The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a notice of intent to publish a funding opportunity announcement for a grant initiative titled "Reaching Equity at the Intersection of HIV and Substance Use: Novel Approaches to Address HIV Related Health Disparities in Underserved Racial and/or Ethnic Populations (R34)." This initiative is part of NIDA’s REI (Racial Equity Initiative) and aims to address the complex intersection of HIV and substance use, particularly within underserved racial and ethnic populations.

This funding opportunity will seek applications that propose innovative and collaborative research approaches to reduce health disparities related to HIV among these populations. The intent is to promote equity through targeted intervention strategies that are culturally responsive and based on community needs. This grant will utilize the R34 activity code, which typically supports the development and pilot testing of interventions or research strategies before they are tested in larger-scale efficacy or effectiveness trials.

The anticipated total funding available for this initiative is $2,000,000. While no specific award ceiling or floor has been disclosed yet, the funding is expected to support multiple awards. Matching or cost-sharing is not required, making it accessible for a range of applicants, including those with limited financial resources.

A broad array of organizations will be eligible to apply, including state and county governments, tribal organizations (both federally recognized and otherwise), small and large businesses, nonprofits, public and private institutions of higher education, school districts, and public housing authorities. More detailed eligibility criteria will be available in the final Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) when published.

Interested applicants are advised that this is a forecasted notice intended to give ample time for preparing collaborative and responsive proposals. The official NOFO is expected to be posted on or around June 2, 2025, with applications due approximately by December 15, 2025. Awards are anticipated to be made by July 1, 2026, which is also the expected start date for funded projects. Applicants are encouraged to monitor grants.gov and NIH’s communication channels for the formal publication.

While the exact application package and evaluation criteria have not yet been released, the forecast emphasizes the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing HIV disparities among racially and ethnically underserved groups, with a strong expectation for community involvement and equity-driven methodologies.