Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 732
Reducing Stigma to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 18-732) designed to spark early-stage, exploratory research focused on HIV/AIDS-related stigma in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The central idea behind the program is that stigma is not just a social problem running alongside HIV, but a direct driver of delayed testing, avoidance of care, poor treatment adherence, and reduced quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). By funding R21 studies, NIH is aiming to help researchers pilot and refine practical interventions, build feasibility evidence, and generate the kind of preliminary data needed to move promising stigma-reduction strategies toward larger-scale implementation and testing. Because it is labeled “Clinical Trial Optional,” applicants may propose either clinical trial-style intervention studies or non-trial research, depending on what best fits the question and setting.
The FOA prioritizes research that develops and evaluates interventions intended to reduce HIV-associated stigma and the downstream harms stigma causes in prevention, treatment, and care. It highlights several specific emphasis areas. One is the creation of novel stigma-reduction interventions that can be directly linked to measurable public health outcomes, such as increased care-seeking behavior (for example, earlier HIV testing, improved linkage to care, better retention) and/or decreased HIV transmission risk. Another focus is on adolescents and youth, recognizing that stigma can be especially damaging during these developmental stages and can intersect with school environments, peer networks, disclosure fears, and barriers to accessing youth-friendly health services. The FOA also explicitly calls for strategies that address “layered” or compounded stigma, where HIV stigma is intertwined with stigma related to comorbidities or coinfections (such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, mental health conditions, or substance use). In addition, it encourages work aimed at the family and caregiving context, including interventions that reduce stigma experienced by family members or caregivers of PLWH, and interventions that reduce stigmatizing attitudes or behaviors coming from family systems themselves. Finally, a major methodological priority is improving how stigma is measured, particularly in the context of implementing an intervention. This includes developing more innovative tools, more sensitive measures that can detect change over time, and measurement approaches that are feasible in real-world LMIC implementation settings.
Across these research areas, the larger goals are to better understand how stigma contributes to HIV transmission dynamics, to eliminate or reduce stigma-related barriers that limit positive health outcomes for people living with or at risk for HIV, and to support exploratory studies that test whether stigma interventions are workable, acceptable, and scalable in LMIC contexts. In practical terms, NIH is signaling interest in research that does more than document stigma; it wants applicants to test approaches that can be deployed through clinics, communities, schools, peer networks, and health systems, and that can plausibly move the needle on prevention and care outcomes. The FOA also implicitly recognizes that stigma operates at multiple levels (individual, interpersonal, community, and structural), so competitive proposals often align interventions and measurements with the level(s) where change is targeted.
On eligibility, the opportunity is broad and intentionally inclusive. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other organizational types. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Importantly for work in LMICs, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations are eligible as well, along with U.S. territories or possessions. This structure supports partnerships led by organizations within LMICs and encourages research that is grounded in local realities rather than being purely externally designed.
From the funding details provided, the grant mechanism is an R21, which is typically used for exploratory and developmental research. The award ceiling listed is $125,000, and the original closing date shown is August 1, 2018, with a creation date of March 29, 2018. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.242, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.865, 93.989), reflecting NIH’s involvement across several program areas. Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted call for practical, testable ideas that reduce HIV-related stigma in LMIC settings, strengthen the evidence base for what works, and improve the tools used to measure stigma so that future implementation and scale-up efforts can be tracked reliably and tied to meaningful prevention and treatment outcomes.Apply for PAR 18 732
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reducing Stigma to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low and Middle- Income Countries (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.865, 93.989.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-08-01. (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 $125,000.00 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.
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FAQs: Reducing Stigma to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR 18-732)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity titled Reducing Stigma to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries (R21 Clinical Trial Optional), Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) PAR 18-732. It supports early-stage, exploratory research focused on HIV/AIDS-related stigma in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
What is the main goal of the FOA?
The central goal is to support research that reduces HIV-associated stigma and the negative health outcomes stigma can drive, including delayed HIV testing, avoidance of care, poor treatment adherence, and reduced quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). NIH is looking for practical, testable approaches that can improve prevention, treatment, and care outcomes in LMIC settings.
Why is stigma treated as a priority in this program?
The FOA frames stigma as a direct driver of harmful outcomes rather than a side issue. Stigma can discourage testing, disrupt linkage and retention in care, reduce adherence, and contribute to ongoing transmission risk. The program aims to address stigma as a barrier that affects HIV prevention and the full care continuum.
What type of grant mechanism is this?
The mechanism is an NIH R21, which is typically used for exploratory and developmental studies. The FOA emphasizes piloting, refining interventions, establishing feasibility and acceptability, and generating preliminary data that can support larger-scale research later.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose a clinical trial-style intervention study or a non-trial research approach, depending on what best fits the research question and the LMIC setting.
What kinds of projects does NIH want to fund under this FOA?
NIH prioritizes projects that develop and evaluate interventions intended to reduce HIV-associated stigma and the downstream harms stigma causes in prevention, treatment, and care. The FOA signals strong interest in work that moves beyond documenting stigma and instead tests practical strategies that can be deployed in real-world contexts.
What outcomes does NIH want stigma-reduction interventions to influence?
The FOA highlights measurable public health outcomes such as increased care-seeking behavior (including earlier HIV testing, improved linkage to care, and better retention) and/or decreased HIV transmission risk. The expectation is that interventions connect stigma reduction to meaningful prevention and care indicators.
Does the FOA focus on any specific populations?
Yes. Adolescents and youth are a specific emphasis area. The FOA notes that stigma can be especially damaging during these stages and may intersect with school environments, peer networks, fears about disclosure, and barriers to youth-friendly health services.
What does the FOA mean by "layered" or compounded stigma?
"Layered" stigma refers to situations where HIV stigma is intertwined with stigma related to comorbidities or coinfections. The FOA specifically mentions tuberculosis, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, mental health conditions, and substance use as examples where stigma may compound and worsen barriers to prevention and care.
Are family and caregiver issues included in the scope?
Yes. The FOA encourages research focused on the family and caregiving context, including interventions that reduce stigma experienced by family members or caregivers of PLWH and interventions aimed at reducing stigmatizing attitudes or behaviors coming from family systems.
Is measurement development part of what NIH is trying to fund?
Yes. A major methodological priority is improving how stigma is measured, particularly in intervention settings. This includes developing innovative tools, creating measures sensitive enough to detect change over time, and designing measurement approaches that are feasible in real-world LMIC implementation environments.
Does NIH want projects that only measure stigma, or projects that intervene?
The FOA clearly signals interest in projects that do more than document stigma. It emphasizes testing approaches that reduce stigma and demonstrating feasibility and acceptability, while also supporting improved measurement to track change and link results to prevention and treatment outcomes.
Where can interventions take place according to the FOA?
The FOA points to interventions that can be deployed through clinics, communities, schools, peer networks, and health systems. It also recognizes that stigma operates at multiple levels, including individual, interpersonal, community, and structural levels.
Does the FOA encourage multi-level stigma approaches?
Yes. The FOA implicitly recognizes stigma as multi-level (individual, interpersonal, community, structural). Competitive projects often align the intervention strategy and measurement plan with the level or levels where change is being targeted.
What countries or settings does this program target?
The FOA is focused on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The intent is to support stigma-reduction research grounded in LMIC realities, including approaches that are workable and scalable in those contexts.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include U.S. state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; public or state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; non-federally recognized tribal organizations; nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); private institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other organizational types.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations are eligible. This supports LMIC-led or LMIC-partnered research.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included as eligible applicant types in the information provided.
Does the FOA mention eligibility for minority-serving and community-based institutions?
Yes. The FOA specifically calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and faith-based or community-based organizations, as well as eligible federal agencies.
What is the funding cap mentioned in the provided details?
The award ceiling listed in the information provided is $125,000.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The information provided lists a creation date of March 29, 2018, and an original closing date of August 1, 2018.
What is the FOA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 18-732.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.242, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.865, 93.989.
What is NIH hoping to achieve through R21 awards in this area?
NIH is aiming to help researchers pilot and refine stigma-reduction interventions, build feasibility evidence, and generate preliminary data needed to move promising strategies toward larger-scale implementation and testing in LMIC contexts.
How does this FOA connect stigma reduction to HIV transmission and care outcomes?
The FOA ties stigma to HIV transmission dynamics and to barriers across prevention, treatment, and care. It encourages research that can show how reducing stigma improves behaviors and outcomes like testing, linkage, retention, adherence, and potentially reduces transmission risk.
What makes a project "practical" under this FOA?
Based on the description provided, "practical" projects are those that test deployable strategies (for example, through clinics, communities, schools, peer networks, or health systems), generate feasibility and acceptability evidence, and use measures that can work in real-world LMIC implementation settings.
Is scalability mentioned as a consideration?
Yes. The FOA highlights exploratory studies that assess whether stigma interventions are workable, acceptable, and scalable in LMIC contexts, and it supports measurement approaches that can track change reliably as interventions move toward implementation and scale-up.
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