Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 12 061
Apply for RFA MH 12 061
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting Engagement in Care and Timely Antiretroviral Initiation Following HIV Diagnosis (R34)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 2, 2011 and posted on Jun 2, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 9, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education County governments City or township governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Promoting Engagement in Care and Timely Antiretroviral Initiation Following HIV Diagnosis (R34)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-12-061) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program focused on improving early HIV care outcomes during a particularly high-risk window: the first 12 months after a person is newly diagnosed with HIV, first enrolls in HIV primary care, or starts antiretroviral therapy (ART). The central idea is that what happens early after diagnosis often sets the trajectory for long-term health, and delays or drop-offs during this period can prevent people from reaching viral suppression quickly, increase the risk of HIV transmission, and worsen health outcomes. This FOA therefore supports research that develops and tests interventions designed to move people efficiently from diagnosis to consistent care and effective treatment adherence.
The program is aimed at three connected problems that frequently occur soon after diagnosis. First is rapid linkage to medical care, meaning getting someone from an HIV diagnosis (often delivered in a testing site, emergency department, community setting, or other non-primary-care environment) into an HIV medical provider quickly and successfully. Second is retention in early HIV primary care, since many patients attend an initial appointment but struggle to stay engaged through follow-up visits, labs, and ongoing care coordination during the first year. Third is readiness to voluntarily initiate ART and then adhere to it, recognizing that starting medication is not just a clinical decision but also a behavioral, psychological, and practical process shaped by trust, stigma, mental health, substance use, housing and transportation stability, health literacy, and the patient-provider relationship. Research supported under this FOA is expected to produce interventions that are efficacious, meaning they show clear evidence of benefit under controlled or well-designed study conditions.
A key outcome emphasized in the announcement is reducing the time from HIV diagnosis to the first undetectable viral load among people for whom ART is indicated. Viral suppression is a concrete, measurable endpoint that reflects successful engagement in care and effective adherence to medication, and it is one of the strongest predictors of reduced morbidity and reduced HIV transmission risk. Alongside this clinical goal, the FOA highlights a major public health equity objective: reducing racial and ethnic disparities in HIV treatment outcomes. In practice, that means the NIH is looking for intervention strategies that not only improve overall linkage, retention, and adherence, but also close persistent gaps that disproportionately affect communities such as Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino populations, among others, depending on the local epidemiology and study setting.
This opportunity uses the R34 activity code, which is typically associated with pilot or planning clinical trial work and preparatory intervention development leading toward larger-scale testing. While the source text does not spell out study design requirements, the emphasis on developing and testing interventions implies applicants should propose rigorous, measurable approaches that can demonstrate whether an intervention improves early care engagement, ART initiation behaviors, adherence, and virologic outcomes. The project focus is explicitly bounded to early-stage care milestones in the first year following diagnosis or care entry, which encourages applicants to concentrate on the period where systems navigation, patient support, and behavior change interventions can have an outsized effect.
From an administrative standpoint, the FOA was posted June 2, 2011, with an original and current closing date of September 9, 2011, and an archive date of October 10, 2011, indicating this specific announcement is no longer open. NIH projected approximately 6 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $2,500,000. The listed award ceiling is $225,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for applicants that may not have access to non-federal funds.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; special district governments; small businesses; and for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses). The eligibility section further clarifies inclusion of faith-based and community-based organizations, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Importantly, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also eligible, which signals openness to international or cross-border research partnerships where HIV care engagement challenges and disparities are also significant.
The funding activity category is listed under education and health, and the CFDA numbers associated with the program are 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants) and 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs). Those identifiers are a useful clue about the scientific framing NIH had in mind: early HIV care engagement is strongly influenced by mental health, substance use, and related behavioral and structural factors. Applicants aligning their intervention concepts with these realities, such as by integrating mental health or substance use components, addressing stigma, or improving care navigation for people with complex psychosocial needs, would generally be consistent with the FOA’s scope.
For reference and official details, the FOA provided an NIH grants guide link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-12-061.html). The contact information included the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster email addresses for technical access issues (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV), which indicates the primary support channel mentioned in the source data was aimed at resolving difficulties accessing or linking to the full announcement online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Promoting Engagement in Care and Timely Antiretroviral Initiation Following HIV Diagnosis (R34)" and the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is RFA-MH-12-061.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The FOA supports research to develop and test interventions that improve early HIV care outcomes during the first 12 months after a person is newly diagnosed with HIV, first enrolls in HIV primary care, or starts antiretroviral therapy (ART). The focus is on moving people efficiently from diagnosis to consistent care and effective treatment adherence, with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing HIV transmission risk.
What time period of HIV care does the FOA focus on?
The project focus is explicitly bounded to early-stage care milestones in the first year (the first 12 months) after HIV diagnosis, entry into HIV primary care, or initiation of ART.
What problems is the FOA trying to address?
The FOA targets three connected challenges that often occur soon after diagnosis: (1) rapid linkage to medical care, (2) retention in early HIV primary care, and (3) readiness to voluntarily initiate ART and then adhere to it.
What does "rapid linkage to medical care" mean in this FOA?
It refers to getting someone from an HIV diagnosis (which may occur in a testing site, emergency department, community setting, or other non-primary-care environment) into an HIV medical provider quickly and successfully.
What does "retention in early HIV primary care" mean here?
It refers to keeping patients engaged beyond the first visit, including attending follow-up appointments, completing labs, and participating in ongoing care coordination during the first year.
What does the FOA mean by ART readiness and adherence?
The FOA recognizes that starting and taking ART is influenced by behavioral, psychological, and practical factors such as trust, stigma, mental health, substance use, housing and transportation stability, health literacy, and the patient-provider relationship.
What kinds of research does the FOA support?
The FOA supports research that develops and tests interventions designed to improve early engagement in care, timely ART initiation, and adherence. The FOA indicates that supported research is expected to produce interventions that are efficacious, meaning they show clear evidence of benefit under controlled or well-designed study conditions.
What is the R34 activity code and what does it imply for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the R34 activity code, which is typically associated with pilot or planning clinical trial work and preparatory intervention development leading toward larger-scale testing.
What is a key outcome emphasized by the FOA?
A key outcome is reducing the time from HIV diagnosis to the first undetectable viral load among people for whom ART is indicated.
Why does the FOA emphasize viral suppression?
Viral suppression is described as a concrete, measurable endpoint that reflects successful engagement in care and effective adherence. It is also one of the strongest predictors of reduced morbidity and reduced HIV transmission risk.
Does the FOA include a health equity focus?
Yes. The FOA highlights reducing racial and ethnic disparities in HIV treatment outcomes as a major public health equity objective and indicates interest in strategies that close persistent gaps affecting communities such as Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino populations (depending on local epidemiology and setting).
How many awards were expected and what was the estimated total funding?
NIH projected approximately 6 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $2,500,000.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $225,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the FOA posted and what were the closing dates?
The FOA was posted on June 2, 2011. The original and current closing date was September 9, 2011. The archive date was October 10, 2011.
Is this specific funding opportunity still open?
No. Based on the listed closing date (September 9, 2011) and archive date (October 10, 2011), this specific announcement is no longer open.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S. and non-U.S. entities, such as state, county, city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; special district governments; small businesses; and for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses).
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility section explicitly includes faith-based and community-based organizations.
Are specific institution types (like HBCUs or HSIs) called out as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or regional organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations as eligible.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA notes that eligible federal agencies are included in the eligibility list.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are eligible to apply, and that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also eligible.
What funding activity category is associated with this FOA?
The funding activity category is listed under education and health.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants) and 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs).
What do the CFDA numbers suggest about the scientific framing of the FOA?
They suggest the FOA is framed in a way that recognizes the influence of mental health, substance use, and related behavioral and structural factors on early HIV care engagement and outcomes.
Where can applicants find the official FOA details?
The FOA provided an NIH grants guide link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-12-061.html
Who is listed as a contact for technical issues accessing the FOA online?
The contact information included the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster email for technical access issues: FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health
Next opportunity: Methow Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Habitat Improvement II
Previous opportunity: Promoting Engagement in Care and Timely Antiretroviral Initiation Following HIV Diagnosis (R01)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA MH 12 061
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA MH 12 061) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| High End Instrumentation Grant Program (S10) Apply for PAR 11 228 Funding Number: PAR 11 228 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research IDeA CTRU54 Apply for PAR 11 229 Funding Number: PAR 11 229 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Epidemiology of Drug Abuse (R01) Apply for PA 11 230 Funding Number: PA 11 230 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Epidemiology of Drug Abuse (R21) Apply for PA 11 231 Funding Number: PA 11 231 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Epidemiology of Drug Abuse (R03) Apply for PA 11 232 Funding Number: PA 11 232 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Probes for Microimaging The Nervous System (SBIR R43/R44) Apply for PA 09 062 Funding Number: PA 09 062 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA MH 12 061", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.
