Expanding Collaborative Implementation Science to Address Social and Structural Determinants of Health and Improve HIV Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Required) | RFA MH 22 190

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 22 190

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), released this R01 funding opportunity (RFA-MH-22-190) to build stronger, more practical evidence on how to improve HIV outcomes by directly addressing social and structural determinants of health (SDoH/SSDoH). The central focus is HIV health inequity reduction: supporting implementation research that not only tests whether interventions work in real-world settings, but also examines how to implement them effectively, at scale, in ways that close persistent gaps across populations and communities affected by structural barriers. The FOA is positioned to generate results that travel beyond a single project site, producing generalizable lessons that can guide future programs, influence policy and guidelines, and serve as a model for other jurisdictions trying to reduce HIV disparities.

This opportunity specifically emphasizes collaborative implementation science and the use of efficient hybrid effectiveness-implementation designs. In practical terms, applicants are expected to study both outcomes at once: (1) whether SDoH-informed interventions improve HIV-related endpoints, and (2) what implementation strategies best support adoption, fidelity, sustainability, and equitable reach of those interventions within routine service systems. Because it is labeled “Clinical Trial Required,” proposed projects are expected to include a clinical trial component as defined by NIH, meaning the study prospectively assigns human participants (or clusters/sites) to an intervention to evaluate effects on health-related or behavioral outcomes. The intent is to move beyond purely descriptive work and fund projects that actively test change strategies in real service environments.

The FOA seeks a set of projects or “collaboratives” that target high-impact, real-world problems driving HIV inequities, such as barriers linked to housing instability, transportation, food insecurity, stigma and discrimination, criminal-legal involvement, immigration-related barriers, structural racism, limited access to culturally responsive care, and other systemic conditions that shape HIV prevention and treatment outcomes. Successful projects are expected to pair SDoH/SSDoH-encompassing interventions with implementation strategies that make those interventions workable within clinics, community organizations, public health systems, or cross-sector partnerships. The overall expectation is that the research will clarify what works, for whom, in what contexts, and what it takes to implement and sustain those approaches equitably.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common domestic applicant types: state, county, and city/township 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant categories that align with equity and community engagement goals, including 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. At the same time, there are clear restrictions: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by NIH policy are not allowed.

Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary grant using the NIH R01 mechanism, listed under CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.279, with NIH as the awarding agency and NIMH as the sponsoring institute. The posting indicates an original closing date of 2022-11-18 and a creation date of 2022-07-20. The public summary does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the extracted fields provided, but the core emphasis is on funding multiple implementation research efforts that collectively strengthen the evidence base and produce practical guidance for jurisdictions seeking to reduce HIV inequities through interventions that tackle social and structural drivers alongside clinical and behavioral HIV services.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Expanding Collaborative Implementation Science to Address Social and Structural Determinants of Health and Improve HIV Outcomes (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): 93.242, 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-07-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-11-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 MH 22 190

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