Long Term Retention in Care for U.S. Substance Using Populations (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Long Term Retention in Care for U.S. Substance Using Populations (R01)" grant opportunity?

It is an NIH discretionary research funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-14-224) that supported studies focused on a central public health problem: helping people living with HIV stay engaged in continuous, long-term medical care when substance use is part of their lives.

What public health problem was this FOA trying to address?

The FOA targeted long-term retention in HIV care for U.S. populations affected by substance use. The underlying concern is that HIV is a lifelong condition without a cure, and the benefits of antiretroviral therapy depend on consistent clinical follow-up, medication access and adherence support, and ongoing monitoring over time.

Why did the FOA emphasize "long-term retention" rather than short-term linkage to care?

The announcement emphasized research that goes beyond initial linkage or early engagement and instead examines what helps people remain in care year after year. The intention was to reduce drop-off across the HIV care continuum over the long run.

Who was the intended population of interest in this FOA?

The FOA focused on U.S. populations living with HIV where substance use is relevant to maintaining continuous care. It highlighted that retention can be especially challenging for people who use substances due to factors like unstable housing, mental health comorbidities, stigma, criminal-legal involvement, and fragmented health and social service systems.

What kinds of outcomes did NIH want applicants to focus on?

While retention in care was the central theme, the FOA explicitly connected long-term retention to sustained viral suppression. Viral suppression was presented as a key marker of successful HIV treatment and a major driver of reduced HIV transmission at the population level.

What is the significance of sustained viral suppression in this opportunity?

The focus on sustained viral suppression signaled interest in outcomes that matter clinically and epidemiologically, not only measures like clinic attendance. Viral suppression reflects effective, ongoing treatment over time.

What research approach or project scope did the R01 mechanism imply?

This was an R01 mechanism, which is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects rather than small pilot projects. In practical terms, the FOA pointed toward rigorous studies capable of producing actionable findings for real-world HIV care settings.

What types of research topics were emphasized as relevant under this FOA?

Based on the description provided, emphasized topics included: developing and testing interventions to strengthen retention, identifying modifiable barriers and facilitators of retention, evaluating service delivery models that integrate HIV care with substance use treatment, and producing evidence that clinics, health systems, and community programs can use to reduce long-term disengagement from care.

How does substance use affect HIV retention in care, according to the FOA description?

The FOA highlighted that staying connected to care can be harder for people who use substances because of issues such as unstable housing, mental health comorbidities, stigma, criminal-legal involvement, and fragmented health and social service systems.

What federal program area and CFDA listing was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was categorized under Education and Health and listed under CFDA 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs), aligning it with NIH research priorities at the intersection of HIV and substance use.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The FOA did not require cost sharing or matching.

When was this FOA posted, and when did it close?

The FOA was posted in mid-May 2014 (Posted Date: May 14, 2014; Creation Date: May 15, 2014). It closed on May 7, 2017, and was archived on June 7, 2017.

Is this funding opportunity still open for applications?

No. It closed on May 7, 2017 and was archived on June 7, 2017.

If it is closed, why might this FOA still be useful?

Even though it is no longer open, it describes the kinds of research NIH sought during that period and can still serve as a guide to the research themes and expectations NIH has often maintained in this area.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included many types of U.S.-based organizations, such as public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and multiple levels of government (city/township, county, state, special district governments), including certain housing authorities.

Were tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly included tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations, reflecting an intent to allow participation by tribal entities and to support research relevant to Native communities.

Did the FOA name any specific institution types as eligible applicants?

Yes. The announcement explicitly listed designated institution 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). It also included faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.

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

No. The FOA limited applications to domestic entities. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions were not eligible to apply.

Could a U.S. organization include a non-domestic component or foreign component in the application?

No. The FOA stated that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations were not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) were not allowed.

What practical impact was NIH trying to achieve through this research funding?

The FOA aimed to build a stronger evidence base for keeping people living with HIV and affected by substance use consistently engaged in care over the long term, with the explicit goal of achieving and maintaining viral suppression. The intent was to support findings that clinics, health systems, and community programs could use to close persistent retention gaps and improve lifelong HIV outcomes.

Where were applicants directed for technical issues accessing the full announcement?

For technical issues accessing the full announcement, NIH directed applicants to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact listed in the notice.