NIDA REI: Reaching Equity at the Intersection of HIV and Substance Use: Novel Approaches to Address HIV Related Health Disparities in Underserved Racial and/or Ethnic Populations (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 23 062

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 23 062

The NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is offering the R34 funding opportunity called "NIDA REI: Reaching Equity at the Intersection of HIV and Substance Use: Novel Approaches to Address HIV Related Health Disparities in Underserved Racial and/or Ethnic Populations (Clinical Trial Optional)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-23-062 (CFDA 93.279). This announcement sits within NIDA's larger Racial Equity Initiative (REI), which is described as a multi-year and multi-pronged effort aimed at eliminating racial inequities across NIDA's internal environment, the broader scientific workforce, and the research NIDA funds. In practical terms, this FOA is designed to move the field toward more equitable HIV outcomes by supporting early-stage research that can be tested, refined, and positioned for larger-scale studies and interventions later.

The core goal of this FOA is to fund pilot or feasibility projects that examine and address HIV-related health disparities that arise where HIV and substance use overlap, specifically among underserved racial and/or ethnic populations experiencing persistent HIV disparities. Rather than focusing only on individual behavior change, the emphasis is on upstream drivers of inequity: structural factors (such as access barriers, stigma embedded in systems, or broader social determinants), organizational practices (how clinics, service providers, justice settings, schools, or community programs operate), policies (local, state, or institutional rules that shape who gets care and how), and other social, cultural, and contextual influences that produce unequal HIV outcomes in the context of substance use. The intent is to help applicants generate credible preliminary evidence, test novel approaches, and work through implementation realities in real-world settings where disparities are produced and maintained.

A notable feature of the announcement is its explicit encouragement of research that uses an intersectional lens. NIDA is signaling that strong applications will often consider how multiple dimensions of identity and social position interact, including race and ethnicity, but also gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity, along with the social systems people navigate. In other words, the FOA supports approaches that do not treat communities as monolithic and that recognize how overlapping forms of marginalization can shape HIV risk, access to prevention and treatment, and outcomes for people who use substances. This can include projects that design or adapt interventions, test service delivery models, or evaluate organizational or policy changes intended to reduce inequities at the HIV-substance use intersection.

This is an R34 mechanism, meaning it is generally meant for developmental, pilot, or feasibility work rather than large definitive trials. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which means applicants may propose a clinical trial if it fits the aims, but a clinical trial is not required. The focus remains on generating early evidence and practical learning that can support later, larger effectiveness or implementation studies, particularly those that address inequities embedded in systems and contexts.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public and private entities. Eligible applicants listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other organizations. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. These inclusions underscore the program's intent to support applicants embedded in, or closely partnered with, the communities and systems most affected by the disparities the FOA is trying to reduce.

There are also clear limitations related to foreign participation. While "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. This effectively means the application must be led by an eligible U.S.-based applicant organization, though certain defined international elements may be permissible as part of the project under NIH policy.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the education and health activity area, administered by the National Institutes of Health. The original closing date listed is 2024-11-14. The award ceiling is shown as $450,000, indicating the maximum total award amount under the opportunity as presented in the source data. The announcement was created on 2022-10-03, reflecting when it entered the system. Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted, equity-driven pilot funding program intended to catalyze new, system-aware research approaches that can reduce HIV disparities tied to substance use in underserved racial and/or ethnic populations, with a strong preference for work that explicitly grapples with intersecting identities and the real structural conditions shaping health.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDA REI: Reaching Equity at the Intersection of HIV and Substance Use: Novel Approaches to Address HIV Related Health Disparities in Underserved Racial and/or Ethnic Populations (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-10-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-14. (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 $450,000.00 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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