Innovations in Mechanisms and Interventions to Address Mental Health in HIV Prevention and Care Continuum (R01) | PA 17 136

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 136

Innovations in Mechanisms and Interventions to Address Mental Health in HIV Prevention and Care Continuum (R01) (PA-17-136) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity that supports research at the intersection of mental health and HIV outcomes across the full HIV prevention and care continuum. The program is designed to move beyond documenting that mental health matters and instead fund studies that clarify how, why, and under what conditions mental health influences HIV-related behaviors and clinical outcomes, and then translate that knowledge into interventions that measurably improve both mental health and HIV prevention/treatment results. In practical terms, the continuum referenced in the announcement spans key stages from HIV testing and diagnosis, through linkage to care, retention in care, and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, culminating in viral suppression. The FOA signals an interest in research that can generate actionable targets for intervention and produce scalable strategies that work in real-world settings.

The FOA highlights two main scientific priorities. First, it encourages projects that advance understanding of the mechanisms through which mental health affects HIV prevention and treatment. Mechanisms here can include psychological, behavioral, social, or structural pathways that connect mental health conditions (such as depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, substance use comorbidity, serious mental illness, or stress processes) to HIV risk behaviors, engagement in prevention (including testing and uptake of prevention services), and outcomes in HIV care (such as appointment attendance, medication adherence, and sustained viral suppression). A central emphasis is on identifying modifiable targets, meaning factors that can realistically be changed through an intervention or system-level strategy, rather than simply describing associations. Studies might, for example, examine how symptoms influence decision-making, motivation, stigma experiences, cognitive functioning, self-efficacy, social support, patient-provider communication, or the ability to navigate health systems, with the goal of pinpointing leverage points for improvement.

Second, the FOA encourages the development and testing of expanded interventions that jointly improve mental health and HIV outcomes. The intention is to fund intervention approaches that recognize mental health as a core driver of HIV prevention and care success, rather than an ancillary issue. This can include enhancing existing HIV prevention or HIV care interventions with mental health components, integrating mental health services into HIV service settings, or building collaborative care and other models that directly address mental health needs in ways that translate into better HIV outcomes. The word "expanded" signals that applicants can build on established interventions by adding or strengthening elements aimed at mental health mechanisms, and then evaluating whether that expansion improves both domains. Outcomes of interest are not limited to symptom reduction; they also include measurable steps along the HIV continuum, such as improved testing rates, faster linkage to care, better retention, increased adherence, and higher rates of viral suppression.

This opportunity uses the R01 research project grant mechanism (PA-17-136), which generally aligns with projects that have a well-developed research plan and, often, supportive preliminary data. The FOA explicitly contrasts this with the related R21 mechanism (PA-17-137), which is framed as a better fit for high-risk/high-payoff ideas that may lack preliminary data or rely on existing datasets in ways that can quickly test novel concepts. Applicants who already have preliminary findings, who plan more extensive testing, or who include longitudinal analyses are steered toward the R01 pathway. In other words, the R01 is positioned for more mature projects with stronger evidentiary grounding or more complex designs, while the companion R21 accommodates earlier-stage, exploratory work.

The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and several special categories. Eligible entities include state, county, city or township, and 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 and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education when applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses, along with other organizations as allowed by NIH policy. The FOA also calls out additional eligible groups, emphasizing inclusion of Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), 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, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth indicates NIH interest in diverse research settings and populations, including communities disproportionately affected by HIV and mental health disparities, and in partnerships that can support implementation in real service environments.

From an administrative standpoint, the FOA is listed under CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.279, and it is categorized under education and health. The opportunity was created on 2017-01-25, with an original closing date of 2018-01-24. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which typically means applicants should consult NIH standard R01 budget guidance and the specific institute or center interests and paylines when planning scope and budget. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted NIH call for rigorous, mechanism-informed, and intervention-oriented research that treats mental health as integral to progress in HIV prevention and care, and that aims for tangible improvements across the steps that lead from risk and testing to sustained viral suppression.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovations in Mechanisms and Interventions to Address Mental Health in HIV Prevention and Care Continuum (R01)" 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 2017-01-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (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.

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