Reducing Stigma Related to Drug Use in Human Service Settings (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 21 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 21 002

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Reducing Stigma Related to Drug Use in Human Service Settings (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-21-002) focuses on a persistent obstacle to effective HIV prevention and care: stigma tied to drug use. In this context, stigma is described as an identity marked by disgrace, disapproval, or shame, and it often shows up in real-world discrimination that discourages people from seeking services or affects the quality of care they receive. The central purpose of this opportunity is to support early-stage, exploratory research that can lead to practical interventions aimed at reducing drug-use-related stigma in settings where people access human services, ultimately improving the delivery and uptake of HIV prevention and treatment services.

This announcement uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for exploratory and developmental projects. Rather than requiring a large, fully powered effectiveness trial, it supports work that helps build the foundation for later, larger studies. The opportunity specifically supports two broad types of projects: formative research and pilot/feasibility studies. Formative research may include activities like assessing how stigma operates in a particular service environment, understanding the experiences of clients and staff, identifying key drivers of discriminatory behavior or policies, and using that information to design or refine an intervention. Pilot or feasibility studies may include small-scale tests of new interventions or adaptations of existing stigma-reduction approaches, with an emphasis on whether the intervention is workable in the intended setting, acceptable to participants, and implementable by organizations providing services related to HIV prevention and care. The "clinical trial optional" designation indicates applicants may propose a study that meets NIH’s definition of a clinical trial, but it is not mandatory; non-trial intervention development and feasibility work can also fit, depending on the aims.

The overarching theme is improving HIV-related health outcomes by tackling stigma that interferes with both the provision of services (how organizations and providers deliver care, communicate, and make decisions) and the utilization of services (whether clients feel safe, respected, and willing to engage). While the title highlights drug-use-related stigma, the core public health rationale is that stigma can discourage testing, delay entry into care, reduce adherence to treatment or prevention tools, and push people away from supportive programs. By funding intervention development and early testing, NIH is seeking practical strategies that human service settings can use to reduce stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors and remove structural or interpersonal barriers that keep people from receiving HIV-related care.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also explicitly notes additional applicant categories that may apply, such as 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), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is restricted in a way that is common for many NIH opportunities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply directly, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain types of structured collaboration or project elements that take place outside the U.S., as long as they meet NIH requirements and are appropriately justified and administered under the U.S.-based award.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the Education and Health funding activity category, with CFDA number 93.279. The listed award ceiling is $200,000. The opportunity was created on April 9, 2020, and the original closing date is listed as August 11, 2020. The listing does not specify the number of expected awards, but the intent is clearly to seed multiple early-stage projects that can generate actionable intervention concepts and feasibility evidence, positioning promising approaches for larger-scale testing and eventual implementation in real-world human service settings.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reducing Stigma Related to Drug Use in Human Service Settings (R21 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 2020-04-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-11. (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 $200,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA DA 21 002

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