Increased Knowledge and Innovative Strategies to Reduce HIV Incidence-iKnow Projects (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 254

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled "Increased Knowledge and Innovative Strategies to Reduce HIV Incidence - iKnow Projects (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is identified as PAR-18-254.

2) What is the main purpose of PAR-18-254?

The main purpose is to support research aimed at lowering HIV incidence by (1) improving how people with undiagnosed HIV are found and connected to care and services, and (2) developing and evaluating innovative prevention approaches that reduce onward transmission in real-world settings and populations where new infections are occurring.

3) What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism.

4) Are clinical trials required under this FOA?

No. Clinical trials are optional. Applicants may propose clinical trial research, or they may propose other rigorous study designs, as long as the proposed work aligns with the FOA goals.

5) What are the two major research objectives described in the announcement?

The FOA emphasizes two major objectives:

• Identification and linkage: Improving how people living with HIV-1 who do not yet know their status are located and moved through pathways to testing and connection to services.
• Integrated interventions: Developing and evaluating novel combined biomedical and behavioral (and/or structural) intervention packages to reduce onward transmission.

6) What types of projects fit the "identification and linkage" objective?

Projects that fit this objective include research to improve outreach approaches, testing strategies, and systems that reduce barriers to diagnosis and service connection. The FOA highlights practical improvements such as better case-finding, greater testing efficiency, stronger referral and navigation models, and reducing drop-off points between screening, diagnosis, and engagement in care or prevention services.

7) What does the FOA mean by "linkage" and "connection to services"?

Based on the description, linkage and connection to services refers to successfully moving individuals from outreach and identification efforts into HIV testing and then into appropriate services. This includes treatment initiation and engagement in care for those who test positive, and prevention services for those who test negative but remain at risk.

8) What kinds of barriers is NIH looking for projects to address?

The FOA points to barriers that prevent people from getting diagnosed, starting treatment, or accessing prevention services. It also highlights system-level gaps that cause people to drop off between key steps such as screening, diagnosis, referrals, and sustained engagement in care or prevention.

9) What types of projects fit the "integrated interventions" objective?

Projects under this objective develop and test intervention packages that combine biomedical and behavioral components (and/or structural supports) to reduce HIV transmission. The emphasis is on interventions that work together rather than in isolation, with attention to uptake, adherence, retention, and overall effectiveness.

10) What does "integrated biomedical and behavioral components" mean in this FOA?

In this FOA, integration means pairing biomedical tools (for example, antiretroviral treatment for people with HIV or prevention options for people at risk) with behavioral or structural supports that improve real-world use, such as improving uptake, adherence, retention, and sustained engagement.

11) Does the FOA emphasize feasibility and acceptability?

Yes. The announcement specifically notes that applicants should examine feasibility and acceptability, indicating that NIH is looking for interventions that people will realistically use and that programs can realistically implement.

12) What does NIH mean by "innovation" and "real-world impact" here?

The FOA places an overall emphasis on innovation and real-world impact, particularly strategies that can be demonstrated to work in the settings and populations where new HIV infections are occurring.

13) What populations or settings are prioritized?

The excerpt emphasizes settings and populations where new infections are occurring. It does not provide a specific list of populations or geographic areas, but it clearly prioritizes real-world relevance to the contexts driving incident infections.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many public and private organization types that meet NIH requirements, including government entities, higher education institutions, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits, for-profits (including small businesses), and other eligible entities.

15) Are nonprofits eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. The FOA description explicitly includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status among eligible applicants.

16) Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also includes small businesses.

17) Are tribal entities eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and also tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.

18) Are institutions serving specific communities explicitly encouraged or included?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

19) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly listed among additional eligible applicants.

20) Are U.S. territories or regional organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations among the additional eligible applicants.

21) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA explicitly lists non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible.

22) Which federal agency administers this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

23) How is this opportunity classified administratively?

It is classified as a discretionary grant in the education and health activity areas.

24) What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?

The associated CFDA numbers listed are 93.242, 93.279, and 93.855.

25) When was this FOA created, and what closing date is listed in the excerpt?

The FOA was created on November 29, 2017, and the excerpt lists an original closing date of May 8, 2018.

26) Does the excerpt state an award ceiling or expected number of awards?

No. The excerpt notes that it does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

27) What is NIH ultimately looking for in applications to this FOA?

The excerpt describes NIH as looking for strong, evidence-driven R01 applications proposing innovative, feasible, and acceptable strategies to: (1) identify people who are undiagnosed, (2) link them effectively to testing and services, and (3) deploy integrated biomedical-behavioral interventions that meaningfully reduce onward HIV transmission.