The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), has issued a funding opportunity titled Innovations to Optimize HIV Prevention and Care Continuum Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) under Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number PAR-23-062. This program invites applications that propose innovative research aimed at improving HIV prevention, treatment, and care outcomes. The scope of research includes both formative studies and large-scale clinical trials, implementation science studies, or data science approaches to optimize HIV care. The FOA targets areas where innovative interventions can help achieve critical milestones in the HIV care continuum, with the goal of addressing gaps and improving health outcomes, particularly for populations experiencing disparities in HIV care.

This FOA is part of a series that includes other funding mechanisms such as the R21 exploratory grants (PAR-23-061) and R34 planning grants (PAR-23-060). The R01 mechanism under this FOA is best suited for research projects that involve substantial preliminary data, complex studies, or clinical trials. Proposals should be aligned with NIMH’s priority areas, such as research on HIV testing, linkage to care, adherence to treatment, retention in care, and prevention efforts, especially among marginalized and underserved populations.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and other government entities. Both domestic and foreign institutions are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with specific deadlines throughout the year, including January 9, 2024, May 9, 2024, and subsequent cycles through 2026.

This opportunity encourages a multidisciplinary approach to address the challenges in the HIV care continuum and seeks collaboration with community organizations and public health agencies. It emphasizes the inclusion of individuals from the affected communities in the research teams and calls for projects that address social and structural determinants of health that impact HIV outcomes.