Interventions for Stigma Reduction to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low- and Middle- Income Countries (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)

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Description

This NIH opportunity supports research to develop and/or pilot test interventions aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS-associated stigma and its impact on prevention, treatment, and quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The initiative encourages innovative approaches to measure and address stigma, including intersecting stigmas due to comorbidities, and targets a range of populations such as adolescents, youth, caregivers, and key populations (e.g., sex workers, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men).

Projects may focus on:

• Novel stigma-reduction strategies that increase care-seeking or reduce transmission.
• Stigma affecting adolescent/youth health.
• Stigma experienced by family members or caregivers, and aging PLWH.
• Interventions addressing the complexity of layered/intersecting stigmas.
• Development or validation of improved stigma measurement tools in the context of intervention implementation.

The program is designed to build research capacity in LMICs and foster sustainable, collaborative research environments.

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Due Dates

• Letter of Intent: November 20, 2025 (encouraged, not required)
• AIDS Application Deadline: December 22, 2025 (by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization)
• Review and Award Timeline:
  • Scientific Merit Review: March 2026
  • Advisory Council Review: May 2026
  • Earliest Start Date: July 2026

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Funding Amount

• Total Direct Costs: Up to $400,000 for the entire 3-year project period.
• Annual Limit: No more than $200,000 in direct costs may be requested in any single year.
• Project Duration: Up to 3 years.
• Budget Justification: Budget must reflect actual project needs. Funds should be allocated for at least one PD/PI to attend the annual program network meeting in Bethesda, MD.

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Eligibility

• Eligible Organizations:

  • Public and private higher education institutions (U.S. and non-U.S.)
  • Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status
  • Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (restricted to higher education and/or research institutions and other non-profits in LMICs, as defined by the World Bank)
  • U.S. and LMIC partnerships (LMIC-LMIC or LMIC-U.S.) are eligible and strongly encouraged
  • Other eligible organizations: state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; tribal governments and organizations; public housing authorities; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); regional organizations; faith-based and community-based organizations; U.S. territories and possessions

• Key Personnel:

  • Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research.
  • Multiple PDs/PIs allowed.

• Special Notes:

  • Hong Kong-based institutions are not eligible as primary LMIC partners.
  • Non-U.S. high-income country institutions may participate as consultants but not as primary partners.

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Application Process

• Submission Systems: Applications must be submitted electronically via ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution.
• Required Registrations: SAM, NCAGE (for foreign orgs), UEI, eRA Commons, Grants.gov.
• Application Components: Follow the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the specific instructions in the NOFO.
• Letter of Intent: Not required, but recommended to facilitate review planning.
• Research Plan: Should clearly define the stigma problem, target population, intervention approach, and outcome measures. Must address capacity strengthening for LMIC partners.
• Collaboration: U.S.-LMIC or LMIC-LMIC collaborations are strongly encouraged. The role of each partner and plans for coordination must be described.
• Appendix: Only blank questionnaires or surveys are allowed; no publications or other materials.

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Additional Information

• Clinical Trials: Applications may propose clinical trials but are not required to do so.
• Data Management and Sharing: A Data Management and Sharing Plan is not required for this NOFO.
• Review Criteria: Emphasis on conceptual framework, innovation, and potential for impact in LMIC settings. Preliminary data are not required, but a strong rationale is expected.
• Non-Responsive Applications: Projects not focused on developing a stigma-reduction intervention linked to a measurable health outcome in PLWH will not be reviewed.
• Capacity Building: Projects should contribute to sustainable stigma research capacity in LMICs.

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External Links

• NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (PAR-23-190)
• NIH Grants Policy Statement
• SF424 (R&R) Application Guide
• World Bank Country Classifications
• NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities

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Contact Information

For additional contacts, see the full NIH funding announcement.

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