aligned with the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets (as framed for 2020): ensuring that 90 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 90 percent of those diagnosed receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90 percent of those on therapy achieve viral suppression. In practical terms, projects funded under this announcement are expected to improve the real-world performance of the HIV care continuum by strengthening timely HIV testing and diagnosis, improving linkage to care, accelerating treatment initiation and retention, and increasing rates of viral suppression. Prevention and treatment technologies are part of the scope, which can include approaches that improve access to testing, prevention services, and sustained treatment in ways that are durable, scalable, and responsive to the barriers faced by underserved or stigmatized groups.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health and education domains and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.307 and 93.361. The award ceiling listed is $200,000. While the notice indicates an expected awards field without a number in the provided text, applicants should generally interpret R21 opportunities as competitive and limited, with awards depending on available funds, application quality, and programmatic priorities. The original closing date provided is 2021-01-07, and the FOA creation date is 2017-09-27, which helps place the announcement in context and signals that applicants should verify the current status and any reissues or updates if pursuing a similar opportunity now.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive to encourage strong partnerships between researchers and the organizations that actually reach priority populations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; 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; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories that reflect communities disproportionately affected by HIV or historically underrepresented in research leadership, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). Faith-based or community-based organizations are specifically called out as eligible, recognizing their role in outreach, trust-building, and service delivery. The eligibility list also includes U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations, which fits the FOA's emphasis on translating successful global models into U.S. settings.

Overall, this funding announcement is aimed at practical implementation science: taking interventions with a strong track record and doing the careful work of cultural, structural, and operational adaptation so they succeed in U.S. communities where HIV risk and health inequities are concentrated. Competitive projects under this FOA would be expected to show a clear path from evidence to adaptation to measurable improvements along the HIV prevention and care continuum, supported by realistic community engagement and delivery settings that can reach people who are often missed by traditional healthcare systems.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementing the Most Successful Interventions to Improve HIV/AIDS Outcomes in U.S. Communities (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307, 93.361.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-09-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (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 $200,000.00 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 PAR 17 490

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