Interventions for Stigma Reduction to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low- and Middle- Income Countries (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 21 344

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NIH PAR-21-344 (R01) HIV Stigma Reduction Interventions in LMICs

1) What is the purpose of NIH funding opportunity PAR-21-344?

PAR-21-344 supports research projects that develop, refine, and/or pilot test interventions aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS-associated stigma in low- and middle-income countries. The larger goal is to improve HIV prevention, treatment, and care outcomes and strengthen quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH).

2) What type of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

The mechanism is an R01 research project grant.

3) Are clinical trials allowed under PAR-21-344?

Yes. Clinical trials are allowed but not required. Applications may propose intervention development, feasibility testing, or more formal evaluation work, as long as the overall approach fits the scope of an R01.

4) What is the central research problem this opportunity is trying to address?

The opportunity focuses on HIV/AIDS-associated stigma as a major barrier that can prevent people from seeking HIV testing, disclosing HIV status, starting or staying on antiretroviral therapy, and accessing supportive services.

5) What kinds of outcomes is NIH looking for beyond stigma reduction?

NIH is looking for intervention-oriented research that shows a clear pathway from stigma reduction to practical health impact. Examples mentioned include improved care engagement, better adherence and retention, increased uptake of prevention services, and reduced HIV transmission risk.

6) What levels of stigma can projects address?

Projects can address stigma at multiple levels, including individual beliefs and coping, interpersonal relationships, community norms, healthcare settings, and broader structural drivers such as policies and institutional practices.

7) What types of interventions are encouraged?

The announcement encourages novel stigma-reduction interventions that are meaningfully connected to tangible behavioral and biomedical outcomes. Examples mentioned include clinic-embedded interventions to improve patient experience and reduce discriminatory practices, community-based approaches that shift social norms, peer and family-centered models, digital or mobile strategies that improve access and privacy, and multi-component packages combining education, skills-building, service navigation, and provider training.

8) What does NIH mean by connecting stigma reduction to "behavioral and biomedical outcomes"?

In this opportunity, stigma reduction is not intended to be treated as an isolated endpoint. NIH emphasizes interventions that link stigma reduction to measurable HIV-related prevention and care outcomes, such as care engagement, adherence, retention, uptake of prevention services, or transmission risk reduction.

9) Is improving how stigma is measured a priority area?

Yes. A stated priority is innovation in how HIV-related stigma is measured, especially when stigma overlaps with other stigmas tied to multiple conditions or identities.

10) What are "intersecting stigmas" in the context of this opportunity?

The opportunity highlights stigma that overlaps with other conditions or identities, such as HIV plus tuberculosis, mental health conditions, substance use, or other coinfections and comorbidities. The emphasis is on tools and metrics that better capture these intersecting stigmas so interventions can be designed and evaluated more precisely.

11) Can projects focus on stigma that is compounded by comorbidities or coinfections?

Yes. NIH specifically calls for attention to the added burden when HIV stigma is compounded by stigma related to one or more comorbidities or coinfections, which can intensify exclusion and make prevention and treatment behaviors harder to maintain.

12) Are adolescents and youth explicitly included as a priority population?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes stigma as it relates to adolescents and youth, noting that younger populations can face distinct barriers related to confidentiality, dependence on family systems, school and peer environments, and transitions into adult care.

13) Does the opportunity address stigma affecting families and caregivers?

Yes. It explicitly calls for attention to the effects of stigma on family members and caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS.

14) Does PAR-21-344 include an emphasis on older adults living with HIV?

Yes. NIH highlights stigma dynamics affecting aging populations living with HIV, including layered issues such as chronic disease, frailty, social isolation, and ageism that may amplify stigma burden and complicate care.

15) Where must the research be conducted?

The funded work is intended to support interventions aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS-associated stigma in low- and middle-income countries.

16) What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, along with other eligible entities as defined by NIH.

17) Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly notes that certain minority-serving institutions may apply, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

18) What is the opportunity category and funding instrument?

The opportunity category is discretionary, and the funding instrument is a grant.

19) Which federal assistance listing (CFDA/Assistance Listing) numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The provided assistance listing numbers include 93.242, 93.279, 93.393, 93.396, 93.865, and 93.989.

20) What is the award ceiling shown in the provided details?

The award ceiling shown in the provided source details is $400,000.

21) What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is December 20, 2022.

22) When was the notice created, according to the provided details?

The record shows the notice was created on September 28, 2021.

23) How many awards are expected?

The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided excerpt.

24) Is the program focused only on stigma inside healthcare facilities?

No. While healthcare settings are included as one level of intervention (such as reducing discriminatory practices and improving patient experience), the opportunity also includes individual, interpersonal, community, and structural levels (including policies and institutional practices).

25) What is meant by "context-sensitive" interventions in this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, NIH is seeking stigma interventions that are appropriate for low- and middle-income settings and that can be linked to real-world prevention and care outcomes, with attention to the specific stigma dynamics present in the target population and environment.