Implementation Science for Cancer Control in People Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 23 033

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 23 033

This NIH funding opportunity (RFA-CA-23-033) supports implementation science projects focused on improving cancer control for people living with HIV (PLWH) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The central idea is to speed up the real-world integration of evidence-based cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment approaches for PLWH by building on HIV service delivery platforms that already exist in many LMICs. Rather than funding basic discovery research, the emphasis is on practical, on-the-ground work that explains why proven cancer control interventions are not reaching PLWH consistently, and then designs and tests strategies to overcome those barriers in ways that can last over time.

The FOA is specifically looking for applications that identify, understand, and address obstacles to adoption, integration, and sustainability of cancer control interventions for PLWH in LMIC settings. That includes examining the factors that block implementation at multiple levels: patient and community factors (for example, stigma, transportation costs, trust, competing needs), clinic and provider factors (training gaps, workflow constraints, shortages of oncology services, limited diagnostic capacity), and broader health system and policy factors (financing, referral networks, supply chains, data systems, and national guidelines). A key expectation is that applicants will generate implementation-relevant data directly in LMIC contexts, so the findings are grounded in local realities and can inform equitable cancer control approaches not only in the study country but also in other settings worldwide.

Projects are expected to rely on multidisciplinary teams, bringing together expertise in HIV, cancer, and implementation science. The work should be tailored to the cancer control needs of PLWH in the specific LMIC context proposed. In practice, that means applicants should choose cancer control targets that make sense epidemiologically and programmatically for the country or region they are working in, and then develop implementation strategies that fit the local HIV care infrastructure. The opportunity is structured to encourage leveraging HIV treatment and prevention platforms, such as HIV clinics, community outreach, ART distribution systems, and existing monitoring and evaluation structures, as a backbone for delivering cancer-related services more consistently.

The award mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, which generally means NIH anticipates substantial scientific involvement during the project (for instance, collaborative planning, milestones, and ongoing coordination between the funded team and NIH program staff). The FOA notes that clinical trials are optional, so applicants may propose studies that include or do not include clinical trial components, depending on the research questions. The funding instrument category is discretionary, and the activity areas are education and health, with CFDA numbers 93.394, 93.395, and 93.399.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. In addition to typical government and academic applicants (state, county, city or township governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education), eligible applicants include federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, 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 also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This wide eligibility reflects an interest in supporting partnerships that can credibly operate in LMIC environments and connect research with real service delivery systems.

Key administrative details included in the source information are that the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the original closing date listed was 2023-12-15, and the award ceiling shown is $500,000. The funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-06. While the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided text, the overall framing indicates a competitive research funding opportunity aimed at producing actionable implementation evidence and scalable strategies to improve cancer outcomes among PLWH by embedding cancer control into HIV programs in LMICs.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementation Science for Cancer Control in People Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-12-15. (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 $500,000.00 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 CA 23 033

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