Reducing Stigma Related to Drug Use in Human Service Settings (R34 Clinical Trial Required) | RFA DA 21 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 21 001

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Reducing Stigma Related to Drug Use in Human Service Settings (R34 Clinical Trial Required)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-DA-21-001; CFDA: 93.279) is a discretionary grant program focused on tackling stigma as a major barrier to effective HIV prevention and HIV care. In this context, stigma is described as an identity marked by disgrace, disapproval, or shame, and it often shows up in real-world settings as discrimination, reduced quality of services, avoidance of care, or poorer engagement with prevention and treatment. The core problem the opportunity targets is that stigma related to drug use can directly interfere with whether people receive supportive services and whether they feel safe accessing HIV-related prevention and care in the first place, especially in human service environments where key interactions occur (for example, health and social service organizations and other frontline systems that interact with people who use drugs).

This opportunity specifically supports pilot or feasibility studies under the NIH R34 mechanism, meaning applicants are expected to propose early-stage research that tests whether an intervention is workable, acceptable, and promising enough to justify a later, larger-scale effectiveness trial. The emphasis is on developing and trying out new interventions or adapting existing interventions to reduce drug-use-related stigma in ways that improve the provision and utilization of HIV prevention and care services. Because it is labeled "Clinical Trial Required," the funded work is expected to include a clinical trial component, typically indicating a prospective study in which an intervention is assigned or implemented to evaluate its effects on outcomes relevant to stigma reduction and downstream impacts on HIV prevention and care engagement.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Applicants may include state, county, and city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized; and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. applicant can include certain foreign activities or collaborations when justified and when they meet NIH policy requirements, even though the lead applicant organization itself must be eligible and domestic.

In terms of funding details, the listed award ceiling is $225,000, indicating the maximum funding level anticipated per award under this opportunity. The opportunity was created on April 9, 2020, and the original closing date was August 11, 2020. The overall activity category is identified as Education and Health, reflecting the program's combined focus on health outcomes (HIV prevention and care) and the training, systems, and service-delivery practices within human service settings that can either perpetuate or reduce stigma.

Taken together, this grant opportunity is aimed at generating practical, testable strategies to reduce drug-use-related stigma where it most directly affects people: in the settings that provide services, interact with clients, and influence whether individuals feel respected, safe, and willing to seek HIV prevention and treatment. The goal of the R34 pilot or feasibility scope is to produce strong preliminary evidence and implementation insight that can support future, larger research efforts and, ultimately, contribute to better HIV-related outcomes by removing stigma-driven barriers in real service environments.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reducing Stigma Related to Drug Use in Human Service Settings (R34 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-04-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
• 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 DA 21 001

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