Key Dates

Related Announcements

• January 26, 2023 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32). See NOFO PA-23-048
• January 11, 2023 - Innovations to Optimize HIV Prevention and Care Continuum Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-23-062
• January 11, 2023 - Innovations to Optimize HIV Prevention and Care Continuum Outcomes (R21 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-23-061
• January 11, 2023 - Formative and Pilot Intervention Research to Optimize HIV Prevention and Care Continuum Outcomes (R34 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-23-060
• January 10, 2022 - Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) See NOFO PAR-22-060
• January 10, 2022 - Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PAR-21-357 
• September 08, 2021 - Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PAR-21-251
• September 08, 2021 - Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-21-252,
• May 19, 2021 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-21-155
• May 19, 2021 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PAR-21-154 
• May 7, 2021 - NIMH Research Education Mentoring Program for HIV/AIDS Researchers (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-21-228,
• October 28, 2020 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity). See NOFO PA-21-052 
• October 26, 2020 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30). See NOFO PA-21-050
• October 26, 2020 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32). See NOFO  PA-21-048 
• October 21, 2020 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31). See NOFO PA-21-051  
• May 12, 2020 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-202 
• May 12, 2020 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-203
• May 12, 2020 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-206
• May 12, 2020 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-205
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-200 
• May 6, 2020 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01--Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-190
• May 6, 2020 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01-Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-176 
• May 6, 2020 - Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-193
• May 6, 2020 - Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-186 
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-187
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-188 
• March 30, 2020 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Implementation Science to Advance the United States HIV Prevention and Treatment Goals and the Global HIV Prevention and Treatment Targets (Reissue). See Notice NOT-MH-20-024

Issued by

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Purpose

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is issuing this Notice to highlight interest in receiving implementation research grant applications designed in partnership with domestic and global service providers to advance HIV prevention and treatment goals (domestically) or targets (globally). These applications should target the unique needs in jurisdictions, both in cities and rural areas, that have been disproportionally affected by the HIV epidemic in the U.S. and globally. This NOSI is a reissue of NOT-MH-20-024.

Background

There is consensus among HIV leaders in government, service, research, and the HIV community that the goals set by domestic and global HIV policy-makers to reduce incident HIV infections are achievable for HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation, antiretrovial therapy (ART) initiation, and viral suppression. There are now numerous examples where the combination of political will, adequate financing and human resources, access to prevention and treatment tools, targeted deployment of evidence-based intervention, and community mobilization and partnerships has resulted in 80-90% rates of population-level viral suppression. Notably, these successes have been achieved at country, province/state, city, and local levels. However, to maintain these rates and to replicate these successes domestically and globally, the correct combination of efficacious behavioral, social, and biomedical interventions for HIV prevention and treatment must be taken to scale in places where critical components and supports are not optimal. Moreover, in some communities, there are oppositional forces and barriers that make achievement of HIV prevention and treatment goals even more challenging and contribute to vast inequities in HIV prevention and treatment outcomes. To continue to effectively implement evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment tools at scale, implementation science studies are needed to better understand the process at multiple levels; for example, context, culture, systems, organizations, providers, support staff, consumers and family members, and policymakers. Each of these factors and stakeholders can influence the adoption, adaptation, integration, scale-up and sustainability of effective tools and interventions.

The U.S. strategy for HIV prevention and treatment focuses on maximizing HIV diagnoses, initiation, and sustainment of effective HIV treatment as early as possible, deploying PrEP and other effective prevention tools to those at highest risk for HIV, and responding and containing outbreaks of HIV infection when/where they occur. Success of these strategies depends on partnerships among local and state health departments, communities, service providers, and research institutions. This Notice seeks to strengthen the collaboration between NIH research grantees and the service delivery efforts of the federal agencies collaborating on this effort, and encourages implementation research to advance the science and enhance the service delivery of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Indian Health Service (IHS), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and state, city, and local public health departments.

Globally, HIV prevention and treatment intervention targets are outlined in the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) 3.0 Strategy (https://www.pepfar.gov/documents/organization/234744.pdf), which underscores the importance of doing the “Right things, in the Right Places” to curb the epidemic. Similarly, NIH-funded HIV implementation science globally should correspond to the most urgent needs in the HIV service community. As described above, implementation science to address these needs should address multiple levels of influence for adaptation, integration, scale-up and sustainability, and research must be coordinated with public health leadership and providers. Research is especially encouraged in collaboration with the entities and service platforms that provide the HIV prevention and treatment that will achieve the 90/90/90 goals: i.e., PEPFAR, CDC, HRSA, World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and other relevant Ministry of Health (MOH) - supported public health providers.

A guiding principle for targeted implementation science is that research teams are required to have academic and public health collaboration with service providers for the proposed research, community members or organizations, as well as individuals with relevant lived experience, to optimize the match of the research directions with local needs, and to optimize the public health impact of the research implementation and findings. Applications should include plans for community engagement, including a description of the activities or processes that will facilitate equitable and engaged decision-making. By employing a health equity lens, implementation science can be harnessed to address social and structural determinants (SSDoH) of HIV health and improve access and quality of care to populations experiencing health disparities. 

Areas of Research Interest:

Areas of programmatic interest include, but are not limited to:

• Studies designed to enhance HIV prevention providers’ (systems, providers, operational tools) capacity to people in high-incidence or priority populations
• Studies to optimize the implementation (uptake, effectiveness, efficiency) of individual and/or combination prevention evidence-based interventions (EBIs) (e.g., behavioral/social risk-reduction, male circumcision, PrEP, condom provision), designed to maximize the optimal targeting, uptake, coverage, effectiveness, and efficiency of service provision.
• Studies to optimize the implementation (uptake, effectiveness, efficiency) of individual and/or combination EBIs designed to maximize HIV testing, linkage to HIV care, earlier ART initiation, adherence and engagement HIV testing - that could include advancements in approaches and technologies.
• Studies to understand and address provider, clinic, and systems-level factors that may impact ART initiation, antiretroviral adherence, or patient retention, for the purpose of informing provider training, clinic practice, and healthcare policy.
• Studies of the impact of varying models of differentiated HIV care on HIV care continuum outcomes, which could include studies to evaluate optimal approaches to integrate community care delivery to include HIV prevention, care, and treatment with related services (mental and substance use disorders, sexually transmitted infections, family planning, prenatal care, malaria, tuberculosis).
• Studies to optimize the implementation of targeted interventions designed to reduce documented disparities (e.g. race, ethnicity, sex, age, geography, sexual and gender minority, underserved rural, and lower socioeconomic) in HIV prevention and treatment outcomes.
• Studies to test and evaluate implementation of interventions that address SSDoH and their impact on HIV prevention, testing, treatment initiation, and continuity. 
• Studies designed to enhance understanding of the epidemiologic contexts for targeted interventions (e.g., accurate rates of testing, linkage, initiation and viral suppression that indicates gaps and targets for intervention).
• Studies of systemic interventions to influence organizational structure, climate, and culture, in order to promote organizational readiness and capacity for intervention adoption, and implementation with fidelity and effectiveness.
• Studies to understand, implement, and evaluate technological innovations (including media) in order to enhance the scalability of interventions.
• Studies of cost and cost-effectiveness of intervention delivery in real-world settings.
• Studies to understand the benefit of varying training methodologies (e.g., didactic training, clerkship, on-site mentoring, on-going consultation, internet-based courses) to prepare providers to offer HIV prevention and treatment services.
• Studies to examine the impact of changes in health policy/legislation that affect delivery of HIV-related prevention services and treatment.
• Studies to determine the impact of new payment mechanisms, including the cost-effectiveness of alternative treatments, services or structures for the provision of services.
• Studies to identify, describe, or track individual, family, provider, organizational or systems-level outcomes resulting from changes in services or benefits.
• Studies to inform how best to replace or discontinue interventions, especially those that are less effective or ineffective as compared to the best evidence-based practices. The study of this process, and the resulting outcomes, has been referred to as de-implementation.
• Studies to inform the sustainment and/or sustainability of HIV interventions

It is strongly recommended that applicants review the NIMH Division of AIDS Research current Notice of Funding Opportunities (available on our website at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/dar/aids-related-funding-opportunity-announcements-foas), and consult with a Program Officer before application submission. 

Requirements 

Given the importance of incorporating meaningful input throughout the entire research process, the inclusion and input of a community advisory board in the conceptualization, design, conduct, analysis and publication is a minimum requirement for all submissions to this Notice. 

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after September 7, 2023 and subsequent receipt dates through September 8, 2026.

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.

PAR-23-062, Innovations to Optimize HIV Prevention and Care Continuum Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 

PAR-23-061, Innovations to Optimize HIV Prevention and Care Continuum Outcomes (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) 

PAR-23-060, Formative and Pilot Intervention Research to Optimize HIV Prevention and Care Continuum Outcomes (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) 

PA-20-190, Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01--Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-176, Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01-Independent Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-20-202, Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-20-203, Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-206, Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-20-205, Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-200, NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-187, NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-20-188, NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-193, Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-20-186, Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-21-251, Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required) 

PAR-21-252, Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-21-228, NIMH Research Education Mentoring Program for HIV/AIDS Researchers (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-21-155, Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-21-154, Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required) 

PAR-22-060, Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-21-357, Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-21-050, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) 

PA-21-051, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) 

PA-21-052, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) 

PA-21-048, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) 

PA-23-048, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32) 

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-MH-23-275” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to the contacts in Section VII of the listed notice of funding opportunity with the following additions/substitutions:

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Suzanne Pollard, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-761-6869
Email: [email protected]

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Rita Sisco
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-2805
Email: [email protected]