Expanding Collaborative Implementation Science to Address Social and Structural Determinants of Health and Improve HIV Outcomes (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA MH 22 191

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 22 191

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), released this grant opportunity to push HIV implementation science beyond clinical care alone and directly tackle the social and structural determinants of health (SDoH/SSDoH) that drive unequal HIV outcomes. The central idea is to build stronger, more practical evidence about what works in real-world settings to reduce HIV-related inequities, especially in communities facing entrenched barriers such as poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, limited transportation, stigma and discrimination, criminal legal system involvement, and other structural obstacles that affect prevention, engagement in care, and long-term viral suppression.

The funding announcement is titled "Expanding Collaborative Implementation Science to Address Social and Structural Determinants of Health and Improve HIV Outcomes" and uses the R24 activity mechanism, with clinical trials not allowed. In practice, this means applicants are expected to focus on implementation research rather than launching traditional clinical efficacy trials. The emphasis is on testing strategies for putting proven or promising interventions into practice at scale, in complex service systems, while also producing knowledge that can transfer to other jurisdictions and organizations. NIMH is looking for projects that do more than document problems; the aim is to generate actionable, generalizable lessons that can guide how innovative approaches are adopted, sustained, and integrated across health and social service settings.

A defining feature of the opportunity is its focus on collaborative, high-impact implementation research projects (or collaboratives) designed to reduce HIV inequities. The FOA encourages efficient hybrid implementation-effectiveness designs, meaning studies should simultaneously examine (1) how well an SDoH- or SSDoH-encompassing intervention improves relevant HIV outcomes and (2) which implementation strategies best support uptake, fidelity, adaptation, reach, and sustainability in real-world contexts. Rather than treating implementation as an afterthought, these projects are expected to study implementation outcomes alongside health outcomes so decision-makers can understand both the "does it help" and the "how do we make it work here" parts at the same time.

The intended payoff is a stronger evidence base that can influence policy and practice, shape guidelines, and provide a replicable model for other locations. The FOA is essentially trying to accelerate the field toward interventions and delivery approaches that address upstream drivers of HIV disparities, not only individual-level behavior or clinical protocols. By funding multiple projects aimed at inequity reduction, NIMH is signaling interest in approaches that can be scaled, adapted, and maintained across different systems (for example, HIV clinics, community-based organizations, public health departments, housing and social services, and other partners that touch the conditions of daily life affecting HIV risk and care).

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governments. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled higher education institutions; private higher education institutions; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the opportunity is restricted to domestic applicants and domestic components. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. In other words, projects must be U.S.-based in organizational structure and supported activities, even if they draw on global evidence.

Administrative details from the source data include the funding opportunity number RFA-MH-22-191, categorized as a discretionary grant in the Education/Health area, with CFDA numbers 93.242, 93.279, and 93.313. The opportunity was created on 2022-07-20, with an original closing date of 2022-11-18. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not listed in the provided excerpt, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text or NIH Guide notice for budget limits, project period, and anticipated funding levels.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at teams that can bring together implementation science methods, HIV expertise, and strong partnerships with the systems that shape social and structural conditions. The projects NIMH is seeking should be positioned to produce practical guidance on implementing SDoH-focused interventions in ways that measurably improve HIV outcomes and narrow inequities, while generating lessons that other communities and decision-makers can use without having to start from scratch.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Expanding Collaborative Implementation Science to Address Social and Structural Determinants of Health and Improve HIV Outcomes (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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, 93.313.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-07-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-11-18. (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.

Apply for RFA MH 22 191

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