Improving the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Cascade (R01) | RFA MH 17 360

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 17 360

The grant opportunity titled "Improving the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Cascade (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-MH-17-360) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary funding announcement that supports Research Project Grants (R01). Its central purpose is to strengthen the HIV oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care continuum, often described as the PrEP "cascade," by funding research that designs, develops, and tests interventions aimed at improving how people at substantial risk for HIV move through PrEP care over time. In practical terms, the FOA is focused on real-world strategies that help individuals start PrEP, stay connected to PrEP-related care, and maintain effective use of PrEP as clinically appropriate.

A key emphasis of this FOA is improving PrEP care engagement and retention. This includes interventions that help people initiate and consistently participate in ongoing PrEP services such as regular follow-up visits, laboratory monitoring, counseling, and other supports that are part of routine PrEP care. The announcement also calls for interventions that directly support medication adherence and persistence, meaning consistent and correct use of PrEP over time, and continued use for as long as the person remains at meaningful risk for HIV. The language of the FOA indicates a strong interest in interventions that address drop-off points across the PrEP cascade, where individuals may discontinue care, have difficulty staying on medication, or lose access to ongoing support.

The activity categories for this opportunity fall under education and health, and the associated CFDA numbers listed are 93.242, 93.279, 93.361, 93.855, 93.856. While the FOA title centers on HIV prevention, the grant mechanism and NIH context suggest a broad, interdisciplinary approach that can include clinical, behavioral, implementation science, and health services research methods, as long as the proposed work is aimed at measurable improvements in engagement, retention, adherence, and persistence within oral PrEP delivery.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive of many organizational types. Standard eligible applicants include state, county, 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; and a range of nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions where specified). The FOA also allows for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, as well as other entities that meet NIH eligibility requirements.

In addition to the general categories above, the FOA explicitly highlights other eligible applicant types that NIH encourages to apply, reflecting an interest in reaching populations most affected by HIV and organizations embedded in communities where PrEP uptake and continuity may be challenging. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized; faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible agencies of the federal government; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This explicit inclusivity signals that NIH is open to diverse geographic settings and organizational structures, including community-rooted institutions and international partners, when they can meaningfully contribute to strengthening the PrEP care continuum.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on 2016-09-22, with an original closing date of 2017-01-06. The funding instrument type is a grant, using the R01 research project mechanism, which typically supports hypothesis-driven or intervention-testing research of meaningful scope. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which means applicants would ordinarily need to consult the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance to understand typical budget limits, project period expectations, and any institute-specific constraints.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at moving beyond simply making PrEP available and instead improving the systems, behaviors, and supports that determine whether oral PrEP is started, used correctly, and sustained over time among people at substantial risk for HIV infection. The emphasis on engagement, retention, adherence, and persistence reflects a practical prevention priority: improving outcomes across the full PrEP cascade so that PrEP can deliver its real-world protective benefit at the population level.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Cascade (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242, 93.279, 93.361, 93.855, 93.856.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-09-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-01-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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.

Apply for RFA MH 17 360

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